Not Too Young To Run: Fayose Mocks Fayemi’s 74-Year-Old Running Mate

Governor Ayodele Fayose, on Friday, described as ‘hypocritical’, President Muhammadu Buhari’s signing of the ‘Not Too Young To Run Bill’ on Thursday.

Fayose said Nigerians must remind President Buhari ‘‘who said our youths are lazy’’ that he is “too old to tun” and must, therefore, step down in 2019 to allow them take over the affairs of the nation.

The ‘Not Too Young To Run Bill’, which became an Act after President Muhammadu Buhari assented to it on Thursday, May 31, 2018, has reduced the eligible age for aspirants who may want to vie for elective positions in the State Houses of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives from 30 to 25 years.

The Act equally states that any citizen above the age of 35 years can run for the office of the president as against the previous benchmark of 40 years.

But Governor Fayose, while applauding the development, mocked the Ekiti State governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Fayemi Kayode, for picking a 74-year-old man as his running mate for the upcoming election in the state.

Fayose said, ‘‘We must have a Nigeria where anyone who is qualified to vote can also be voted for, not this hypocritical signing of “Not Too Young To Run” Bill by the same President who said our youths are lazy and must not run against him in 2019.

‘‘I commend the youths who championed the “Not Too Young To Run” agitation and urge them not to relent because it is not yet uhuru. We must totally return the country to the youths who own the future of Nigeria. Here in Ekiti, if you are above 40 years, you can’t be LG councillor.

‘‘The future of Nigeria belongs to the youths and we must hand over the country to them without restrictions. If at 18, you are old enough to choose, you must also be seen as old enough to be chosen.

‘‘Today in Ekiti, the PDP Deputy governorship candidate is 39 years old. He became chairman of Ado LG at 35. On the contrary, the APC deputy governorship candidate is 74 years old. He was chairman of Ado LG 25 years ago.

‘‘Lastly, our President who signed the “Not Too Young To Run” should be reminded that at his very old age, he is also “Too old To Run.” He should leave the stage for the younger generation of Nigerians,’’ said the governor in a series of tweets.