Running in circles: The #30DaysRantChallenge that leads nowhere

BY OGUNGBILE EMMANUEL OLUDOTUN

In 2022, I wrote an article titled ‘Nigerian Youths Are Too Young to Rule,’ arguing that young Nigerians are more invested in online activism than in taking meaningful actions toward achieving real change. The backlash was intense. People called me pessimistic, out of touch, and dismissive of young Nigerians’ struggles. But now, as the #30DaysRantChallenge trends across social media, I ask again: What next?

For days now, and the next several, until it reaches 30, young Nigerians have flooded ‘Twitter’, TikTok, and Instagram with passionate rants about the failing economy, rising food prices, and the naira’s continuous decline. But after all the venting, what exactly will change? Sometimes, I wonder if this challenge has become mere content for some, a way to trend and chase clout rather than a genuine call for solutions. Are we satisfied with complaining, or do we truly want to fix the country?

Let’s be clear: no one denies Nigeria’s unfortunate hardship. I’d argue that I’m the most frustrated Nigerian alive. I see and know the daily struggles, joblessness, skyrocketing rent, and growing disillusionment that doesn’t seem to have a light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon. But frustration alone is not enough. It must evolve into action. And this is where Nigerian youths continue to fail.

It’s pathetic that many of the same people ranting online are doing so simply because it’s naturally trending. Some of them know nothing about governance. The only thing they know about Nigeria is its name, yet they cannot name their local government chairman, councillor, senator, or house of representatives member, the very individuals shaping policies that affect their lives. They don’t know how laws are passed, how government budgets are created, or what their constitutional rights are.

Again, I’m a frustrated Nigerian, and I know the harsh truth: Nigeria’s political elite do not fear your ‘Twitter’ threads, TikTok videos, or trending hashtags. In fact, the worst thing they could do to you is watch you make big statements and then throw you into detention for days. They know that in 30 days, the outrage will fizzle out, and everyone will return to their daily struggles, waiting for the next viral trend. Meanwhile, these politicians continue to strategize, secure their positions, and pass policies that serve their interests, while the youth waste energy on momentary anger.

Now let’s talk numbers. According to Dataphyte, In the 2023 elections, Nigeria had over 37 million registered voters under 35, making up nearly 40% of the total voter base. Yet, youth voter turnout was abysmally low despite their loud voices on the internet. According to the INEC, apathy among young people has reached disturbing levels, with many opting out of the electoral process entirely.

When political party memberships opened, how many young Nigerians showed interest? Instead of joining the PDPs, APCs, and SDPs of this world and dominating them with numbers, we leave our future in the hands of the same bald and pot-bellied politicians we complain about. When roundtable meetings are called, how many young people show interest in engaging in these spaces? Yet, it is the same old people deciding the country’s future. Let me ask you: How many of these internet warriors have a copy of the constitution or even know what their basic rights look like? But they know all the algorithms and tricks for going viral on TikTok and Instagram.

It’s ironic. The older generation, whom we blame for ruining Nigeria, at least understood power before they got into office. Gowon became Head of State at 31. Murtala led a coup at 37. Shagari was a federal lawmaker in his 20s. Whether they led Nigeria to success or ruin, they grasped how governance worked. But today’s youth? They have outrage, not a political strategy.

Hence my new reality is that Nigerian youth are not “too young to rule.” They are too uninformed, too distracted, and too unserious about governance. They can analyze every detail of Big Brother Naija but cannot explain how a bill becomes law. They can name all the latest TikTok influencers but not their constituency representatives. So how do they expect to change a country they don’t even understand?

The #30DaysRantChallenge reveals an uncomfortable truth: Young Nigerians want transformation but refuse to do the work. They want change but won’t join political parties. They want better leadership but won’t contest for office. They want accountability but won’t attend local government meetings or demand policy reforms.

And let’s not even talk about youth organizations. Student associations, once a fierce movement against military oppression, is now a tool for political patronage. Today’s so-called “youth activists” are more interested in clout than in actual leadership.

Before anyone says, “The system is rigged against us,” ask yourself: Did the politicians who dominate Nigeria today have it easy? No. They studied the system, exploited its weaknesses, and fought their way into power. But young Nigerians? They sit behind their phones, cry about bad governance, and expect someone else to fix Nigeria. It doesn’t work that way.

I am tired. Tired of seeing the same cycle of outrage and inaction. Tired of watching young Nigerians waste their energy on fleeting trends instead of meaningful political engagement. Tired of a generation that talks about change but refuses to put in the work.

We are at a crossroads. The older generation will not be here forever. Power will shift. The question is: Who will take it? The children of the same politicians who ruined Nigeria? If young Nigerians do not get serious, if they do not educate themselves, organize beyond social media, and actively participate in governance, they will wake up one day and realize their opportunity has passed.

Maybe, after the #30DaysRantChallenge, we should start a 30 Days of Accountability and Action Challenge. One where young people visit their local government offices, engage with their state representatives and demand accountability. If that happens, then we are getting somewhere. Because let’s be honest: Complaining is not a strategy. Social media protests might feel like activism, but hashtags are not policies, and viral rants are not governance.

The sooner Nigerian youths understand this, the better. So, I ask again: #30DaysRantChallenge, are you not tired of running in the same circle?

Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun can be contacted via [email protected]