Nigeria’s problem is failure of leadership -ACF Chair

From:: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) ARC. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku has observed that failure of leadership is the trouble with Nigeria.
He stated this in a statement he issued on the occasion of 2023 World Peace Day.
According to him, there is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water, air oranything else.
Aduku lamented that the Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, of the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.
The ACF Chairman stressed that while other nations have been blessed with charismatic and visionary leaders, Nigeria is bedeviled with instrumental leaders as against ‘societal leaders’.
According to him, the instrumental leader uses power and influence, primarily in the pursuit of private (personal, close family, cohort) goals. Community objectives are secondary to an instrumental leader.
“The main concern of the instrumental leader is how he can use his office to achieve personal objectives.
“He may not be lacking in social/community commitments, butt in practice, more considerations are given to the self over the interests of the society which he governs.
Unlike the instrumental leader,
“A societal leader is visionary, charismatic, and altruistic and resigns voluntarily if he thinks of himself as having failed, but an instrumental leader continues to hold on to power so long as his objectives are achieved.
“It is surprising that no President or Head of state has ever resigned voluntarily because he has failed to serve the people right in Nigeria.”
Arc. Aduku opined that to address the leadership deficit in Nigeria, concerted efforts must be made to create a level playing field for all eligible and qualified Nigerians to aspire to political office without let and hindrance.
He added that democratic dividends must be made to percolate to all and sundry, irrespective of political affiliation and differences, and shouldn’t be made the exclusive preserve of a select few.
“Politics being a game of numbers, the electorate must be allowed to choose leaders of their choice without intimidation, coercion, or threat of any kind or type.
“The electoral umpire, INEC must ensure that people’s votes do not just count but must be seen to count in the forthcoming November 11 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
“All those who threaten public peace, no matter how highly placed, must be sanctioned to guarantee a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election and restore public confidence in our democracy.”
There is no doubt that poverty and unemployment are key drivers of social unrest and other forms of criminality in Nigeria. There are millions of Nigerians living in poverty as well as a growing army of unemployed youths.