Hope for the Youths: Goodluck
Jonathan Advocates For A Young President
President Jonathan
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.
