Renowned political economist and public affairs analyst, Professor Pat Utomi, has called for a generational shift in Nigeria’s political leadership, advocating that candidates for the offices of President and Vice President should ideally be in their sixties.
Utomi made the statement on Wednesday during an interview on News Central Television, where he spoke on the state of national leadership and the direction of a proposed coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking frankly, the former presidential candidate said it was time older politicians stepped aside to allow younger generations take on leadership roles.
“I’m 69 years old, and I now consider myself too old to be a cabinet minister,” Utomi stated.
“I have given my children authority, that if by 75 years they heard I have gone to do some political meetings other than sitting at home and giving elders advice, they should immediately have me arrested and brought home.”
Utomi stressed that while elderly statesmen may still have wisdom and capability, continuing to dominate frontline politics beyond a certain age was unfair to younger Nigerians.
“We should not have certain people of a certain age still running around. Yes, they may be the most capable of people, but it’s not fair to the next generation,” he said.
He further recommended that cabinet ministers should largely be in their forties or fifties, with top executive positions such as the presidency reserved for those in their sixties.
“Anybody who is over seventy-five running, I think that, generally, they should concern themselves with gathering the nation, as fathers of the nation. They should find young people to advise and show the way.”
His comments come amid increasing national debates around youth inclusion in politics and the age of political aspirants ahead of future elections.
