*Blasts Proponents Of Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Monday said Nigeria would be embarking on a dangerous journey if it elected a youth as president.

In a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT, on Monday, Sagay said there was no evidence that youths were better than elders in leadership.

He argued that anyone thinking youths would perform better in positions of authority in Nigeria was shallow-minded.

While urging the youths to come out and fight for power, he argued that power was not served a la carte, adding that the older generations would not willingly hand over power to youths on a platter of gold unless the younger generations worked for it.

The constitutional lawyer also lambasted proponents of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run movement, urging them to wait till they attain the constitutionally required age for contesting public office.

According to him, it is absurd seeing a 20-year-old coming to contest as senator of the Federal Republic.

“Number one: it is shallow-thinking for anyone to think that if a youth becomes president, he will do better than the older one.

“It is very shallow thinking because, as I see it, it is the youths of Nigeria today who believe in overnight wealth, who want billions overnight, who don’t want to work for their living and gradually build up their assets and business.

“That psychology of overnight wealth is almost exclusively a youth attribute.

“Number two: who is stopping the youths? All these people who are advocating that the youths should take over are in essence saying the older ones should just call the youths and say ‘come and take power’.

“If you want power, you work for it. You are not going to sit down in your sitting room and somebody will bring power to you. Let them join the fray.”

Giving instances of young leaders in the world such as Emmanuel Macron of France, Sebastian Kurz of Austria and George Weah of Liberia, Sagay said these young leaders stepped out of their comfort zones, campaigned for votes and were voted for by the electorate before assuming the mantle of leadership.

Sagay also cited the example of President Muhammadu Buhari, who succeeded after three failed attempts at the presidency.

He, however, said Nigeria may regret having a youth as president as the preponderance of evidence points to the fact that it is riskier to have a youth at the helm of affairs of Nigeria.

He, therefore, advised Nigerians to maintain the status quo, which implies allowing President Buhari to continue for another term in office.

“All these people they mentioned, like France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Sebastian Kurz of Austria, and other young leaders worked hard for it.

“They came out in the open and campaigned for votes and people voted for them.

“George Weah was tenacious in his quest until he got it. Even President Buhari succeeded in his fourth attempt.

“They will be fooling themselves if they think they can sit on their backpedal and somebody will hand over power to them. That is a pure delusion.

“Speaking generally, there is no evidence whatsoever that the youths are better.

“In fact, the preponderance of evidence is that it is riskier to have a youth, at least in this country, at the helm of affairs.

“We will regret it. So, let’s just leave things as they are. Let people come to power naturally by the political process that we know. That is the only way forward,” he said.

Speaking of the recent youth movement, ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’, he said: “Are they frightened that they will not live up to the constitutionally required age?

“It is very odd to hear 20-year-olds say that they want to become senators. That, to me, is preposterous.

“Why are they in a rush? They shouldn’t be in a rush as if they won’t live up the constitutionally required age.”

Sagay’s position is in sharp contrast with two former leaders, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, who in two separate statements have urged Nigerians to elect a new breed of young leaders to manage the affairs of the nation from 2019.

In a recent statement entitled, ‘Towards a National Rebirth’, signed by Kassim Afegbua, Babangida’s Media Adviser, the former military president advised Nigerians to do away with analogue leaders and embrace those of the digital age.

On his part, Obasanjo called on President Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019 while asking Nigerians to support his Coalition for Nigerian Movement which seeks to install new breed of leaders in 2019.

Read more https://independent.ng/2019-nigeria-will-regret-youth-president-sagay/

Arghh.

Prof don dey Craze ooo.

When we say youth we did not say Wiz Kid or Badoo or Davido.

We meant 50 years and below who is healthy and agile and have done well for themselves in life.

Give youth the opportunity to rule... PMB IS NOT STRONG AGAIN!

Hmmmm

Professor Sagay should have rephrased his points. It is true that even if you bring in a younger man or woman to run this country in its current state, that person will be corrupt in no distance time. There are so many reasons why this is so.

Firstly the present 1999 constitution which has undergone numerous amendments by the NASS largely favours corruption of our leaders. It is fashioned in the direction of dictatorship than democratic system of government.

Second, the weak nature of all our institutions which are meant to be truly independent and free of any external influences also open the door to corruption of our leaders. As long as the president has the power to interfere with the processes of these agencies, ministries and parastatals, they become his personal property while in office. How won't Mr President become corrupted whether old or young?

Lastly, Nigeria is bitterly diversified along ethnic, tribal, religious and political lines. Our country is also deeply dis-united to a large extent. Every move by the president of the day brings about mutual suspicion and negative reactions. These are also good for corruption to easily behold a president no matter his good intentions.

The solution to our leadership woes lies in true federalism, reorientation, rebirth, restructuring and reorganization. The various federating units in Nigeria have to find a way to come together to discuss, argue and come to a reasoned conclusion of how they want to be led. This is the solution for sustainable growth and development with peace and tranquility. That is the way to go at this critical time of our national life.

This sagay has been very contrary to common sense since the useless bigot appointed it

This man is a fool and this is kinda people that surrounds Buhari.... No wonder he is appointing ancestors into service...


I tire for this shithole

We are not better but una don fail to revive our economy, allow us to try our luck.

Are you now a prophet? Even at that, please don't be a prophet of doom.

you aren't thinking well. Give youth opportunity

☣ ☠


∆

This man is obviously a learned Fool.

Why did he keep laying emphasis on 20yrs old?

Is an animal not better than a president who cherished the lives of cows more than the lives of humans?

Are there no other age groups?


The president of France is a youth as far as I'm concerned; France cannot be compared to this dilapidated structure we call Nigeria.

