Jonathan calls for law to permit Nigerian youth run for President

Jonathan calls for law to permit Nigerian youth run for President

President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking to abolish
the law restricting Presidential aspirants to an age
minimum of 40 years.
Speaking during a youth summit organized by
Nigerian Young Professionals Forum at the
International Conference Centre in Abuja, the
President said he would support legislation allowing
younger Nigerians to seek the highest office in the
land.
The President said, “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.
“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.’’
“I always say that whenever you read newspapers,
watch television or listen to the radios, those who
preach hate, quarrel and try to divide us on the
basis of ethnicity and religion are not the young
people but grandfathers,” he noted.
“The youths live with whomever they are
comfortable with regardless of ethnic or religious
affiliation; they want to marry whomever they ×love.
“They are not like those old people who are
disturbing us, who want to divide us based on
religion and all kinds of sentiments,” he said.