Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and elder statesman, has warned Nigerians against considering APC national leader, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-VP Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 presidential election because of their age.
He asserted that a presidential candidate should not be older than 60 years.
About two weeks ago, Mr Tinubu, 69, declared his ambition to run for president in 2023.
Although Mr Abubakar, 75, and Mr Osinbajo, 64, have not made a public declaration, they are interested in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
“The sum total of the qualities of those who deserve to be voted for as Nigeria’s president are age, health, education, sound knowledge of current affairs, work ethics, experience, human relations, vision and mission for Nigeria,” said Mr Babalola, in a statement titled ‘The Presidency: When a Candidate Is or Not Qualified’, issued on Thursday regarding the 2023 presidential election.
Mr Babalola also insisted that the presidential candidate be fluent in English, write a speech on his own, and “produce evidence that he possesses unquestionable means of livelihood.”
“He should not just be seeking election as a means of securing employment or to offset outstanding indebtedness or use his position as the president to divert government’s funds into his offshore accounts,” the lawyer explained.
Mr Babalola further advised that the candidate must demonstrate that “he is willing and prepared to serve the nation without earning salaries, as it was the case between 1960 and January 15, 1966.”
Also commenting on health, Mr Babalola said the candidate must be physically, mentally, and medically fit.
Additionally, he “must not be a person who will be looking for medical treatment from hospital to the hospital around the world” and should be able to work for 14 hours.
(NAN)
