My successors must be younger than me —Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday set an age barrier for a possible successor if he wins re-election, saying that anyone above 57 years would not receive his support in 2019.Speaking at a campaign rally in Lafias, Nasarawa State the president also disowned the governorship aspiration of his former minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, affirming he never supported his move from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.The President also promised to give special attention to Nasarawa State on account of what he said is the proximity of the state to Abuja.Giving his determination to support power transfer to the younger generation, the president said: “We want to encourage young people because the future belongs to them. We will not take leadership from you because you are the leaders of tomorrow. The director-general of my campaign organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, has mentioned that my successor is going to be a younger person and that is what we will do.‘’If you look at how we are going you will find out that what he said is true. Obasanjo was 70 when he was elected, the late President Yar’Adua was in his early 60s, I am about 60. So the PDP is grading down from Obsanjo to me.