President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated for a young
President by seeking the removal of the constitutional age limit of 40
years for a Nigerian to become president.
NAN reports that, the President made the call in Abuja on Saturday,
while speaking at an international youth conference, organised by the
Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), tagged: “Capacity for Change
for a New Nigeria.”
Jonathan, who described the constitutional provision as being
discriminatory against young Nigerians, who had the energy, ideas and
other qualities to lead the country to greatness tasked the youth to
forward a constitution amendment bill to the National Assembly for the
removal of all discriminatory provisions in terms of age and promised to
support the move.
According to him, the call made by Moses Siasia, Chairman and
Founder of NYPF, for 35 per cent affirmative action for the youth in
governance was also a limitation to the aspiration of the group.
The President explained that requesting for a percentage amounted
to self-limitation, insisting that the youths had all that was needed to
rule, especially the numerical strength to get the highest office in
the country.
“The youths have no limit in terms of number and capacity to
lead this country to greatness. The only limit is that for youths to
contest as president, they need to be 40. If Gen. Yakubu Gowon was able
to rule this country at 32, there is no reason why the youths should not
be given the chance. So, don’t ask for per cent because by that request
you are limiting yourselves. I think what the youth should do now is to
come together, and I will support you, and take a bill to the National
Assembly to amend some discriminatory provisions of the constitution in
terms of age,’’ Jonathan said.
President Jonathan further assured the youths of his
administration’s readiness to implement policies and programmes that
would continue to harness their huge potential for national development
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