Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a deliberate generational shift in African leadership, urging countries across the continent to promote younger leaders between the ages of 25 and 50, whom he described as better suited physically and mentally for the rigours of modern governance.
Jonathan made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.
Reflecting on the intense demands of executive office, the former president recounted that during his time in office, he sometimes slept for less than two hours in 24, underscoring the physical and mental stamina required to lead a nation.
“Why do we begin to think that you must be a hundred years old before you can rule your country?” Jonathan asked.
According to him, leadership requires unusual resilience and endurance, qualities he believes are more readily found among younger leaders.
“If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can stay awake for 24 hours. When I was in office, some days I did not sleep up to two hours. If you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 per cent of the time in hospital,” he said.
Throwing his weight behind Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, which seeks to lower age barriers for elective offices, Jonathan argued that Africa must intentionally create pathways for younger citizens to assume positions of authority.
“We have to reinforce the Not Too Young To Run movement. We have to bring some of these age limits down. 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 said.
He also criticised the practice of some public office holders spending extended periods outside their jurisdictions, warning that absentee leadership weakens governance and fuels insecurity.
“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? Coming of age must transcend many things. First and foremost, we must have the discipline to manage ourselves,” he added.
Drawing lessons from history, Jonathan said the late General Murtala Muhammed demonstrated that age is not a barrier to decisive and visionary leadership. Muhammed assumed office at 38 and, despite ruling for only 200 days, left what Jonathan described as a profound and enduring legacy.
“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. His leadership sent a clear message: leadership was to serve the national interest, not personal ambition,” he said.
He also cited General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 32 and later established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which remains operational decades later.
“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 queried.
However, Jonathan cautioned that youthfulness alone does not guarantee effective governance. He stressed that discipline, patriotism and strong institutions remain indispensable to democratic leadership.
While acknowledging that military regimes operate by command, he noted that democracy demands persuasion, institutional strength and adherence to the rule of law.
“Democracy requires vision rather than decree. It requires persuasion instead of command. It depends on institutions, not individuals. Above all, it requires respect for the rule of law and the willingness to submit power to the will of the people,” he said.
He urged African leaders to view governance as stewardship rather than entitlement and challenged young people to embrace leadership as service.
“Young people must see leadership as service, not entitlement. Leaders must see governance as stewardship, not a right,” he said.
Jonathan concluded by urging Nigerians and Africans to measure leadership not by longevity in office but by impact.
“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.
