BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
A political pressure group, the Progressive Leaders Association of Nigeria, PLAN has advised all presidential aspirants for 2023 that are above the age of 65 to drop the idea and rather support younger aspirants for the post which it describes as “very demanding both physically and mentally.”
The two leading political parties in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party have aspirants who are well above the set age limit even though they are yet to declare their intention to contest publicly. Prominent among them are Asiweaju Bola Tinubu of the APC and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar. PLAN vowed to mobilise Nigerians against any presidential candidate that is above 65 years of age in the coming 2023 general elections.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja at the weekend, Convener of PLAN Nigeria, Comrade Bello Osaretin El- Mikado, said the call for 65 years age benchmark is not targeted at any person or aimed at denying some class of people of participation. He explained that it was meant to rescue the political system from the clutches of analog leadership style to a more robust and digital savvy leadership, adding that “politicians at 65 and above should commence leaving the stage for retirement home.
“Progressive Leaders Association of Nigeria has the responsibility and mandate to midwife the emergence of credible leaders, through conventional recruitment process to mobilize leaders of thoughts, identify vibrant and innovative young men and women to pursue political positions across existing political parties in Nigeria, rather than sitting aloof for cheap political appointments as SA’s and PA’s.
“We canvassed this on the strength of morality for politicians above 65 years of age to forget about 2023 presidential race and take advisory role, as we vowed to use our numerical strength of voter’s demography to halt the incessant political behaviour of recycling leaders that we shall not negotiate as the true position of Nigerian citizens.
“We can’t afford to be taken back any more when other nations are running ahead, it is a known fact that we have credible, ebullient young and visionary leaders across Nigeria that can take the country out of the wood and cause structural development in the country. The time to walk the talk is now
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He sounded a warning that Nigeria cannot continue progress in error, retrogressing while other countries are marching forward.
“We can’t afford to be taken back any more when other nations are running ahead, it is a known fact that we have credible, ebullient young and visionary leaders across Nigeria that can take the country out of the wood and cause structural development in the country. The time to walk the talk is now.
“We must say no to gentrocratic system in 2023. For these well thought out reasons, we invited you all to join in the quest to solving the enormous challenges, that is already starring us in the face. The political grandfathers can’t continue to occupy all juicy positions ad infinitum, meanwhile the youths are left to their fate to roam the streets with no hope and insight to actualize their dreams and latent potentials, and with their future occupied esto perpetual by the old order.”
PLAN also called on the critical stakeholders to join forces with the electoral umpires to consolidate on its achievements.
“To this end, we request the total synergy of critical stakeholders to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and consolidate on the President’s efforts to improve the electioneering process before the next general elections with an appeal to sign into law the amended electoral bill by the National Assembly, especially, the direct primaries and electronic transmissions of results clause to open the political space for all inclusiveness and fair play to further deepen internal democratic process of all political parties.”
PLAN vowed to use its numerical strength in all the 774 local government areas across the country “to push away the old political barracuda from the political arena, for nobody gives up power willingly, except they are pushed out. This, we must surely do in 2023, through the ballot box.”
