Nigerians Recruiting ‘Inappropriate Leaders,’ Says Prof. Jega

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said Nigerians have been recruiting, appointing/electing wrong leaders, thereby putting, round pegs in square holes.

This, he said, was undermining, rather than, strengthening governance, democratic and development processes.

Jega said this during the pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) with the theme, “Leadership Recruitment – The Missing Anchor in Our National Development” at main auditorium of the institution, Akoka.

According to him, the issue of leadership recruitment at all levels of governance in the country, is central to current national predicament; and getting it right is key to the resolution of poor governance.

He said: “Nigerians belong to the category of the unfortunate citizens of the world in whose leadership, though in the context of a civil democratic dispensation, leaves much to be desired, in terms of a sustainable vision for our country’s development, selflessness in elective public leadership positions, competence and capacity to lead a country…”

Leadership recruitment process, he said, was central to entrenching good governance.

“With the terrible result that the electoral processes spew up and recycle most people in elected public offices who either bought, or fraudulently often violently stole the votes which put them into ‘elected’ and public leadership positions. They invariably achieve this, because the special purpose vehicle for getting into elections, namely the political parties, are captured by so-called ‘money bags’ , ‘godfathers ’ and powerful patrons, and they operate undemocratically to install clients and otherwise very unprepared and untrustworthy people into elective positions, which require thorough preparation, competence and trustworthiness.

Former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili said Nigeria lacks right leadership. Dr Ezekwesili stated that the country produced leaders who are at peace in compromising public goods for personal interest and subvert the common goods.

This pattern of behaviour, she said, will lead the country to the lowest common denominator in leadership

Earlier in his welcome address, UMA President Alhaji Shuaib Salisu said the theme was carefully chosen to evolve a better society and address the generally acknowledged leadership challenge at all levels.

“There is near unanimity that if our great Nation, Nigeria, must attain its full potentials, then there is the need to fix the leadership challenge. And in doing so, we must look beyond individual leaders and focus on the process through which leaders emerge,” Salisu said:

According to him, Islam places so much premium on the importance of leadership, which is based on the principle of trust.

Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, Shaykh Ahmad AbdurRahman said the leadership recruitment process in the country is faulty.

Shaykh Ahmad called for regular assessment of appointed/elected leaders and ease out those not performing.

According to him, there should be mechanism to bring them to account.

He also called on religious leaders to be truthful as they also have great roles to play in fixing government and should not be after aspirants’ money.

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said negligence of knowledgeable and able citizens toward electoral process had led to the issue of leadership that the country suffers.

“The poor go out to vote, why the rich sit back to watch and count,” he said.

Ogundipe urged Nigerians citizens to know their roles and right, and the importance of good leadership.

Petroleum Economist/lecturer at the Department of Economic, Umar Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, Dr. Ahmed Adamu, noted that to have a good governance, leadership recruitment systems require an evolutionary change.

He added that good citizenship, particularly voters, should endeavour to carry out their rights by going for their Voter’s Card, come out to vote, not to sit back and count the number of votes at home.

He said politicians and delegates should check their intentions, and also do the right thing.