Ekiti State Governor , Mr. Ayodele Fayose , has commended the National Assembly for its passage of the bill to reduce the age limits for elective positions .
The governor, however , called for the total removal of age barrier from the eligibility conditions to contest elections in the country
He made the call in a statement issued in Ado- Ekiti on Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media , Lere Olayinka.
Fayose said, “ If a Nigerian who is 18 years can vote, such a person should also be qualified to be voted for and whether or not such a person can be elected should be left in the hands of the electorate.
“ Most importantly , age is not a barrier to intellectual capability and that has been ( seen ) in most countries led by young people . Here in Nigeria , General Yakubu Gowon was Head of State at 32
“ There is no nation that can develop without giving its youths ( the ) opportunity to serve. There is nothing wrong in a 30 - year - old contesting for ( the position of the ) President not to even talk of ( a) 35 - year - old because the future of Nigeria belongs to the youth .”
The governor, who assured that the Ekiti State House of Assembly would endorse the bill when presented to it , called on other state Houses of Assembly to endorse the bill.
He declared that he was already putting into practice the provisions of the bill in Ekiti State , explaining that it was in recognition of the importance of youth ’ s involvement in governance that he restricted the age anyone could contest for ( the position of a) councillor to between 18 and 40 years and those above 50 years for the chairmanship election.
“ I salute the National Assembly for passing this very important bill that will enable young Nigerians to contest for ( the office of the ) President at 35 , governor at 30 and House of Representatives or State Assemblies at 25 . But the National Assembly should have removed the age barrier completely , ” the governor said.
Fayose , who reiterated his decision to enforce the age limit for local government positions , said the bill passed by the National Assembly had reinforced his position on the age limit for local council positions in Ekiti State.
“ It is my position that our youths must be allowed to participate in governance since they are the ones who provide the largest votes during elections .
“ Most importantly , the future belongs to the youth and I believe that they should be given prominent roles in structuring that future which belongs to them.”
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