BY MUYIWA ALEBIOSO and OZOEMENA OSINACHI
As Nigerians groan over the bitting hardship in the country, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the stall in nation’s development to leadership failure and self centered political leaders
This is even as the former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke has raised the alarm over what he described as the infiltration of quacks into the nation’s democracy, which he said has reduced it to the lowest level
Obasanjo, who was Special Guest of Honour, at the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.
at Abeokuta at the weekend, said, leadership is a lasting virtue that endures until the end of one’s life, stressing that once the issue of poor leadership is resolved, “we will get all other things right.”
According to the former president, “there is no end to leadership and service to your community until you take your last breath. You are never too old to be a leader and contribute to the development of your community, your state, your country, the continent, and the world.
“And if you ask me in one word what is the bane of Nigeria today, I will not hesitate. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that lacks knowledge and understanding, and leadership that does not view service as the core of what leadership is about.
“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. This is what LEIC is doing that is commendable and very good. We must encourage and instil good leadership at every level of our national life.”
He emphasized that leadership must rise to its responsibilities to create a better world for all Nigerians.
“We have resources in Africa; we have 70 per cent of the world’s copper. Japan has no mineral resources. Singapore is even worse—no resources!
“But, whatever resources we have, if we lack leadership, it won’t get us anywhere. That is why leadership in Africa is so crucial.
“We can’t create an Africa of hope, prosperity, free from oppression, and characterised by security, peace, and visionary leaders without effective leadership,” the former military general said.
Similarly Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River, says a lot of quacks involved in politics in Nigeria have brought it to the lowest level.
Duke raised the alarm in Abuja on Saturday on the sidelines of the 2024 teens career conference titled ‘The power of music, which was organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)—The Everlasting Arm Parish, Garki.
The former governor advised that the political class must make concerted efforts to restore the hope and pride of youths in the country, adding that the majority of Nigerian youths are no longer looking within the country for a better future as they have turned their attention to other climes.
He stressed the need to eliminate quacks who saw politics as a means of livelihood rather than a means of service, stressing that if politics is seen as a means of service, politicians will become role models and can create hope.
“Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday,” Duke said.
“Politics could be the most elevating vocation, but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now, so they have brought it down to the lowest level.
“When politics is right, it elevates everything; it elevates medicine; it elevates your livelihood; when we complain about the country not being good, it is the politician.
“So, if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most noble of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks.
Duke further attributed the high inflation rate in the country to the cost of energy and tasked the political class to address the energy crisis by converting gas flaring to support the economy.
He however urged the Nigerian youths to remain focused and strive to mark history that would be remembered for good.