By Evangelist Sunnybright Attah

If there’s anything that slowed down the process of reforms and the changes President Muhammadu Buhari had intended to bring on board in 2015, it was the inability of some of his cabinet members to match his pace.

The President openly lamented the much he could have done had his lieutenants understood the essence of speed and rigour in the implementation of government.

Unfortunately, the much needed change that would have been done did not come but as the President has won a second term and is in the verge of starting a fresh term of four years, the issue of vibrancy and dynamism have cropped up again.

The success of leaders are usually gauged by their responses to issues and the quality of the intellect that go with such responses.

Every account of military intervention in the political affairs of the nation had thrust the leadership of the country to a crop of young men who tried to salvage the country with the youngest being Yakubu Gowon who became head of state at the age 31.

In 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy after more than 16 years, then President Olusegun Obasanjo who himself was a product of the old older, chose most of his cabinet members from within his circle but before long, realized the implications such actions would have on his administration and quickly adjusted to inject new blood into his cabinet.

That was when he brought in youths like Frank Nweke jnr, Chike Mokelu , Nasir El-rufai and others on board. No doubt their presence injected the much needed impetus and verve to the administration.

Gradually, the tradition of relying only on the aged to carry out policy issues began to wane and more and more young persons made it to federal cabinets and key parastatals of government.

It was no coincidence therefore that at the close of that administration, all the positive stories that made the administration stand out were mainly due to the contributions of the youths that were allowed to play key roles in that administration. People like Nuhu Ribadu of EFCC, Dora Akunyili, then of NSFDAC , Nasir El-Rufai and others.

But before Nigeria got its call to a reawakening order over the essence of youth dynamism in leadership, many world powers have also opened their doors to fresh ideas.

The Union of Soviets Socialist Republics, USSR, dusted the idea gerontocracy and put men and women with the vibrancy to deliver the goods at breathtaking speed were empowered and put in positons of authority. China known for its studious insistence on the old order allowed communism to breath fresh air with the advent of young leaders.

They proved that the most effective system of leadership has been where the matured and experienced are supported by foot soldiers who could brace the tape of delivering the goods before the sound of the gun.

With President Muhammadu Buhari with his years of experience and proven integrity on the saddle ably supported by the brilliant Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, what the duo need to deliver the goods is a vibrant set of young men and women who have the vitality to implement policies at a dash, who are committed to the programmes and manifesto of the APC and who understand the nuances and dynamism of the modern world.

Luckily such young men who have absolute belief on the capacity of President Buhari to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and who are committed to the programmes of the APC still abound.

One them is the young and dynamic Chief Philip Agbese, who has been so enamoured of President Buahri’s leadership style that he wrote a book on him complete with facts stressing the integrity quotient of the president and why he has not been found wanting.

The public endorsement of Chief Agbese Philip, the Okanga of Agila, for a ministerial position to replace septuagenarian Audu Ogbe from Benue State can be attributed to two basic elements evinced by the possibility of such an appointment.

The first is the freshness it offers to a highly conservative and recycled order and the dynamism of engaging youths in governance.

Many believe that President Buahri who signed the Not Too Young To Run Bill into law would have no problem including young men and women with fresh ideas and speed into his next cabinet who would help implement the policies of government in the next administration and Nigerians would have a set they would be proud of in terms of policy implementation.

Chief Agbese, who read in the United Kingdom has been in the forefront in the fight for social justice and infrastructural development for the country.

He has campaigned passionately for President Buhari and the APC and had at time when the success of the Nigeria armed forces over insurgents terrorizing the North east were being questioned travelled to Maiduguri and other affected areas to relay to Nigerians firsthand the progress made by the military in its operations to defeat insurgency.

The Okaga from his modest investment in the media has been able to to contribute to the development of journalism in Nigeria and had provided employment to thousands of youths.

He runs a scholarship programme in his native Agila and spare no effort to educate the people about the anti-corruption campaign of the current administration for people to understand that it is better to lay a solid foundation of nationhood through sacrifice and perseverance rather than believe the past order of sleaze and corruption where only tiny molecules of looted funds are thrown at them is the right order.

It is the belief of many that the Okanga Agila will surely do well if given the opportunity to serve as his commitment to the success of the Buhari administration is not in doubt and his capacity for administrative excellence have been proven.

At 32, the Okanga will bring with him the advantage of young age, which comes with strength and vigour while his legal background will serve him in good stead to implement the policies of the President Buhari led administration and his ideas will help propel the image of the administration to the heights deserved.