By Dansu Peter
President Muhammadu Buhari's Special Assitant On Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has expressed his unfancied stance over the emergence of Emmanuel Macron as France President at age 39, saying its nothing to be excited about as many Nigerians have been doing.
Some Nigerians have been expressing their excitement over Macron's emergence as the French youngest President
Chief Obono-Obla, in a post of hi facebook timeline, berrated those celebrating Macron's feat at 39. He pointed out that, age does not have anything to do in the scheme of things. He, therefore, enumerated former Nigerian leaders who were younger than Emmanuel Macro.
The President's aide said; "Some Nigerians are excited that 39 years old Emmanuel Macron who is married to a 65 years woman was elected President of France ! A 39 years marrying a 65 years old woman ! What does that tell you ? Doesn't that tell us that age doesn't really matter in the scheme of things ! But Nigeria had produced several Head of States that are younger than Emmanuel Macron!"
"General Yakubu Gowon became Head of State on 29 July 1966 when he was 32 years old! General Murtala Ramat Mohammed became Head of State on the 29 July 1975 when he was 36 years old ! While General Olusegun Obasanjo became Head of State on the 13 February 1976 when he was 37 !"
"Lastly General Muhammadu Buhari became Head of State on 1 January 1984 when he was 41! The Nigerian Constitution says the age of eligibility to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is 40 ! So nothing stops a 40 years old from becoming Nigerian President."
"So election of a 39 years old in France does not excite me. The French people did not elect him because he is 39! They elected him because they did not want a radical right winger to take over their country! They saw him as a competent person to do the job! Europeans are not emotional and sentimental like us!"
"In Nigeria we have seen elected young leaders! Nobody stopped them! A 35 years was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. He is Danji Bankole! Donald Duke was elected Governor at 35 ! Clement Ebri was elected Governor at 39! Why didn't the elders stop them! Saminu Turaki was elected Governor at 35 in 1999 his incompetence devastated Jigawa! Dr Joseph Wayas became Senate President of Nigeria at 39 !
Chief Okoi Obono-Obla said further; "Eighty percent of Chairmen and Councillors of Local Government Councils are under 40 in this country ! The former Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly is 33 ! The House of Representatives in Nigeria is dominated by young people who are between 35 to 45 ! Yet there is no difference !"
Recalls many Nigerians criticized the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari who emerged the incumbent Nigerian President at age 72. Now at 74, many are of the opinion that age is really affecting the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari. The President himself had some time ago lamented he wished he had become Nigeria's elected President when he was much more younger.
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