Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pushed back against calls for younger leadership, citing governance failures by youthful state executives during an interview on Arise TV.
The African Democratic Congress presidential aspirant responded to questions about why Nigerians should choose him over younger candidates like Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, etc.
“The political experience has been a mixed one. We have had so many young governors in a number of states who have failed woefully when it comes to governance, Charles,” Atiku stated.
He argued that inexperienced politicians require further development before assuming higher office.
“And I believe those type of people still require tutelage, and still require learning from experience,” the former vice president said.
Drawing from his own career trajectory, Atiku illustrated the value of learning from seasoned leaders.
“Believe me, I don’t think I could have learned what I have learned being vice president to president Olusegun Obasanjo if I was the president, because he came with tremendous experience, from a military head of state and now to a civilian president,” he explained.
He emphasized the lessons gained from that relationship.
“There was a lot I learned,” Atiku concluded.
His comments position experience as superior to youth in presidential leadership, suggesting that serving under accomplished leaders provides invaluable preparation that cannot be replicated through early assumption of executive power—a direct counter to arguments favoring generational change in Nigerian politics.
