To begin with, soon after the official announcement by the Presidency for relieving two ministers from president Buhari’s cabinet some Nigerians have begun the clamours for younger people as their replacements in the cabinet. In my thoughts, this is not want we really need.
It is pertinent to “debate” whether “leadership” is about one’s “age” or “competence”. In my view , the quest for credible leadership should go beyond one’s age alone , for me, it should be about one’s capacity or capability or competency or patriotism and or vision and or all . Nigerians should rather clamour for the best people as their replacements in this trying times of our dear country.
I am a believer of the combination of both the young and the old in leadership position, but not on the basis of one’s age per se, but on the bases of the above mentioned qualities.
A young leader needs the “experience” and the “maturity” of an”aged” leader while an “aged” leader needs the youthful “exuberance “of a young leader . The mixture of the two classes is the best way to go. It will enable the “old” to “mentor” and “tutor “the youths while the youthful energy of the youth will add value to governance .
Nigeria by its history has always been governed by relatively young people. If there are setting categories of ages to blame for its leadership failure then the young people will take a fair share of it.
If one studies our history carefully from independence today will have known that we have had ministers and commissioners in their midst and early twenties in our dear country.
With the exception of Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari in their second comings all our presidents past held leadership position at below 60 years.
Sir Abubakar Prime minister at the age of 49, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ceremonial President at 51, General Ironsi at 42, General Gowon at 32, General Murtala at 37, General Obasanjo at 38, President Shagari at 54, General Buhari at 41, General Babangida at 44, Chief Shokekan at 55, General Abacha at 49, General Abubakar at 56, President Obasanjo at 62, President Yar’adua at 56, President Jonathan at 53 and President Buhari at 73.
May God bless Nigeria!
