Jonathan Urges Africa to Embrace Younger Leaders

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African countries to deliberately promote younger political leaders, arguing that modern governance demands physical endurance, mental alertness, and resilience that are often easier to sustain at younger ages.

Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a lecture at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. He urged African nations to rethink leadership age expectations and instead focus on competence, discipline, and vision within a younger demographic.

According to the former president, leadership in today’s world is increasingly complex and demanding, involving long hours, constant decision-making, and intense political pressure, conditions that, he said, younger leaders are often better positioned to manage.

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Reflecting on his own experience in office, Jonathan said there were days when he slept for barely two hours due to the demands of governance. He questioned why many African societies still associate leadership readiness with advanced age rather than capacity and performance.

“Why do we assume someone must be very old before they can govern?” he asked. “Leadership today requires stamina. If you need to stay awake for 24 hours, you should be able to do that. When I was in office, some days I didn’t sleep up to two hours. Subjecting older people to that level of stress can be dangerous.”

Jonathan said countries seeking effective leadership should focus on candidates between the ages of 25 and 50, describing that stage of life as one where individuals are typically physically strong, mentally sharp, and adaptable to fast-changing realities.

He linked his comments to Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, which advocates lowering age barriers for elective office and expanding political participation among young people. According to him, political systems that discourage youth involvement risk stagnation and weakened democratic renewal.

Lessons from Murtala Muhammed, Gowon, and Nigeria’s History

Drawing from Nigeria’s past, Jonathan pointed to the example of General Murtala Muhammed, who became Head of State at 38 and led the country for just 200 days before his assassination in 1976. Despite the brevity of his tenure, Jonathan said Muhammed’s decisive reforms left a lasting imprint on national development.

He also referenced General Yakubu Gowon, who assumed leadership at 32 and later introduced the National Youth Service Corps, which continues to play a major role in national integration. According to Jonathan, these examples show that age is not necessarily a barrier to visionary leadership.

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However, he cautioned that youthfulness alone does not guarantee good governance. He stressed that leadership must be grounded in discipline, patriotism, competence, and strong institutions. “Democracy depends more on institutions than on individuals,” he said, adding that sustainable progress requires credible electoral bodies, an independent judiciary, accountable security agencies, and respect for the rule of law.

Jonathan also criticized the culture of frequent official travel by some public office holders, arguing that extended absences weaken governance and accountability. He compared the situation to practices in countries where state executives rarely leave their jurisdictions for extended periods, ensuring closer oversight and continuity in administration.

He urged both leaders and young people to view governance as service rather than entitlement. “Young people must see leadership as responsibility, not privilege. Leaders must see governance as stewardship, not ownership,” he said.

As Africa marks 50 years since the assassination of General Muhammed, Jonathan said the moment should serve as a reminder that leadership is best measured not by longevity in office but by courage, clarity of purpose, and lasting impact on society.