Lagos — I am one of the Nigerians who feel appalled at the constant reports and speculations of Umar Yar'Adua health. I am yet to meet any averagely aged person who has no complain about his/her health. The decision to contest the Presidency is the personal to any aspirant.

He alone knows his body, physical strength and mental capability to take up any office. All over the civilized world, people respect one another's medical records. They strictly are regarded personal and only the candidate can decide whether or not he is medically fit for office. An aspirant travelling through our nation under a tight schedule may sometimes fall ill and even require serious medical attention.

There is nothing unusual about that. A situation however where an aspirant requires medical attention and we go about announcing his demise is the greatest height of irresponsibility. We are by such action dragging our politics to the lowest ebb where no standard holds.

To buttress my argument that medical condition is not an election issue and that Nigerians should ignore those who are raising this matter to discredit the candidacy of those assumed to be lacking in good health, I will give three examples in recent history of aspirants who were reported to have bad medical condition but yet won the Presidency of their nation and performed creditable in office.

The three are from the United States whose constitution and style of government we borrowed. The first is Franklin Delano Roosevelt who at age thirty nine was struck with Poliomyelitis and was never able to regain the use of his legs for the rest of his life. FDR was someone that could be regarded as a cripple.

He had a bad health but with a great brain and a good leaders mind. With his speculated bad health he won election four consecutive times to the office of President of the Unites States of America . His health was never an issue, no one publicize it or debated it.

All the voters listened to are his programmes and leadership qualities which they later found outstanding. He served the American people meritoriously for thirteen years as President before his death... The second of such great Presidents was John F Kennedy, the 35 th President of the United States of America. JFK was not a healthy boy and even in his adulthood was plagued with different illness particularly his back.

As a united senator he had two serious operations on his back. At his campaign for Presidency, no one made his health an issue but discussed matters that are of concern to the ordinary American people. He won the election at the age of 43, the youngest so far in the history of America.

The third person is the amiable President Bill Clinton. His political opponents knew that he had medical problems yet no one tried or even dared to disclose his medical records to the American people. These are very civilized people who knew the boundaries of politics. With his medical problem Bill Clinton served creditably the American people for eight years at the Oval office. His record of service was impeccable and outstanding.

Even in our nation, we all remember that when our present President came out of prison, it was reported that he had been suffering from diabetes. That is a serious medical condition. Yet he served the Nigerian people well for the eight years at a grueling schedule. If we had tried to make his health an issue which as I argued is private, we probably would have impaired his election as President.

It is only a candidate that knows his health and the extent of his fitness for an office. No opponent or party can predict such for him. I think we should devote our time to numerous issues facing our nation instead of dissipating energy on very private unproven issues of health of a candidate. All over the world, young, vibrant great thinkers are taking up challenges to govern their nations. Many of such people, just like any of us do have one medical problem or the order to complain about. Notwithstanding they have the drive and the capacity to make a change for the good of their nation. Younger generations of leaders are taking up leadership positions all over the world. The Nigerian situation should not be an exception.

We should be looking forward to honest, tested and articulate, averagely aged people who can fashion out a promising future for our people. In America younger people are being promoted to leadership positions. Clinton was elected at age 46. Bush was elected at 54. JF Kennedy was elected at 43. The process for the election of the new American president has commenced. It is very likely that the next president will be under 55.

There is a young man of 45 years old called Obama who is currently a phenomenon at the moment for the office of the president of the United States . Age should also come with competency for the job and ability to lead. The integrity of the aspirant for leadership position is vital. An aspirant should not be dogged with integrity issue.

He must have demonstrated in the past his ability to govern and to lead. Above all, he must have background of proven excellence in scholastic achievement, public service and ability to visualize the future. Umar Yar'Adua falls within this age bracket that good nations of the world are searching for in today's world.

These are averagely aged individuals, educated, articulate men and women with clear vision of the future. They have a pedigree to make a change in public service. It is on record that as a Governor of a state in Nigeria , Umar Yar'Adua was free of all allegations of fraud and mismanagement of public funds permeating most of the states of Nigeria today.

We have heard of several atrocities committed in many states of the federation. Allegations have been made on how state finances are personalized and used for personal gain. Many of these stories are mind boggling and a cause for concern. In the midst of this perfidy, we have an Umar Yar'Adua who on record managed his State efficiently, transparently, executed projects and development programmes that are of great concern to his people. His integrity for the high office in Nigeria remains impeccable.

There are no records of houses bought by Umar Yar'Adua, no business houses in his name, there are no foreign accounts reported in his name or proxies. We have not read or heard of his ownership of any house in choice cities of the world. No one has ever made any allegation of financial misconduct against him.

He symbolizes the picture of a good Nigerian we all pray for to lead our nation. This is the kind of aspirant we have spent the last eighteen months been advocating for the Nigerian nation. An aspirant that we can entrust into his hands the nation's wealth and expect the citizenry to be confident that such funds will be responsibly utilized. With due respect to other opinions, Umar Yar'Adua stands tall among other aspirants for our highest office.

As a leader, he is not overbearing and he encourages innovation and builds confidence among his people. He is humble and knows how to delegate duty. The President of our dream is one who is willing to learn and who listens to contrary opinions.

A leader is one who can handle criticisms and appreciate people's concern. A president in waiting, who has successfully presented a vision of the future for the Nigerian people. This is what service is all about.

Those who take the responsibility of their office as public service, understand that the well being of their people is the primarily and overriding reason why they are in office. We should encourage this type of aspirant for the presidency of Nigeria and not disparage them on speculative issues of health and death which in modern democracy has no place.

To me the current succession plan as adopted by the outgoing President is a classic Roosevelt and Truman succession plan. It was the pivot of the great American nation that we see today. We Nigerians should not miss the opportunity this time around and embrace that succession plan that is being promoted by the President and make Umar Yar'Adua the next President of Nigeria.

- Remiogunmefun@hotmail.com