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To those in the mainstream and new
media world, Simon Utsu, is a household
name that needs no further introduction.
His witty writings appeal to different
people with different sense of judgement,
which has led some to view him as a
political pundit.
Others see him as a stand
up comedian, and yet many more believe
he is a social media guru. Whatever
perception the teeming crowd he
commands have of him, the in- thing is
that Simon Utsu is a humble and
admirable youth from Cross River State. He
is highly favoured by mother nature in
view of the enormous intelligence
deposited in him.
He is what many people
in the field of academics would describe
as a moving library. Aside his profession
as a thorough bred control system
engineer, he demonstrates formidable
knowledge over a wide stretch of
discipline.
In this interview with Voplink Media, he
spoke extensively on the state of the
nation, Cross River politics, youths
readiness and the prospect for youths in
2019 and beyond.
Below are the excerpts:
Welcome Sir, Please tell us, who is Simon
Utsu?
Simon Utsu is many things to many
people. To some I’m a comedian.
To others, I’m a political enthusiast, others
see me as a troublesome social media
blogger.
But I’m just a normal guy who wants to
see Nigeria live up to her enormous
potential
As a political enthusiast, how will you
assess the present political climate in
Nigeria?
The current Nigerian polity, simply put is
unstable at the Federal level and coming
down to our dear state, we can say lacks
direction.
What is your take on the current clamour
for youth participation and involvement in
politics?
It’s exciting.
Kudos must go to Hon Tony Nwoye of the
Federal house of Reps. He happens to be
my representative(Isolo, Oshodi-Lagos)
here in Lagos. I lives around that axis.
I’m happy he was aware enough to come
up with such a bill. It’s one of the most
important bills of the 8th national
assembly. But truth be told—are the youth
ready?
You can take a horse to the stream but
you can’t force it to drink water…or so
they say.
What is your assessment of youths’
readiness to actively and effectively
engage in politics?
Most aren’t ready. How many youth who
claim they want to run for an elective
office can articulate a simple budget?Or
even know what budgetary terms like
recurrent and capital expenditure mean?
How many can tell you what the problem
with our power sector is and come up
with a skeletal(elementary) solution.
How many of the so called “office ready”
youth can design a roadmap to revive the
agriculture sector in their states?
If we don’t get the basics right, we may
end up worse than the generations
before us.
Do you think the older generation have
failed us in providing good political
leadership?
I won’t categorically say they have- I just
think they could have done much better.
The onus is now on ours to do the bits
they couldn’t do.
That’s why I’m a bit worried about the
preparadness of my generation.
What is your view on recent move by the
National Assembly on minimum age
requirement for elections into public
offices?
Like I said earlier, Honorable Tony Nwulu
is my representative in Lagos(Isolo/
Oshodi) It’s a welcome development but
I’m not sure the youth are ready enough.
We also lack the structures.
Moving ahead, in what way can Cross
River youths take advantage of the new
development?
There’s no umbrella party or youth leader
like south Africa’s Julius Malema.
Who can lead the line? Hopefully, they
(Cross River State youth) can
Even though commissioner Asu Okang
hasn’t been top notch and the state YDP
has been embellished in crisis, I see light
at the end of the tunnel.
So far, can you say Cross River youths have
been carried along in the state politics?
Well,that’s a difficult one to call.but if I
were to be honest, quantitatively they
have- but qualitatively; I doubt.
Do you see bright political prospect for the
youths in Cross River State in 2019 and
beyond?
Yes, even though I’ve sounded sceptical to
some extent. There’s a bright future
political for the youth of our state.
If the right set of youth step up into
leadership,theres going to be a
renaissance of some sort.
I did a series few months back(april)
titled- 20 Cross Riverians under 40 to
watch out for in 2019 and beyond where
I profiled 20 young Cross Riverians.
What are your advice to youths who may
be nursing one political ambition or the
other?
It’s on my Facebook page- I profiled the
likes of Obasesam Okoi, Ofem Ekapong,
Ikposhi Ikposhi, Stanley Nsemo, John
Offiong, Betta Edu etc.
The youth can start by building
commensurate capacity and also choosing
the right role model.
It’s been a pleasure to have you thus far.
Thank you.
Thank you, you’re welcome.
