Analyzing the Furore Over Recent Group-Endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for 2027 Lagos Governorship in Light of the Concept of “Not Too Young To Run” – By Sylvester Udemezue

Section 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜, regarding “Qualification for election as Governor”, as follows:

“A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if- (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

QUESTIONS ARISING:

(1). Those who think it’s wrong if Seyi Tibubu aspires to be Lagos State Governor in 2027, please are the critics saying that Seyi Tibubu who would be 43 years old in 2027 is not old enough to be Governor of Lagos State? How many years was Emmanuel Macron when he became Prime Minister of France? Not 39? Obama as US President nko? What about Oladineji Babkole who became Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives at the age of 36 years!

2️⃣. What makes Lagos so difficult or complex, that Seyi Tibubu at 43 years couldn’t govern it quite competently?

3️⃣. If a 43-year old Seyi Tibubu isn’t yet old enough to be a Governor in Lagos, then why did the Constitution provide for minimum age limit of 35 years for qualification to be a State Governor in Nigeria?

4️⃣. Why was that amendment to the Constitution code-named “Not Too Young To Run?” if not to encourage younger people to aspire to such public offices?
𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚎:
“Not Too Young To Run” is a bill passed by the 𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 (𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙰𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚢), which sought to reduce the age limit of running for elective offices in Nigeria. The campaign started in support of bills and motions in Nigeria’s National Assembly sponsored by the Tony Nwulu in the House of Representatives and AbdulAziz Nyako in the Senate. The campaign is now global, symbolized by the hashtag #NotTooYoungToRun. See the release: “Launching Global Campaign Promoting Right of Young People To Run for Public Office” (Launching Global Campaign Promoting Right of Young People To Run for Public Office), published by
Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth <https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2016/11/launching-global-campaign-promoting-rights-young-people-run-public-office/>

5️⃣. Now in terms of knowledge and experience, Seyi Tibubu, a lawyer, secured a Masters of Laws (LL.M) Degree from Buckingham University, London immediately after his call to the Nigerian Bar in 2012 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

6️⃣. Seyi Tibubu at his current age at the Nigerian Bar (12 years) is qualified to be a Justice of the Nigerian Court of Appeal and would in 2027 be qualified for appointment into the Supreme Court of Nigeria in because he would have clocked 15 years post-call by then. How can anyone be heard to say that such a person isn’t old or experienced or mature enough to be a governor in Nigeria?

7️⃣. In the Corporate world, and as a corporate player, a top business executive, a proprietor and manager of chains of thriving companies in Nigeria, Seyi Tibubu has more than enough knowledge, experience and skill to preside over the affairs of Lagos or any other state in Nigeria.

8️⃣. Who says that because the father is thr President, Seyi Tibubu should not be free to aspire to lead Lagos? What is wrong with a citizen aspiring to such a position under such circumstances? Is a citizen barred under such circumstances just because his father is thr President? George W. Bush, Snr was a US President. His son, George W. Bush Jnr was later to become a US President for two terms. What about Olusola Saraki and Bukola Saraki? Was Bukola Saraki a failure in leadership? Why do we in Nigeria love to make mountain out of a molehill, by creating issues where there’s none?

9️⃣. Finally,bwould any one say being Tibubu’s son, Seyi Tibubu hasn’t learned enough positive lessons from his dad? Is it not possible Seyi Tibubu might even surpass whatever is his dad’s positive impacts?

🔟 Let’s face reality, if Seyi Tibubu has interest in governing Lagos, he’s free to try his luck at any time, including in 2027. From what i have known about Seyi Tibubu as, I think that whatever Bola Tibubu did as a Governor, Seyi would suppass (his father) .

🔟. MY CONCLUSION: I am not advocating that Seyi Tibubu should contest the Governorship of Lagos in 2027 and I am not advocating that Seyi Tibubu should not contest. I am indifferent because it’s his decision to make. My submission is that Seyi Tibubu is absolutely free to try his luck if he wants. He’s absolutely right and on his right to so do. Further, it’s neither immoral nor unethical nor inproper nor illegal for him to so do.

Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (Udems),
The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law and Justice (TRM).
08109024555.
therealityministry@gmail.com
(23/November/2024)