Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a reduction in the age barriers for political office holders.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the memorial lecture and leadership conference organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, Jonathan asserted that African nations should prioritise individuals aged 25 to 50 for top governance roles.

According to him, politicians within this age group possess superior physical strength, mental sharpness, and the ability to endure the intense demands of office.

“I think we need to bring it lower. If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look at the age within 25 and 50,” the former president said.

“That is the way you can be very vibrant, physically strong, and mentally sound. If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can stay awake for 24 hours.”

He contrasted this with his own experience and historical precedents, noting that the late Murtala Muhammed assumed power at age 38 and achieved profound reforms in just 200 days through decisive vision and a sense of national duty.

Jonathan questioned rigid modern thresholds that require candidates to be at least 40 years old for roles like senator, deputy governor, or governor, and older for the presidency.

“When I was in office, I was older than that. Some days, I did not sleep up to two hours.

“So, if you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 per cent of the time in the hospital,” he said.

The former president tied his appeal to broader critiques of current governance, lamenting that some governors spend up to 50 per cent of their time abroad or in Abuja, leaving states unmanaged and contributing to persistent security and development challenges.