The Office of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has clarified what it describes as a misrepresentation of his recent comments regarding youth in
The Office of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has clarified what it describes as a misrepresentation of his recent comments regarding youth in governance, made by the former President at the recent 50th anniversary commemoration of the passing of General Murtala Mohammed.
A statement issued on Monday by the Media Adviser to the former President, Ikechukwu Eze, addressed the controversy surrounding Dr. Jonathan’s speech, noting that social media interpretations suggesting Dr. Jonathan advocated for a maximum age of 50 for African leaders were taken out of context.
It stated that Jonathan’s remarks were more of a call for generational inclusion than for a rigid age limit for leadership.
“The event was a memorial in honour of General Murtala Mohammed, who assumed office at the youthful age of 36. In reflecting on his legacy, former President Jonathan highlighted the importance of youth participation in governance, using the experiences of leaders from that era as reference points,” Mr. Eze explained.
The statement noted that Dr. Jonathan cited examples such as a 38-year-old Olusegun Obasanjo, a 32-year-old Yakubu Gowon, and a 24-year-old Alfred Diete-Spiff to underscore the historical contributions of young leaders.
Eze affirmed that the former President’s central message was a call for inclusion, not exclusion.
“President Jonathan’s central message was not about setting a rigid age limit for leadership. Rather, he emphasized the need to prioritize competence, capacity, innovation, technological awareness, and the energy required to meet the demanding responsibilities of public office,” Mr. Eze said. “His remarks were a call for generational inclusion and leadership renewal, not an exclusion of older individuals from public service.”
The statement further dismissed claims that Dr. Jonathan seeks to disqualify older politicians, pointing out that the former President himself assumed the nation’s highest office in his fifties.
“President Jonathan maintains that leadership should be defined by vision, character, competence, and the physical and mental ability to serve, not by age alone,” the statement read.
“We trust that this clarification puts the matter in proper perspective and addresses any misunderstanding arising from the former President’s remarks.”
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Below is the full text of the statement issued by Mr. Ikechukwu Eze:
Clarification on Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Remarks at the 50th Anniversary of Murtala Mohammed
Our attention has been drawn to various interpretations circulating on social media regarding remarks made by former President Goodluck Jonathan during the 50th anniversary commemoration of Murtala Mohammed. Some reports have suggested that the former President recommended 50 years as the maximum age for African leaders.
We wish to categorically clarify that this interpretation does not accurately reflect the context or substance of his remarks.
The event was a memorial in honour of General Murtala Mohammed, who assumed office at the youthful age of 36 and is remembered for his decisive leadership and reform-oriented governance. In reflecting on his legacy, President Jonathan highlighted the importance of youth participation in governance, using the experiences of leaders from that era as reference points.
He cited examples such as Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded Murtala Mohammed at 38; Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 32 and led the country through the civil war; and Alfred Diete-Spiff, who was appointed Military Governor of Rivers State at 24 and oversaw significant infrastructural development. These examples were intended to underscore the historical contributions of young leaders and to encourage greater youth inclusion in governance across Africa.
President Jonathan’s central message was not about setting a rigid age limit for leadership. Rather, he emphasized the need to prioritize competence, capacity, innovation, technological awareness, and the energy required to meet the demanding responsibilities of public office. His remarks were a call for generational inclusion and leadership renewal, not an exclusion of older individuals from public service.
His message was not about imposing a strict age limit, but about promoting competence, capacity, innovation and generational inclusion in governance. President Jonathan himself became President in his fifties, making claims that he seeks to disqualify those above 50 both illogical and unfounded.
President Jonathan maintains that leadership should be defined by vision, character, competence, and the physical and mental ability to serve, not by age alone.
We trust that this clarification puts the matter in proper perspective and addresses any misunderstanding arising from the former President’s remarks.
Ikechukwu Eze
S. A. to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan