- Goodluck Jonathan urged African countries to lower the age limit for political office, with the recommended age range being 25 to 50 years old. He believes that younger leaders are more energetic, sharper and better suited to handle the demands of governance.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the minimum age requirement for individuals seeking political office across Africa to be lowered.
He made the appeal at a commemorative lecture and leadership conference organized by the Murtala Muhammad Foundation in Abuja on Thursday.
Jonathan believes that African countries should focus on leaders between the ages of 25 and 50. He believes that people in this age group are more physically energetic, more agile in thinking, and able to cope with the strong demands of public office.
“I think we need to bring that number down. If we are looking for people to run African countries, we should think between the ages of 25 and 50,” he said, noting that younger leaders tend to have the stamina to cope with long hours and high-pressure responsibilities.
The former president mentioned Nigeria’s late former head of state, Murtala Mohammed, who took power at the age of 38 and implemented major reforms in a short period of time, which Jonathan attributed to his youthful energy and decisive leadership.
He also questioned the current constitutional threshold that requires candidates to be 40 years old for offices such as senator, governor and lieutenant governor, and even older for the presidency.
Reflecting on his tenure, Jonathan noted that leadership is extremely demanding, saying older officers often struggle to cope with physical stress and may spend significant time dealing with health issues.
