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Leadership should shift to under 50s – Jonathan

Jonathan cited the example of General Murtala Muhammed, who became Head of State at 38 and, despite serving for only 200 days, left what he described as a lasting legacy of decisive and visionary leadership.

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“If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look within the 25 to 50 age brackets. That is when you can be vibrant, physically strong and mentally sound,” said former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan gave the insight on Thursday in Abuja during the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

He urged African nations to promote younger leaders, arguing that those between the ages of 25 and 50 are better equipped to handle the physical and mental demands of modern governance.

Reflecting on his time in office, Jonathan said leadership requires exceptional stamina and resilience, noting that he often slept for only a few hours while serving as president.

Jonathan aligns his remarks with the objectives of Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, which advocates reduced age limits for elective positions to encourage youth participation in politics.

Jonathan cited the example of General Murtala Muhammed, who became Head of State at 38 and, despite serving for only 200 days, left what he described as a lasting legacy of decisive and visionary leadership.

“Murtala’s leadership sent a clear message that governance is about serving the national interest, not personal ambition,” he said.

He also referenced General Yakubu Gowon, who assumed office at 32 and later introduced the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing him as another example of youthful leadership at a critical period in Nigeria’s history.

However, Jonathan cautioned that age alone does not guarantee effective leadership, emphasising the importance of discipline, patriotism and strong institutions.

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Politics

Again, Desmond Elliot begs political mentor,Gbajabiamila , “I’m sorry, Daddy”

The latest apology is not the first time Elliot has publicly sought forgiveness from Gbajabiamila over the political disagreement.

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“I’m sorry. I have no excuse; I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry. I’m deeply sorry, sir. And in our culture, we prostrate. Don’t be angry, Daddy.”

The above statement was made by

Lagos State lawmaker and actor, Desmond Elliot, during a meeting with Femi Gbajabiamila, and other party chieftains in Lagos, where he went on his knees and prostrated before the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu
. In a video shared by Lagos Junction on X on Sunday, Elliot begged for forgiveness and reconciliation following his actions during the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly also reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC leadership and appealed for an end to any disagreement between him and Gbajabiamila.

The latest apology is not the first time Elliot has publicly sought forgiveness from Gbajabiamila over the political disagreement.

During an earlier appearance on TVC’s Your View, Elliot acknowledged that he may have offended his political mentor through his political engagements, while maintaining that any misunderstanding between them was not deliberate.

“I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” he said.

He added, “To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way.”

The dispute occurred amid the political tensions surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis, during which Gbajabiamila said he faced difficulties at the Presidency over allegations concerning Elliot’s political activities.

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I will concede defeat if 2027 election is credible — Obi

However, Obi maintained that he won the 2023 presidential election, saying those who conducted the poll knew what happened.

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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that he will concede defeat in the 2027 presidential election if the poll is free, fair and credible.

Obi stated this in an interview aired on Arise TV on Thursday, saying he would respect the will of Nigerians if they chose another candidate.

“If the election is free, fair and credible, I will because it’s an election. It’s the people that would say who they want to serve, and I will respect the will of the people; that’s democracy,” he said.

However, Obi maintained that he won the 2023 presidential election, saying those who conducted the poll knew what happened.

“I did, and I will maintain that as long as I live that I won the 2023 election. Those who conducted it know the records; they know why there was a glitch and what happened,” he said.

Fielding question on what about “turn-by-turn” presidency, Obi said elections should not be determined by tribe or religion.

“Election should not be driven by tribe or religion. Today, in terms of qualification, I’m qualified to be president of Nigeria. I have the competence; I have been all over the world studying what it takes to be president of a country, and I know what I can do to turn around this country in the right direction.”

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Trump promises $5,000 ‘dividend’ to U.S. citizens if Republicans win midterms

It is estimated that the total proposed “Trump dividend” payout would cost more than $1 trillion — raising questions about how such an expense would be funded and its impact on fiscal strain facing the Federal budget.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has promised every adult American citizen a $5,000 “dividend” if the Republicans are victorious at the upcoming midterm elections.

Americans will vote in the midterms in early November, with the Democrats currently projected to win control of the House of Representatives.

Such a result would likely create barriers to Trump’s legislative agenda and send a signal about public opinion on the president’s policy mix throughout his second presidential term.

“Here is my promise: if the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them… because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” he told a crowd at the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas.

“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” he added.

It is estimated that the total proposed “Trump dividend” payout would cost more than $1 trillion — raising questions about how such an expense would be funded and its impact on fiscal strain facing the Federal budget.

The potential payout compares to the $1.27 trillion the U.S.

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