Dele Momodu replies Seyi Makinde, saying Nigeria needs a president with vision, experience and tolerance ahead of the 2027 election
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has said Nigeria needs a president with clear vision, experience and the ability to manage people and resources, rather than one whose main qualification is physical strength.
Momodu made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while reacting to comments by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde about the need for an energetic presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The job of a president is not to be a high jumper or long jumper. It is to think; it is to have clear vision; it is to have experience; it is to have exposure and be tolerant. Leadership is about managing people and resources,” he said.
The ADC chieftain argued that the presidency requires sound judgement and the capacity to lead a diverse population, rather than the ability to engage in strenuous physical activities.
According to Momodu, Nigeria does not need a president who can merely run around, but one who can think critically, manage people effectively and oversee the country’s resources.
Makinde had recently stressed the importance of youth and stamina in a presidential candidate, suggesting that the country needs an energetic leader capable of handling the demands of the office.
However, Momodu maintained that age and physical energy alone do not determine a leader’s effectiveness. He highlighted tolerance, exposure, experience and leadership capacity as more important qualities for anyone seeking the nation’s highest office.
He also said the ADC was positioning itself as a credible alternative to both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The exchange adds to the growing debate over the qualities Nigerians should prioritise when choosing their next president, with questions of age, experience, energy and vision likely to remain central to political discussions ahead of the polls.
