African leaders should be under 50 – Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a generational shift in African leadership, urging nations to intentionally promote younger leaders aged 25 to 50, who he said possess the physical stamina and mental resilience required for modern governance.

He made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

Reflecting on the demands of leadership, Jonathan recalled enduring days in office with little more than two hours of sleep, noting that advanced age can limit the ability to cope with such pressures.

“Why do we begin to think that you must be a hundred years old before you can rule your country?” he asked, stressing that younger leaders are better equipped to handle the stress of governance.

“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.

Jonathan aligned his position with Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, advocating for the lowering of age barriers for elective offices to encourage youth participation in politics.

“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 public office holders who spend long periods outside their states or countries.

“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 said.

Jonathan highlighted General Murtala Muhammed’s legacy as evidence that age is not a barrier to decisive leadership. Muhammed became Head of State at 38 and, despite a tenure of only 200 days, made a lasting impact.

“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,” Jonathan said.

He also cited other young leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 32 and introduced the National Youth Service Corps, which continues to operate today.

“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 asked.

Jonathan warned that youth alone is not enough without discipline, patriotism, and strong institutions. While praising Muhammed’s decisiveness, he stressed that democracy relies on institutions over individuals.

“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 treat governance as stewardship, not entitlement, and encouraged young people to view leadership as service.

“Young people must see leadership as service, not entitlement. Leaders must see governance as stewardship, not a right,” he said, recalling that he once contested for deputy governor when age restrictions required candidates to be at least 40.

Jonathan emphasised that leadership should be judged by impact, not tenure.

“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.

He concluded by stressing that while military leaders govern by command, democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible elections, an independent judiciary, accountable governance, and respect for the rule of law.

“While General Murtala Muhammed symbolised decisive leadership, our democratic future depends on strong institutions. Democracy requires vision rather than decree. It requires persuasion instead of command. It depends on institutions, not individuals. Democracy also demands restraint and respect for the rule of law,” Jonathan said.