Presidency Not For Old People, You Must Have Stamina – SDP Presidential Candidate

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has said that Nigeria’s presidency should not be seen as a role for elderly people.

Naija News reports that he made this known during an interview on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, where he spoke about age and leadership in politics.

Adebayo compared the job of a president to football, saying that even if someone loves the game, it is not realistic to expect an 80-year-old to still play for the Super Eagles.

He said the role of Nigeria’s president requires strong physical and mental energy, similar to what is needed from a coach or team captain in top-level football.

According to him, holding such a position demands stamina and alertness that may be difficult for very old politicians to maintain.

He also said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not see the presidency as the only way to contribute to national service.

He said: “I’m not being an ageist but Nigeria’s presidency is not a place for elderly people, because however much you are passionate and you love football, you cannot join Super Eagles at the age of 80 years.

“The President of Nigeria needs as much stamina as a coach or captain of the Super Eagles. So, I don’t think that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s only way to serve Nigeria is to be president.

“Late former President Muhammadu Buhari himself said, when he was elected in 2015, that he wished he had gotten the position when he was younger.”