Few months after he was sworn-in as President in 2015, former President, Muhammadu Buhari, lamented that fate played a fast one on him as he could only get back to power at old age, when age-related illness had started taking a toll on him. Shortly after the former President assumed office for his first civilian term, Buhari, while speaking to the Nigerian community in Johannesburg, South Africa, openly admitted that advanced age would limit his physical capacity compared to his younger years as a military leader.
The ‘tall man’ from Daura was 72 when he was sworn in as the democratically elected leader after three failed attempts for the Presidency. For context, Buhari contested for the presidency in 2003, under the banner of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). In 2007, he contested again under the banner of the same party (the ANPP), and lost to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 2011, Buhari, contesting this time under the banner of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), again, lost to Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. Thereafter, Buhari vowed not to contest elections again in Nigeria, and retreated to his Daura, Katsina State country home.
However, in 2014, incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu approached him on the possibility of forming a coalition that could defeat the then behemoth -the PDP. Buhari accepted the proposal and was handed the flag of the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC). It was under this coalition that luck smiled on him and he clinched the presidency, but by this time, age was no longer on his side and he could not do much for the country as its President. Recall that Buhari, as a military officer, was a Head of State at the relatively young age of 41.
A palace coup by his colleagues, led by the self-styled evil genius, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) cut short his tenure in office to only 20 months. In that short period however, he became famous for his spartan lifestyle and frugal spending. His second-time return to the Presidency was as a civilian president, but was marked by a slow pace and democratic principles that were alien to military culture. While speaking at the State House in Abuja during his 77th birthday celebration, Buhari remarked that the nation’s democratic process was “too slow for my liking.” His comment reflected his background as a former military Head of State, where decisions and decrees could be implemented rapidly without the checks, balances, and legislative or judicial procedures required in a constitutional democracy.
Due to his age, he spent several months outside the shores of the country, seeking cure for one ailment or the other. In 2017 alone, Buhari spent a total of 104 days in a London hospital for an undisclosed health challenge. When his long vacation could no longer be defended by his handlers, Buhari had to temporarily hand over the reins of power to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who became the Acting President.
In fact, Buhari was held down by poor health for the better parts of his eight-year rule. Nigerians dubbed him ‘Baba Go Slow’. State machineries almost run aground during that period, and the vice president could not do much so as not to be seen as being ‘too ambitious’. Then the cabal took over. Nigeria’s statecraft ship was adrift on several occasions, but Nigeria miraculously survived, albeit at a huge cost.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo became a civilian president in 1999, at the age of 62. Like President Buhari, he was a former military leader called upon by the powers-that-be to rescue the country after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won by the late philanthropist, MKO Abiola. The baton of leadership fell on Obasanjo (Obj) for the second time after a three-year rule as military Head of State between 1976 and 1979. He enjoyed robust health throughout his tenure, but he handed over power to a sick and unambitious presidential candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Even before he was sworn in as President, there was a lot of anxiety amongst Nigerians that the former Katsina State Governor was not in a good state of health. In fact, during that year’s presidential campaign, President Obasanjo had to put a call through to him whilst on a campaign train after widespread rumours that Yar’Adua had died in Germany where he was receiving treatment. The phrase “Umaru, are you dead?” is widely attributed to Obasanjo, who used a public address microphone to call Yar’Adua on speakerphone. Yar’adua replied that he was not dead, and went on to win the election. However, he was always outside the country, seeking medical attention. Yar’Adua left Nigeria on November 23, 2009 for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia and did not return or transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly as required under Section 145 of the 1999 constitution. His prolonged absence created a dangerous political and administrative power vacuum, leading to intense national tension, a stall in government operations, and fears of instability or possible military intervention. The two chambers of the National Assembly, by a joint resolution on February 9, 2010, had to invoke the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to declare Jonathan as the country’s Acting President. President Yar’Adua eventually died on May 5, 2010, at the Aso Villa Clinic at the age of 58.
The incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was elected President on May 29, 2023, at the age of 71. During his inauguration, Tinubu lost his balance on stage. He lost his footing and took laboured steps after turning away from the podium. A security officer had to grab him by the waist to keep him upright before he returned to the podium. One year in office and during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja, he again lost his balance and fell when he suffered a misstep while attempting to climb the steps of a specialized parade vehicle. His security details and aides immediately rushed to assist him back to his feet. A video of that fall soon went viral on social media.
Evening of the same day, during a banquet dinner organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of uninterrupted democracy in the country, Tinubu humorously addressed his trending social media status. “Early this morning, I had a ‘swagger’, and it’s on social media. They were confused about whether I was doing Buga or doing Babanringa. But, it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale (prostration) for the day. I am a traditional Yoruba boy, and I did ‘idobale’ (prostration).”
By framing the slip as ‘swagger’, which is a slang meaning a self-confident way of walking and equating it to the traditional Yoruba cultural gesture of respect for elders by prostrating on the ground, ‘idobale’, the President successfully defused the tension surrounding the misstep and his fragile health. He capped the sentiment off by stating that Nigeria’s democracy was well worth falling for.
However, while on a State Visit to Turkey in January 27, 2026, Mr. President fell again. He stumbled and fell to the ground while being welcome by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace. Throughout the state visit, Erdogan had to hold President Tinubu during photo ops.
Since he assumed office, President Tinubu has spent more than 260 days outside Nigeria. He had undertaken 52 separate foreign trips and visited at least 30 countries within the period. Of the 30 countries, France has featured most prominently. Tinubu has travelled to Paris at least 13 times since taking office, spending more than 50 days there across official, working, and private visits. London and the United Arab Emirates follow as his next most frequented destinations.
It is obvious to all that President Tinubu does not enjoy robust health. At 74, he has paid his dues and age has gradually caught up with him. The once vibrant former Governor of Lagos State that could work for 24 hours non-stop has, like most mortals lucky enough to attain his age, been slowed down by natural circumstances, and that is understandable. We all pray to grow till ripe old age.
Be that as it may, perhaps it is high time we considered putting in place, a system where relatively younger politicians emerge as our President. It is now clear that allowing politicians above 65 years to contest for the presidency has the potential to do more harm than good for our national, if not regional politics. Nationally, this is where the National Assembly has to put on their thinking caps and save the nation from old and, for lack of a better word, ‘recycled’ politicians. A 9-5 presidency as was the case during the late Muhammadu Buhari era does not bode well for the growth and development of the country as it stunts national development when a president spends more days outside the country, he was elected to govern than inside it. As we have minimum age for a Nigerian citizen must be to contest for various political offices, it has become imperative to cap a maximum age when one can no longer run for, or even be in office, particularly the presidency. The office requires the best amongst us to steer our complex affairs – one who is agile, both physically and mentally.
If civil servants are expected to retire at the age of 60 after putting in 30 years of glorious service to their fatherland, why shouldn’t our politicians be guided by the same principle? It is precisely because of the lack of age limitations that makes mostly our African leaders keep ‘recycling’ themselves in power beyond their physical and mental capacities. If the NASS could peg the age of a presidential candidate at, let’s say, 65 years, a two-term president would be expected to leave the stage at 73 years of age after eight years in office. There is no sin in trying something new. I strongly believe that this would go a long way in getting more young and vibrant leaders at the helm of affairs. It is being done elsewhere. The difference between mandatory retirement and age rules for civil servants versus the lack of maximum age limits for elected officials comes down to constitutional design, legal precedent, and the philosophy of voter choice.
In Djbouti for example, a maximum age cap of 75 years was put in place until Parliament voted to lift the restriction recently. Cuba previously restricted presidential candidates to a maximum age of 60, but again, parliament voted to remove the upper age limit. In Uganda, the previously enforced upper age cap was 75, which was controversially scrapped via constitutional amendment.
To lead over 200 million people is not a tea party, and our leaders must be both physically and mentally fit for the task. Our presidency should not be turned into a retirement home.
See you next week.
