Pat Utomi, a former presidential candidate and professor of political economy, has said he would not support Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition because of the former vice president’s age, citing even his own age as a justification for his decision.
Utomi made this known during an interview with News Central TV while responding to questions on whether he would back Atiku if he emerged as a candidate.
He explained that although Atiku is a close friend, what matters is someone who is an advocate of inclusiveness in politics. But for Atiku, he emphasized that age remains a crucial factor in determining leadership.
Utomi stressed that Nigeria, with a median population age of 19, needs younger leaders who can resonate with the majority of citizens and carry the nation’s future forward.
The professor added that even he, at the age of 70, would not consider contesting for the presidency, as it would not align with the generational needs of the country. According to him, Nigeria requires a younger, more dynamic leadership to reflect the aspirations of its people.
In his words, “I don’t want to argue where one comes from in a sense from that except for the fact that inclusiveness and I’m talking about inclusion, it matters. I can deal with not caring about anything if anybody is inclusive.”
“Atiku is a very good friend of mine but I probably won’t support Atiku’s presidency because he’s 80 years old.”
“And I, Pat Utomi, at the break of 70, will not run for president because I’m now too old for a population that is a mean of 19.
Find Verified News At Your fingertips Click The Button Below