Moreover, the so called old men ruling this country caused her to be in shambles.
Up till now we still have Obasanjo, Buhari, Tinubu in the affairs of Government not because they are old but they've held positions as the President/Governor, Senators in this same country and "Nothing" changed.


I'm not objecting old men ruling after all there are old men leadership all around the world but the problem here in Nigeria is Basically Incompetence and Hardheartedness.

Sagay is a total proof that when you're given a political appointment even as an intellectual you may tend to lose it.

My Submission: Sagay is a Baboon
∆





☣ ☠

Na mumu him be na.... So you're indirectly saying naija youths dull pass the dullard occupying d position abi?
It is better to suffer under the leadership of a youth, than an old retarded dullard... I dey vex...
I no blame am, I blame those irresponsible youths wey dey become political thugs, e don reach a situation were Sagay begin thing say every youth na thug...
Na thunder go fire you and you fellow caucus wey think say the country will only be better with recycled old men...
I'm a youth and I started my current business, without support of anybody and today I'm an employer of labour....and its running fine... So what is Dis otondo saying?

See d type of ediots we have as leaders.. Nigerians already regret having d same bunch of old men run us aground, what's d worse dat could happen wen youths take over? I guess we are only gud to vote others in and not to b voted for. Rubbish

Sharrap we don't give a Bleep about that

My thought

Another Brain dead man. Youth will make Nigeria a great nation. They have great Ideas.

That's true . Yahaya bello is an example.

It can't be worse than baba

nairavsdollars:
*Blasts Proponents Of Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Monday said Nigeria would be embarking on a dangerous journey if it elected a youth as president.

In a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT, on Monday, Sagay said there was no evidence that youths were better than elders in leadership.

He argued that anyone thinking youths would perform better in positions of authority in Nigeria was shallow-minded.

While urging the youths to come out and fight for power, he argued that power was not served a la carte, adding that the older generations would not willingly hand over power to youths on a platter of gold unless the younger generations worked for it.

The constitutional lawyer also lambasted proponents of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run movement, urging them to wait till they attain the constitutionally required age for contesting public office.

According to him, it is absurd seeing a 20-year-old coming to contest as senator of the Federal Republic.

“Number one: it is shallow-thinking for anyone to think that if a youth becomes president, he will do better than the older one.

“It is very shallow thinking because, as I see it, it is the youths of Nigeria today who believe in overnight wealth, who want billions overnight, who don’t want to work for their living and gradually build up their assets and business.

“That psychology of overnight wealth is almost exclusively a youth attribute.

“Number two: who is stopping the youths? All these people who are advocating that the youths should take over are in essence saying the older ones should just call the youths and say ‘come and take power’.

“If you want power, you work for it. You are not going to sit down in your sitting room and somebody will bring power to you. Let them join the fray.”

Giving instances of young leaders in the world such as Emmanuel Macron of France, Sebastian Kurz of Austria and George Weah of Liberia, Sagay said these young leaders stepped out of their comfort zones, campaigned for votes and were voted for by the electorate before assuming the mantle of leadership.

Sagay also cited the example of President Muhammadu Buhari, who succeeded after three failed attempts at the presidency.

He, however, said Nigeria may regret having a youth as president as the preponderance of evidence points to the fact that it is riskier to have a youth at the helm of affairs of Nigeria.

He, therefore, advised Nigerians to maintain the status quo, which implies allowing President Buhari to continue for another term in office.

“All these people they mentioned, like France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Sebastian Kurz of Austria, and other young leaders worked hard for it.

“They came out in the open and campaigned for votes and people voted for them.

“George Weah was tenacious in his quest until he got it. Even President Buhari succeeded in his fourth attempt.

“They will be fooling themselves if they think they can sit on their backpedal and somebody will hand over power to them. That is a pure delusion.

“Speaking generally, there is no evidence whatsoever that the youths are better.

“In fact, the preponderance of evidence is that it is riskier to have a youth, at least in this country, at the helm of affairs.

“We will regret it. So, let’s just leave things as they are. Let people come to power naturally by the political process that we know. That is the only way forward,” he said.

Speaking of the recent youth movement, ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’, he said: “Are they frightened that they will not live up to the constitutionally required age?

“It is very odd to hear 20-year-olds say that they want to become senators. That, to me, is preposterous.

“Why are they in a rush? They shouldn’t be in a rush as if they won’t live up the constitutionally required age.”

Sagay’s position is in sharp contrast with two former leaders, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, who in two separate statements have urged Nigerians to elect a new breed of young leaders to manage the affairs of the nation from 2019.

In a recent statement entitled, ‘Towards a National Rebirth’, signed by Kassim Afegbua, Babangida’s Media Adviser, the former military president advised Nigerians to do away with analogue leaders and embrace those of the digital age.

On his part, Obasanjo called on President Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019 while asking Nigerians to support his Coalition for Nigerian Movement which seeks to install new breed of leaders in 2019.

Read more https://independent.ng/2019-nigeria-will-regret-youth-president-sagay/

If he is saying this at this time and age, it means he and his other elders have failed

this old goat should keep quiet!

Finally, this baba don enter market. May we not end up like Sagay when we get old.

I finally lost my respect for sagay...

Joker

What a lunatic!
Are we not regretting having an old man as president now?

What gain have the elders given to this nation? Grey head in Nigeria does not depict wisdom

We are already regretting voting for an aged and elderly grandpa as President in the person of Buhari and he has failed.

We have nothing to lose in trying some very young ones for a change.

Er

I support it,youth can't take this country to anywhere

Saggay is right.
No one will ever get into power by mere insults on social media.
If you want power you join party and contest.