Political survival dominates youth mindset— Onimisi warns

By Abubakar Yunusa

The founder of the Onono Onimisi Foundation (OOF), Onono Onimisi, has raised the alarm over the way Nigerian youths are approaching politics.
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Onono said many young Nigerians now view public office as a means of survival rather than service.
“Somewhere between unemployment, economic frustration, and watching convoys speed past struggling communities, a mindset was born: enter politics and escape poverty,” she said.
She noted that while the temptation is understandable, politics is not a poverty alleviation scheme — it is meant for public service.
According to her, “Increasingly, many young people are not approaching politics with ideology, policy depth, or reform strategy. They are approaching it with survival instincts. And that is dangerous.”
Onono warned that leadership has become transactional, with acts of generosity often serving as veiled campaign strategies.
She lamented the voting culture, where wealth and visibility are prioritised over competence, integrity, and vision. “The real power move is building yourself first — developing a skill, starting small, becoming self-employed, growing into a boss,” she said.
She urged youths to see politics as a calling, not a coping mechanism, emphasising that leaders escaping poverty rarely focus on national prosperity.
“The question is not who wants power. The real question is: who is prepared to lead?” Onono said .