Opinion: “2031: When Nigeria’s Youth May Finally Claim the Crown”_By William Z. Bozimo

Nigeria’s politics has always been a theatre of age and endurance. Elders occupy the front seats, holding the keys of state, while the young are often told to “wait their turn.” Yet, as the clock ticks toward 2031, a storm gathers. The youth restless, educated, and digitally armed are no longer content to be spectators. 

From the First Republic to the Fourth, power has always been a relay baton passed within familiar circles. Our fathers cloaked in agbadas heavy with history, speaking of patience. They remind us of the sacrifices made, wars fought, and roads paved. Yet the younger generation asks, with equal urgency: “Must destiny always be delayed? Must our tomorrow always be borrowed?”

Today’s Nigerian youth are not the silent observers of yesterday. They are bloggers, coders, entrepreneurs, and activists. Their platforms are no longer street corners but WhatsApp groups, TikTok streams, and Twitter spaces, where debates are fierce and ideas unfiltered. In their voices lies a clear message: “they want a seat at the table, not crumbs from it.”

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has signalled willingness to serve just one term if elected in the future, promising reform over longevity. His words resonate with a demographic tired of having recycled leadership. Yet Obi’s shadow also inspires younger gladiators, men and women under 50 years of age who quietly sharpen their tools for the battles ahead. In boardrooms, classrooms, and town hall meetings, names unknown today may carry the flags of 2031.

No Nigerian election is complete without the rhythm of regional demands. The Ijaws of the Niger Delta murmur of long-denied leadership. The North watches carefully, while the South calculates with caution. Each bloc prepares, but it is the youth across these territories who may upset the old balance? Note that their allegiance is not bound by ethnicity as tightly as their parents; rather, they speak a language of opportunity, inclusion, and reform.

2031 is not merely another election year. It is a referendum on whether Nigeria’s democracy can rejuvenate itself or remain trapped in the cycle of elders' dominance. The stakes are higher than party victories and they touch on whether young Nigerians will continue to migrate in despair, or stay to build the country they dream about.

The elders may still clutch their sceptres, but history is restless. The children of thunder are restless, ambitious, and digitally united; preparing to storm the stage. If Nigeria is to march forward, it cannot silence its dawn. The ballot of 2031 may yet prove to be the mirror where old promises fade and a new Nigeria begins.

“The children of thunder are not bound by the chains of yesterday’s politics anymore.”

William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE: Activist, Mulade demands monumental projects for Niger Delta coastal areas

A renowned peace, environmental and justice advocate in Delta State, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has urged the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to link up strategic locations in the Niger Delta's coastal areas to the urban centers with viable bridges and road projects to open them to massive infrastructural development and to boost economic activities that will yield more revenues for the country.

Mulade's call is coming on the heels of the FG's unveiling of plans through the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, for a massive upgrade of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, with a whooping N3.8 trillion already allocated to tackle the deep structural issues threatening the bridge’s viability

It would also be recalled that N21 billion had been spent earlier on emergency repairs of the bridge late last year, while another bridge in Lagos, the Carter Bridge, with similar structural findings to the Third Mainland Bridge indicated it is beyond repair and will cost N359 billion for a replacement, according to a recommendation from construction giant, Julius Berger.

According to Mulade, "While I commend the President Tinubu government for undertaking landmark projects including the recent allocation of N3.8 trillion to the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, why considering that, a significant project that will give sense of belonging to the people of the Niger Delta coastal areas, who continue to bear the brunt of oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, should also be considered.

"For instance, a project such as the Warri-Gbaramantu-Escravos Bridge, the Forcados-Ogulagha Bridge, extension of Ayakoroma Bridge to land in Burutu Forcados Terminal, means most of the coastal areas including Odimodi, Izon-Burutu to Age, Obotobo, among others will easily open up to infrastructural and economic development," he stated.

Speaking further on the recent allocation of N3.8 trillion by the federal government for the Third Mainland Bridge, Mulade, who is the Ibe Serimowei of Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, stated that while most of the funding for the project will come from oil revenues in the Niger Delta, the coastal areas which play host to the oil and gas industry and blue economy are deliberately neglected.

