TheCable

Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), says the presidency should not be about age or region.

In a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna, Hayab said Nigerians need a leader who can unite the country.

He said those talking about age and region are out to promote an agenda that will further divide Nigeria.

Ibrahim Babangida, the former military head of state, had in a recent interview with Arise TV suggested that the president of Nigeria should be in his sixties.

But Hayab said Nigerians need a leader that can deliver the goods and take the country out of its present security and economic challenges.

He said CAN is opposed to the unhealthy development of considering age and region when electing the next president.

“Nigerians today simply need a leader that can deliver the goods, unite the nation and take us out of our economic woes and insecurity challenges,” he said.

“Those coming out to talk about the age and region of our next president are only out to start an agenda that will further divide us and put Nigeria in a more difficult situation.

“Our association, therefore, wishes to warn the nation against these unhealthy moves and also to appeal to Nigerians not to allow these short-sighted and selfish considerations to becloud our reasoning.

“We have elected leaders in the past because of some of this consideration but only ends with regrets and lack of progress.

“Those who have been misleading us with these parochial views anytime elections are around the corners have started a new game which we must all resist and never give them space.

“How long should we allow our country to be dancing back and forth when looking for a genuine leader? Every citizen that truly loves this country knows that we have suffered too long and need to shine our eyes.

“The age of whoever will become Nigeria’s leader should never be an issue for debate because Nigerians must never allow anyone that does not have good leadership credentials and capacity to be her leader just because he is a young or old person.

“Our concern should be for us all to look for a good and detribalised Nigerian who can fight insecurity, stop corruption, make the country move forward.”