FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a deliberate generational shift in leadership across Africa, urging nations on the continent to prioritise younger leaders between the ages of 25 and 50.
News Point Nigeria reports that Jonathan made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad.
Addressing political leaders, scholars and dignitaries at the event, the former president argued that the demands of modern governance require physical stamina, mental alertness and resilience qualities he believes are more prevalent among younger leaders.
“Why do we begin to think that you must be a hundred years old before you can rule your country?” Jonathan asked rhetorically.
Reflecting on his own experience in office, Jonathan recounted the intense pressures that accompanied presidential responsibilities.
“When I was in office, some days I did not sleep up to two hours,” he said. “If you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 per cent of the time in hospital.”
He stressed that governance in the contemporary world demands unusual stamina, noting that leaders often need to stay awake for extended hours to respond to crises and manage state affairs.
“If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can stay awake for 24 hours,” he said, referring to younger leaders.
Jonathan aligned his position with the philosophy behind Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, which seeks to lower constitutional age requirements for elective offices and expand youth participation in politics.
“I have to reinforce the Not Too Young To Run movement. We have to bring some of these age limits down,” he said. “If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look within the 25 to 50 age bracket. That is when you can be very vibrant, physically strong and mentally sound.”
He lamented that in many African countries, political leadership is often associated with advanced age rather than competence and vision.
The former president also criticised the practice of some public office holders spending extended periods outside their jurisdictions, warning that such absentee leadership contributes to governance and security challenges.
“In a country like the United States, some governors do not leave their states for four years. But here, some of our governors spend 50 per cent of their time outside. So who runs the state? Why will we not have security problems?” he queried.
He emphasised that leadership maturity must be anchored in discipline and self-management.
“Coming of age must transcend many things. First and foremost, we must have the discipline to manage ourselves,” he added.
Jonathan used the occasion to reflect on the legacy of General Murtala Muhammed, who assumed office as Nigeria’s Head of State at the age of 38 and ruled for just 200 days before his assassination in 1976.
Despite his short tenure, Jonathan said Muhammed left an enduring impact because of his clarity of vision and decisiveness.
“General Murtala Muhammed assumed office at the very young age of 38. Despite a tenure of only 200 days, his achievements were profound because he was driven by a clear, unyielding vision,” Jonathan said.
“His leadership sent a clear message: leadership was to serve the national interest, not personal ambition.”
He also referenced General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 32 and steered Nigeria through the civil war before establishing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which remains operational today.
“A young man of 32 managed to pull the country through the civil war. So why do we now think leadership must only come at old age?” he asked.
While advocating youthful leadership, Jonathan cautioned that age alone does not guarantee effective governance. He stressed that democracy thrives not merely on energetic individuals but on strong institutions.
“Democracy requires vision rather than decree. It requires persuasion instead of command. It depends on institutions, not individuals,” he said.
He emphasised that credible electoral bodies, an independent judiciary, accountable governance systems and professional security agencies are essential pillars of democratic sustainability.
“Democracy also demands restraint and respect for the rule of law,” he added.
Jonathan urged African leaders to regard governance as stewardship rather than entitlement and encouraged young people to approach leadership with a sense of responsibility and service.
“Young people must see leadership as service, not entitlement. Leaders must see governance as stewardship, not a right,” he said.
Recalling earlier constitutional age restrictions in Nigeria, he noted that one had to be at least 40 years old to contest for positions such as senator, deputy governor or governor.
“Yet the Head of State we are celebrating today assumed office at 38,” he said, underscoring the need to reassess rigid age thresholds.
Concluding his remarks, Jonathan urged Nigerians and Africans to measure leadership not by duration in office but by the quality of impact made.
“As we mark 50 years of General Murtala Muhammed’s legacy, let us remember that leadership is not measured by how long you govern; it is measured by the courage to act decisively when the nation needs direction and by the impact you make on society,” he said.
The lecture formed part of activities commemorating the golden jubilee of Muhammed’s assassination, drawing attention to enduring questions about leadership, governance and democratic development across Africa.