He said, "If this amount can be thrown into that project, then what is the fate of the people of the Niger Delta, where the oil and gas is being flared on a daily basis to generate not less than 80 percent of the amount that will go into that project? 

"We agree Lagos has IGR that can run itself to a reasonable extent, but 80 percent of the fund will come from the oil revenue, of course, from the FEC, to construct that bridge. 

"And we have been clamoring for a single road to even connect Escravos Terminal in Gbaramatu Kingdom area Delta State, which is an economically viable end, because of the Escravos Terminal, but nothing has been done. We also clamoured for Burutu hosting the Forcados Terminal and one of Nigeria first seaports, still none. Even Brass, it is the Bayelsa State government that took the bull by the horn to construct that bridge, and we pray that he will be able to complete it," he added 

Mulade further alleged that governors in the region who are none Ijaws are deliberately neglecting the development of the coastal areas largely occupied and dominated by the Ijaws but their actions continue to keep the people in poverty, hardship and deliberate neglect.

"I feel the non-Ijaw governors in the region are deliberately depriving us of significant developmental projects which is our rights in Nigeria but they refusal to execute people oriented and impactful projects in the coastal areas with life transforming development as they plan to lure investors to do business in their own areas (upland) while leaving our people shortchanged, forcing them to migrate to upland for education, health, business and development."

He therefore appealed to the Tinubu government to change the narrative by opening up the coastal communities in the region to attract more investors, to create jobs, offer opportunities for wealth creation among other benefits he said are yet untapped because of the lack of affordable transport Infrastructures.

Just-ln: Aggrieved N'Delta Ex-agitators Writes IGP, to Embark on Peaceful Protest Against PINL on 29th/30th September, 2025 in Abuja

Following the poor performance and breach of contract agreements with host communities by the Pipeline lnfrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), an oil pipeline surveillance company owned by the Olu of Warri, HRM. Shola Emiko over many years of operation in the Niger Delta region, the aggrieved ex-agitators under the aegis of Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum, has written an open letter to the Nigerian security agencies, especially the lnspector General of Nigeria Police Force, lGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM, in order to notify him ahead of peaceful and non-violence protest on the 29th and 30th of September, 2025 against Pipeline lnfrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) at NNPCL Tower Abuja.

In the open letter addressed to the lnspector General of Police dated 1st September, 2025 and signed by the leader of the forum, Don General Cairo, stressed that the purpose of the protest is to expressed their displeasure with  Pipeline lnfrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and demand termination of its contract with NNPCL over lack of performance, breach of contract agreements with host communities, sponsoring of tribal war in the Niger Delta region among other issues of national interest as the company has operated for many years without any visible or positive impact in safeguarding the nation's critical oil pipeline infrastructures.

Don Gen Cairo affirmed that the aggrieved ex-agitators of Niger Delta would mobilized in their large numbers in a lawful and peaceful manner to converged at the NNPCL Tower Abuja as well as the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to press home their demands without fear or favour.

According to the open letter, read below:

AGGRIEVED FREEDOM FIGHTERS FORUM OF NIGER DELTA

Office of The lnspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Area ll Garki, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.

1st September, 2025

Dear Sir,

 LETTER OF PROTEST

The Leadership of the Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum of Niger Delta wishes to notify the lnspector General of Nigeria Police Force of our intention to embark on a peaceful and non-violence protest on the 29th and 30th of September, 2025.

The purpose of the protest is to register our displeasure with Pipeline lnfrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and to demand termination of its contract with NNPCL over lack of performance, breach of contract agreements with host communities, sponsoring of tribal crisis in the Niger Delta region among others as the company has operated for many years without any visible or positive impact in safeguarding the nation's critical oil pipeline infrastructures.

We shall, in a lawful and peaceful manner, converged at the NNPCL Tower Abuja as well as the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to press home our demands.

Thank you for your attention, and may God bless you, the statement added.

Yours Faithfully,

Signed:

Don General Cairo,

Leader, Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum.