(DDM) – Goodluck Jonathan has urged African countries to lower age thresholds for major political offices to boost energy and performance.
DDM learned that the former president framed his argument around leadership stamina and the pressures of governance.
He spoke in Abuja during a memorial lecture and leadership conference attended by policymakers, scholars, and civil society actors.
The event was organized by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation to reflect on leadership, nation-building, and public service values in Africa.
Jonathan argued that countries should deliberately search for leaders between ages twenty-five and fifty for executive and legislative responsibilities.
He said people within that bracket often show stronger physical resilience and quicker mental response under intense administrative pressure.
He explained that demanding offices require long hours, rapid decisions, and constant crisis management across security, economy, and social welfare.
He recalled that during his presidency he sometimes slept less than two hours because urgent state matters required overnight attention.
He warned that older officeholders exposed to relentless schedules might spend significant time managing health challenges instead of governing effectively.
Jonathan linked his proposal to productivity, arguing that governance should prioritize capacity to endure pressure rather than seniority or entitlement.
He referenced the record of Murtala Muhammed, who assumed national leadership at thirty-eight and pursued swift reforms.
He noted that the late leader implemented bold changes within about two hundred days, leaving a legacy often cited in governance debates.
Jonathan questioned constitutional provisions that fix minimum ages around forty for senators, governors, and deputy governors, and even higher for presidents.
He suggested that rigid thresholds may unintentionally exclude capable younger Nigerians ready to contribute to national transformation.
He broadened his remarks to criticize absentee leadership patterns that keep some governors frequently outside their states or overseas.
He argued that such travel habits weaken supervision, slow development projects, and complicate responses to local security threats.
He maintained that citizens deserve leaders who remain present, accessible, and physically ready to engage problems as they arise.
Political analysts say his comments may revive debates about constitutional reform and youth inclusion in Nigeria’s political system.
Some critics, however, view age-focused arguments as controversial in societies that respect seniority and accumulated experience.
Supporters counter that demographic realities in Africa favor younger populations who want greater representation in decision-making spaces.
Nigeria’s median age remains low, and youth groups have repeatedly demanded pathways into leadership and policy influence.
Jonathan concluded that effective governance requires matching the nation’s challenges with leaders who possess endurance, clarity, and reformist drive.
