Age shouldn’t decide who governs Bayelsa; competence should — Mienye

By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Bayelsa State, Dr Domor Mienye, has urged voters to prioritise competence, preparation and the capacity to deliver results over age or years spent in politics when choosing the state’s next governor.

Speaking during a media interview, Mienye said leadership should be judged by a candidate’s track record, decision-making ability and capacity to solve problems, rather than the length of time spent in political office.

“It is a fair question when people ask about my age, but experience should not be reduced to the number of years someone has spent in politics. It should include the problems the person has solved, the organisations they have led, and their ability to make sound decisions under pressure,” he said.

The APGA governorship hopeful argued that Nigeria’s history shows that age has never been the defining factor in occupying high public office.

He cited former military leaders, noting that Alfred Diete-Spiff became military governor of the old Rivers State at the age of 24, Yakubu Gowon became Head of State at 31, Murtala Mohammed at 36 and Olusegun Obasanjo at 38.

“Their age did not diminish the responsibility of the offices they occupied,” he said.
Mienye maintained that the true measure of any aspirant should be competence, integrity and the discipline required to govern effectively.

“Youth alone is not a qualification, but neither is old age. Bayelsans should ask who understands the challenges before us, who has practical solutions and who can assemble a capable team to implement them,” he said.

Highlighting his background, Mienye said his career in engineering, artificial intelligence, academia and international organisations had equipped him with experience in systems that prioritise planning, accountability and measurable outcomes.

“Our people deserve leadership that prepares thoroughly, executes effectively and measures success by improvements in their daily lives. That is the standard I believe we should apply to everyone seeking office,” he said.
He added that Bayelsa was at a critical point where competence must take precedence over political tradition.

“The future of our state will not be determined by the age of its governor. It will be determined by the quality of decisions that governor makes,” he added.

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