Source-VOPLINK
media world, Simon Utsu, is a household
name that needs no further introduction.
His witty writings appeal to different
people with different sense of judgement,
which has led some to view him as a
political pundit.
Others see him as a stand
up comedian, and yet many more believe
he is a social media guru. Whatever
perception the teeming crowd he
commands have of him, the in- thing is
that Simon Utsu is a humble and
admirable youth from Cross River State. He
is highly favoured by mother nature in
view of the enormous intelligence
deposited in him.
He is what many people
in the field of academics would describe
as a moving library. Aside his profession
as a thorough bred control system
engineer, he demonstrates formidable
knowledge over a wide stretch of
discipline.
In this interview with Voplink Media, he
spoke extensively on the state of the
nation, Cross River politics, youths
readiness and the prospect for youths in
2019 and beyond.
Below are the excerpts:
Welcome Sir, Please tell us, who is Simon
Utsu?
Simon Utsu is many things to many
people. To some I’m a comedian.
To others, I’m a political enthusiast, others
see me as a troublesome social media
blogger.
But I’m just a normal guy who wants to
see Nigeria live up to her enormous
potential
As a political enthusiast, how will you
assess the present political climate in
Nigeria?
The current Nigerian polity, simply put is
unstable at the Federal level and coming
down to our dear state, we can say lacks
direction.
What is your take on the current clamour
for youth participation and involvement in
politics?
It’s exciting.
Kudos must go to Hon Tony Nwoye of the
Federal house of Reps. He happens to be
my representative(Isolo, Oshodi-Lagos)
here in Lagos. I lives around that axis.
I’m happy he was aware enough to come
up with such a bill. It’s one of the most
important bills of the 8th national
assembly. But truth be told—are the youth
ready?
You can take a horse to the stream but
you can’t force it to drink water…or so
they say.
What is your assessment of youths’
readiness to actively and effectively
engage in politics?
Most aren’t ready. How many youth who
claim they want to run for an elective
office can articulate a simple budget?Or
even know what budgetary terms like
recurrent and capital expenditure mean?
How many can tell you what the problem
with our power sector is and come up
with a skeletal(elementary) solution.
How many of the so called “office ready”
youth can design a roadmap to revive the
agriculture sector in their states?
If we don’t get the basics right, we may
end up worse than the generations
before us.
Do you think the older generation have
failed us in providing good political
leadership?
I won’t categorically say they have- I just
think they could have done much better.
The onus is now on ours to do the bits
they couldn’t do.
That’s why I’m a bit worried about the
preparadness of my generation.
What is your view on recent move by the
National Assembly on minimum age
requirement for elections into public
offices?
Like I said earlier, Honorable Tony Nwulu
is my representative in Lagos(Isolo/
Oshodi) It’s a welcome development but
I’m not sure the youth are ready enough.
We also lack the structures.
Moving ahead, in what way can Cross
River youths take advantage of the new
development?
There’s no umbrella party or youth leader
like south Africa’s Julius Malema.
Who can lead the line? Hopefully, they
(Cross River State youth) can
Even though commissioner Asu Okang
hasn’t been top notch and the state YDP
has been embellished in crisis, I see light
at the end of the tunnel.
So far, can you say Cross River youths have
been carried along in the state politics?
Well,that’s a difficult one to call.but if I
were to be honest, quantitatively they
have- but qualitatively; I doubt.
Do you see bright political prospect for the
youths in Cross River State in 2019 and
beyond?
Yes, even though I’ve sounded sceptical to
some extent. There’s a bright future
political for the youth of our state.
If the right set of youth step up into
leadership,theres going to be a
renaissance of some sort.
I did a series few months back(april)
titled- 20 Cross Riverians under 40 to
watch out for in 2019 and beyond where
I profiled 20 young Cross Riverians.
What are your advice to youths who may
be nursing one political ambition or the
other?
It’s on my Facebook page- I profiled the
likes of Obasesam Okoi, Ofem Ekapong,
Ikposhi Ikposhi, Stanley Nsemo, John
Offiong, Betta Edu etc.
The youth can start by building
commensurate capacity and also choosing
the right role model.
It’s been a pleasure to have you thus far.
Thank you.
Thank you, you’re welcome.
Source-VOPLINK
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