Labour Party chieftains on Wednesday urged members of the National Assembly to consider passing a bill restricting ageing politicians from running for presidential, governorship, and other political positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The demand was made by the party’s National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu and LP lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, Benedict Etanabene, at the 2024 Annual Meeting and National Youth Conference in Abuja.
In attendance were the reinstated LP National Chairman, Julius Abure; National Secretary, Umar Farouk; state youth leaders, national delegates and some lawmakers among others
Ahanotu urged legislators to legislate on retirement limits for all elective positions, including the presidential, governorship and other seats.
According to him, a 70-year-old candidate has no business running for elective office just as he would be deemed too old and already in retirement age if he is in the civil service.
He said, “Any politician from 70 years and above should be stopped from contesting elections just as the Federal Government placed an age restriction on civil servants who are the most productive arm of the nation. This will free a lot of positions for the younger generations to take up important national responsibilities.
“But it is sad to note that even the President who sits on our national treasury and commonwealth doesn’t have a retirement age. We urge our lawmakers to pass a bill on retirement age for politicians. A young man has been at the helm of affairs in France at the age of 40. In Senegal currently, we have a president who has just turned 40. Are these not sovereign countries like Nigeria?
“Why is it that our leaders gave birth to us and start lying we are the future leaders of the nation? At 30, we are not worthy to become commissioners. At 40, we cannot be voted in as House of Reps members. At 50, we are seen as too young to become a governor.”
The national youth leader also demanded that President Bola Tinubu send an executive bill to the National Assembly to legalise BVAS and Electronic Transmission of election results in subsequent elections in Nigeria.
Ahanotu stated that such a measure would put an end to the recurring excuses of a ‘technical glitch’ that almost marred the 2023 presidential election.
Etanabene also shared his sentiment in his address.
The lawmaker expressed concern that part of the reason the nation’s economy and productivity have continued to take a hit was because of the ageing persons at the helm of affairs.
According to him, it is impossible to expect such people to engage in strenuous activities like embarking on project inspections to checkmate corruption in the system.
He said, “The way forward is for us to design an age of retirement for these people. What it simply means is that people who are approaching or in their 70s are already at their age of diminishing returns. To now put such persons into leadership positions, there is no doubt that you will experience some form of diminishing returns in terms of the services they could render.
“We can also see the effect in some of the projects being executed across the country. How many of the people approving those projects move around for inspections? And the reason is obvious. They don’t have the energy to go there. This is why we don’t need to keep voting or retaining retirees in our leadership positions.
“If we can do this, Nigeria’s faltering economy will pick up. That is why out of the candidates being pushed forward for elective offices, LP stood out. The candidates we put forward in 2023 were youthful, agile, and younger than the rest. They also have the capacity and energy to drive. The truth is that if you are above 60 years today, you are already in the analogue category.”