A political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, has demanded a review of the age of political aspirants running for public office in Nigeria.
Naijaonpoint reports that Utomi made this known on Thursday while responding to questions in an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.
Utomi opined that anyone over 70 years old should not contest for either the presidency or the governorship.
According to him, only a few people, possibly 75 to 80 years old, can serve in the legislature, but Nigerians must no longer tolerate a presidency that needs medical attention.
Utomi emphasises that having a president who needs medical attention is a significant expense for Nigerian taxpayers who are not receiving quality service.
He said, “I’m insisting that I will converse to the Nigerian people that nobody over the age of 70 should run for an executive position, whether it be governor or president.
“Yes, a few people can stay in the legislature till they are 75, possibly even close to 80. But the Nigerian people must not continue to tolerate the presidency being where you keep people who need medical attention.
“Doing so is at the great expense to the Nigerian taxpayer, who is not getting the quality of services they should get from these public office holders.”