#NotTooYoungToRun: Age should not be a barrier; let the people decide- Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday threw his weight behind the Not Too Young To Run campaign, stating that age should not preclude anyone from leading the country, as long as the person was the choice of the people.

Obasanjo said this while commenting on the recently passed age reduction bill by the National Assembly, which, among others, reduced the age requirement for presidential office from 40 to 35.

Obasanjo argued that it was not right to set minimum age for a presidential candidate without also specifying the maximum age beyond which one would be barred from contesting.

Citing as examples, Gen. Yakubu Gowon who became military Head of State at the age of 33, and himself at 39, Obasanjo said that instead of the emphasis on age, competence should be the qualification for leadership.

Read also: Jonathan failed because he refused to follow my advice- Obasanjo

The former president made these comments as guest speaker at an exposition series tagged, “God in my life,” organised by the Torchbearer Society of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos.

His words: “Quite frankly, if we put minimum age, why are we not putting maximum age? If they put minimum age and then say that even if you are 90, you can be president, because there is no age limit to being president.

“To me, there should be no age limit. Gen. Gowon (retd.) became the Head of State at the age of 33, I became the Head of State at 39.

“I believe there should be no age limit; let the people decide”.

 

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