Politics
Fayemi Disowns Aide On Age Limit For Presidential Aspirants
Dr. Kayode Fayemi has dissociated himself from a news report quoting him as saying that no person above the age of 60 should be considered for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Governor Fayemi in a statement issued on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary Yinka Oyebode said the attribution to him is contrary to his personal belief that age should not be used in disqualifying or assessing anyone’s capacity for high office.
He spoke against the assertion by an aide of the governor who at a conference of the National Youth Summit said that persons above 60 should not be considered for the presidency.
Mr. Oyebode said:
“An aide of the Governor, Mr. Makinde Araoye, was reported to have made the statement during a National Youth Summit and Conference organised by the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) in Abuja on Thursday. Mr. Araoye spoke in his personal capacity at the event, hence the purported statement is at best his personal views and not representative of Governor Fayemi’s position.
“As a matter of fact, the view is in conflict with Governor Fayemi’s well known position on political participation. He is one of the leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that is not fixated about zoning of presidential and other elective positions.
“Dr. Fayemi is on record to have stated repeatedly and unequivocally that nobody should be discriminated against by virtue of age, where they come from, religious affiliation or cultural background. He believes the electorate, rather than any artificial impediment, should determine who gets their mandate as President, Governor or other elective positions.
“Therefore, Mr. Araoye, who at the onset of his presentation at the event clarified that he was speaking in his personal capacity, couldn’t be speaking the mind of Governor Fayemi.
“Accordingly, members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the statement which was inadvertently credited to Governor Fayemi. Dr. Fayemi, as a leader and public office holder, believes in fairness and equity. He is a firm believer in constitutionalism and constitutional provisions regarding elections and aspiration to public offices in the country.
“Above all, Dr. Fayemi does not believe that age is necessarily a factor for performance in public office, and as a leader, he comports himself in a manner befitting the office he holds and does not engage in frivolous and divisive talk.”
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