Social Commentator and Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline, said persons in government for 20 years and more should leave as they most times have nothing else to offer. Photo: Internet Source

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline during the October 13, 2026, airing of his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook

Mr Skelton-Cline said this on the October 13, 2026, episode of his show titled ‘Political Molestation’.

“I know it’s not on negotiation in this constitution, but you see, I think, 8 years you served this country and you’re basically done, and the only way you can get back in is to sit out a term and then seek re-election.”

Mr Skelton-Cline explained that when elected officials stay in a seat for a long time, they often believe it belongs to them and use the familiarity of friends and family to stay. 

“Even though they ain’t doing nothing; they’re not producing anything. There’s nothing multi-evidential to prove when you look outside your window that this person has made a difference in your life nor on your street since they’ve been elected.”

He said, even with all the evidence, we keep voting these people back in. 

20+ years in gov’t; exit left off stage

“All of you who have been in government for 20 years or more need to exit left off the stage…thank you for your service, God bless you for all the contributions you have made, but there comes a time when you have to exit.”

Mr Skelton-Cline said their service has reached a diminishing point of return, borrowing the term from economics. 

“It’s peaked; there’s no further to go, there’s nothing left to give and what it’s doing is retarding the development of the country.”

Rare exceptions

Mr Skelton-Cline did acknowledge that there are those elected officials who do have more to offer past the 20-year mark. 

“There are rare exceptions where you can have particular women and/or men who are unique in their own disposition and can offer you still exemplary service past the 20-year mark, but those are rare. We are here in a situation today where we are going to have to do some things differently.”