Young leaders stronger, better positioned, mentally fit to drive Africa’s growth – Former President Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says African nations should prioritise individuals aged 25 to 50 for top governance roles, citing their superior physical strength, mental sharpness, and ability to endure the intense demands of office.

 

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the memorial lecture and leadership conference organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the late Murtala Muhammed, former head of state, Jonathan urged a further reduction in age barriers for political office beyond Nigeria’s existing “Not Too Young to Run” reforms.

 

“I think we need to bring it lower. If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look at the age between 25 and 50,” the former president said.

 

“That is the way you can be very vibrant, physically strong, and mentally sound. If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can stay awake for 24 hours.”

 

He contrasted this with his own experience and historical precedents, noting that the late Murtala Muhammed assumed power at age 38 and achieved profound reforms in just 200 days through decisive vision and national duty.

 

Jonathan questioned rigid modern thresholds, where candidates must be at least 40 years old for roles like senator, deputy governor, or governor, and older for the presidency.

 

“When I was in office, I was older than that. Some days, I did not sleep up to two hours. So, if you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 percent of the time in the hospital,” he said.

 

The former president tied his appeal to broader critiques of current governance, lamenting that some governors spend up to 50 percent of their time abroad or in Abuja, leaving states unmanaged and contributing to persistent security and development challenges.