A former Minister of Lands and Housing and political leader of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Chief Nduese Essien, has attributed the backwardness and economic woes in Nigeria to governance by older people who naturally may not have both mental capacity and physical ability to address pressing issues.
Fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday, Chief Essien stated that older people have no business playing a focal point in governance but should rather play advisory roles from the side.
He decried the level of impunity, corruption and mismanagement of resources by political leaders, stating that it has led to a shortfall in the economy of Nigeria.
He said: “At 70, your mental capacity and physical performance have dwindled to the point that you should be on the sidelines to advise but not to be the focal point of governance.
“Now is the computer age where younger ones predominate and so for an old person to want to continue to lead after 70 is not just unacceptable, but intolerable.
“We are having problems with these governments that are headed by old people and I still say that the older ones after 70 should not want to provide active and effective leadership.
“A younger person who is more vibrant should be allowed to take over while the older ones play advisory roles.”
He further argued that when political positions are compensatory, much shouldn’t be expected from such leadership because there will be a lack of zeal.
Chief Essien called on the leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to re-energise and re-strategise themselves in readiness to confront the ruling party.
He said: “With the recent turn of events, we are virtually going into a one-party system situation, which is not ideal for this country, considering the diversity in population.”
He further advised the party to buckle up and not underestimate the likelihood of a failed party coming in strongly to take over governance.
“It almost happened in the last election in 2023, when a third, unknown force took over the government.
“Now many people who were disgruntled with the ruling party and failed opposition party are willing to join the third force and that could pose a danger for the other two parties,” he added.
The Eket Senatorial District leader also pleaded with Akwa Ibomites to allow Governor Umo Eno to settle down, and concentrate on delivering his mandate to the people rather than focusing on a second tenure.
A second term, he stated, is earned based on performance.
“I believe that a second term of another four years should be earned as a result of performance in the first four years in office. You can’t automatically earn eight years when you haven’t done well in four years. Umo Eno’s second-term campaign is a little too early. People should allow him to concentrate and work,” he stated.
70-year-olds should play advisory roles rather than leading government — Ex-Minister Essien
