A State in Nigeria with two Governors in the State house! By Abayomi Odunowo
There is no denying the fact that there is something fundamentally wrong with our democracy in Nigeria, particularly when it comes to the quality of leadership that gets thrown up as leaders. The standard of thought and decision-making exhibited by some of our leaders is nothing short of disappointing, and it is embarrassing our country on a global scale.
One of the most troubling aspects of our current political landscape is the alarming lack of accountability and the seemingly nonexistent consequences for poor leadership and unreasonable actions. It seems that once someone is entrusted with a leadership position, they are free to make decisions that are not only unreasonable but also detrimental to the progress and development of our nation.
A recent example that highlights this issue is the decision made by the newly elected Kogi State Governor to approve the establishment of the “Office of Immediate Past Governor” to be domiciled in the Government House. This decision is not only outrageous but also completely unjustifiable. It raises serious questions about the reliability of the style of politics we are practicing in Nigeria and the quality of leaders that we are electing into office.
The fact that such a decision was even entertained, let alone approved, speaks volumes about the state of our democracy and the standards of what is considered reasonable and acceptable. It is deeply concerning that someone entrusted with the leadership of an entire state could make such a nonsensical decision without facing any form of automatic corrective action.
This raises the question: how did someone like this find his way into the government house in Kogi? This is a state that boasts a long history of respected, educated, and morally upright individuals who have shown steely dedication, commitment, and intellectual soundness in their various pursuits. With such a pool of capable and competent individuals, it is baffling how someone like this could rise to a position of leadership in the state.
This issue goes beyond just the individual in question. It speaks to a larger systemic problem within our democracy – a problem that needs to be addressed with urgency and determination. We cannot continue to allow leaders who lack the basic qualities of integrity, intelligence, and sound judgment to hold positions of power and influence in our society.
The quality of leadership in our country is a reflection of the quality of our democracy, and it is imperative that we hold our leaders to a higher standard. We need to instill a culture of accountability and responsibility in our leaders, and this must be enforced through a system of automatic corrective actions when someone in a leadership position takes unreasonable actions.
Furthermore, we need to reevaluate the process by which leaders are selected and elected into office. There needs to be a more rigorous and transparent system in place to ensure that only the most capable and morally upright individuals are entrusted with the responsibility of leading our nation and its various states.
The future of our country and the well-being of our citizens hinge on the quality of leadership that we have in place. We cannot afford to continue down a path where leaders make decisions that are not only detrimental to the progress of our nation but also bring shame and embarrassment to our country on a global scale.
It is time for us to demand better from our leaders and hold them to a higher standard. The future of our democracy depends on it, and so does the future of our nation. We owe it to ourselves and to the generations to come to ensure that our leaders are of the highest quality and exhibit the kind of thought and decision-making that will lead our country to a brighter and more prosperous future.
Otunba Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
National Chairman AATSG
30rh January, 2024.