I’m Not Against Young Leaders – Alabi

Flag bearer-hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Joshua Alabi, has said that he is not against the youth taking up leadership positions in the country.

“I wish to reassure our teeming young members that I am not opposed to young people occupying positions within government,” Professor Alabi said in a statement on Tuesday, 15 May 2018.

He was clarifying a statement he had said earlier concerning young people becoming presidents of African countries.

Professor Alabi had earlier said on record that: “I think that we still have not reached the level where we can leave the country to [30- and 40-year-olds] … We need to groom them, we need to…”

He made the remarks in response to a question posed by host Francis Abban on Starr FM about whether it was time for young Africans to be presidents, especially 30- and 40-year-olds.

Prof Alabi, who is 60 years old, said he does not think that he is too old to govern the country and indicated that the retirement age needs to be revised upwards.

In his latest write-up, which sought to clarify his earlier comments, Prof Alabi pointed out that what he meant in the radio interview was that “in political leadership, there is the need for grooming”.

“As a firm believer in youth development, I have given many young persons an opportunity to be part of leadership throughout my many years of public service, while mentoring and grooming them and that situation will not change under my tenure as flag bearer and president in a future NDC government”.

Below is the full statement:

Prof Joshua Alabi:

Having taken cognisance of the feedback from our many young people in the NDC, with regards to my comments on whether or not young people should lead our country and the subsequent misleading headlines on various news portals, I wish to reassure our teeming young members that I am not opposed to young people occupying positions within government.

I indicated that, in political leadership, there is the need for grooming.

Grooming will produce maturity which will enable young politicians to avoid the mistakes usually committed by inexperienced people in political leadership.

It is grooming that defines the state of mind, not the age. Maturity comes from the mind, not age.

I was appointed a Minister of State when I was in my 30s, and have been well groomed for leadership.

As a firm believer in youth development, I have given many young persons an opportunity to be part of leadership throughout my many years of public service, while mentoring and grooming them and that situation will not change under my tenure as Flagbearer and President in a future NDC government.

The skills, talents and intellect of our young people shall be harnessed for the development of Ghana and the growth of the NDC.

Source: Classfmonline