File photo of PDP Politicians sharing money during election | Credit:Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre
Some political leaders have advised Nigerians to vote for good leaders in the 2023 general elections, instead of queuing behind those who mortgage their lives by giving them money and food as incentive in exchange for votes.
Former Governors of Ogun State, Anambra State and Kaduna State, Gbenga Daniel, Peter Obi, Ahmed Makarfi respectively, as well as other eminent Nigerians offered the advice yesterday, March 22 at the 4th yearly lecture of Freedom Online newspaper in Lagos.
In his keynote address, titled: “Nigeria’s Political Indices: Bright or Bleak Future,” Chief Daniel asked Nigerians to realize that the only way to see a developed Nigeria is to ensure that they vote with their brains and not their stomach.
this was even as Alhaji Makarfi, the chairman of the event, expressed optimism about a brighter Nigeria, but that the leaders Nigeria need now must be those that would provide a Government of National Unity (GNU).
ex givernor Obi observed that the recruitment and selection process of leaders are poor, adding: “we have everything but lack the right leadership. In choosing the right leaders, we must look at character, competence and capacity. Leaders must also invest in education, health and pull people out of poverty.”
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Military Administrator of old Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, said that Nigerians must be seen to be selfless in service and to the rule of law.
George, who was represented by erstwhile member of The Guardian Editorial Board, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, said that no matter the situation, he would not give up on Nigeria, saying: “This nation will not, should not and must not fail.”
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, called for restructuring, saying: “the issue of restructuring is very important to us.”
meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, said that though there are challenges, there are still good narratives about the country.
“Nigeria is not retrogressing. We are making progress. The youths are doing wonderful things all over the world. For instance, in Lagos, youths are deploying technologies to solve societal problems. The future of Nigeria is very bright and everything is in the hands of all of us—the old and the youths.”
For the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, it is time to stop dwelling so much on the past and focus on the future “as tomorrow may be too late.”
According to him, quality of leadership impacts on all citizens and aligns with the need to rethink recruitment process for the leaders of this country.
