Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded a grave warning to Kenyan President William Ruto, attributing the ongoing anti-government protests across Kenya to the simmering anger and frustration among the youth.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s ‘JKLive’ show on Wednesday, Obasanjo highlighted the deep-seated issues faced by the youth in Kenya and across Africa, primarily driven by poor governance.
Obasanjo opined that the youth in Kenya and the entire African continent are grappling with similar problems, including a lack of jobs and pervasive poverty, which have led to a sense of hopelessness among the majority.
He emphasized that this despair is akin to a ticking time bomb, warning that a revolution is imminent if leaders fail to address the needs of the youth.
“They are unemployed, underpowered and see nothing other than hopelessness.
In a situation like that, what you have from frustrated youth is anger and they have no hope.
If you want to kill any human being, take hope and cut away his life, that is what is happening,” said Obasanjo.
The former Nigerian President drew attention to the broader African context, stating, “All of Africa, we are all sitting on the keg of gunpowder because of the youth, and there is virtually no excuse in Africa why the youth are not angry.”
Obasanjo, a renowned African peace ambassador, recalled a phrase he coined during a past visit to Kenya in 2011, ‘From the Arab spring there will be an African winter.’
He reiterated this metaphor to underscore the continent’s precarious situation, suggesting that Africa is on the brink of a youth-led revolution similar to the Arab Spring.
“If no adequate attention is paid to the needs of the youth in Africa, the autumn will turn to winter and it will be very ugly for all of us,” he stated.
Obasanjo also pointed out that the visible disparity between the lifestyles of the leaders and the general populace exacerbates the anger among the youth.
He remarked on the opulence of the leaders despite the hard economic times, saying, “If you have nothing to gain, you are jobless, you are not empowered, you are in poverty and then you see your leaders, some of them in obscene affluence, then what do you do?”
His comments come at a time when Kenya is experiencing significant unrest, with protests becoming more frequent and intense.
The youth, often referred to as Generation Z, are at the forefront of these protests, demanding better governance, job opportunities, and an end to economic hardships.
Obasanjo’s stark warning serves as a call to action for African leaders to address the root causes of youth dissatisfaction before it escalates into widespread turmoil.
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