STEP 1: Our brightest and best brains should begin serious
preparations NOW by forming alliances with each other. The preparations would
involve both NETWORKING with like-minds and men of like-passion, and developing
ideologies in line with an overall National Blueprint/Master plan.
STEP 2: Move away from the sidelines of political commentary
and analyses into mainstream political work by joining/invading political
parties (not for everybody though, but for those whose vocation and calling is in
politics).
STEP 3: Set up structures that will influence the
ideological direction and major policy decisions in such parties.
CASE VIGNETTE:
In 1943, a group of young men (mostly in their 20s and 30s)
who felt the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa had lost its fire,
FREQUENTLY MET TO DISCUSS IDEAS. They felt the ANC as a whole had become the
preserve of a tired, unmilitant, privileged African elite more concerned with
protecting their own rights than those of the masses. The general consensus was
that some action must be taken. A YOUTH LEAGUE would be formed, as a way of
lighting fire under the leadership of the ANC. To cut the story short, though
their proposal was initially resisted, they succeeded in establishing a YOUTH
LEAGUE whose manifesto partly read “…The Congress Youth League must be the
BRAINS-TRUST and POWER-STATION of the spirit of African nationalism” (Emphasis
mine).
Within a few years, the leaders of the Youth League
(including Mandela) became executives in the main ANC!
In conclusion, we need the wisdom of the old, but they must
bow to our vigour. It’s time for the New Generation to stop seeing themselves
as too young to take up political leadership in this country. We must NOW form
alliances, join political parties, and begin to TRANSFORM things from WITHIN.
We cannot do it without!
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