By Jubril Bada
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A member of the Yoruba pan socio – cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Femi Aluko, has suggested that matured Nigerians, not less than 50 years old should be the one to be elected to the National Assembly.
He gave the suggestion in an interview with The Hope, in Akure on Tuesday, saying that matured, experienced and well educated people who have retired should be elected to the senate as it is being done in the House of Lord in Britain.
Aluko who was a former member of Ondo State House of Assembly in the second republic expressed disappointment in the way the National Assembly is making it difficult to pass bills into laws.
His words, ” Unfortunately, the National Assembly has made it difficult for the country to progress in the sense that unmatured persons go to the Senate, House of Representatives and Houses Assembly .
“Under normal circumstances, l expect anybody going to the senate not to be less than 50 years old.
“Senate is not a club place and should be filled with matured, experienced and well educated people who retired from careers as it is being done in the House of Lord in Britain where there is no person of 50 years old as a member.
“Members of the House of Lord are the retired people, who have seen it all, not those that are serviceable to work.
“What can a -35 -year old boy, who is in the senate have seen.? What is his experience and intellectual background.? These are the questions to ask whoever wants to represent people at the senate.
Electorally, he said, contestants of 30 or 35 years old for senate seats should not be allowed into senate to legislate over 180 million Nigerians.
Aluko, who was the former Ondo State Commissioner for Information criticised those saying that “the young shall grow” nothing that at this critical period in Nigeria, matured leaders are needed to rule the country.
“The young shall grow where.? The young shall grow to legislate over 180 million Nigerians.
“We don’t say young should not grow, he should grow at his normal career, not at the peak of legislation,” he said.