WALE AKINGBADE CALLS FOR A NEW STANDARD OF LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA: COMPETENCE, CHARACTER, AND CAPACITY
WALE AKINGBADE CALLS FOR A NEW STANDARD OF LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA: COMPETENCE, CHARACTER, AND CAPACITY
The Imperative for Competent, Character-Driven Leadership
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, stands today at a decisive turning point. On the one hand, we are blessed with abundant natural resources, youthful energy, and strategic positioning as the gateway to Africa. On the other hand, we are burdened by high inflation, foreign exchange instability, weak productivity, poor infrastructure, and governance challenges.
Our nation has endured decades of corruption and mismanagement, weakening institutions and limiting growth. Yet, this moment presents an opportunity to demand a higher standard of leadership and governance — one rooted in competence, character, and capacity.
The Nature of Nigeria’s Economic Problems
Inflation: Food inflation remains a pressing crisis, eroding household incomes and worsening poverty.
Forex Volatility: The naira has suffered repeated depreciation, driven by dependency on oil exports, low reserves, and speculative pressure.
Low Productivity: Growth lags behind population increase, signaling falling per-capita income. Poor infrastructure, weak innovation, and low access to finance cripple output.
Weak Governance: Corruption and inefficiency weaken public trust and cripple service delivery.
Infrastructure Deficit: Power shortages, dilapidated roads, and limited ICT hinder competitiveness and foreign investment.
These challenges, though daunting, are not insurmountable. Nigeria can achieve sustainable and inclusive growth if bold decisions are taken now.
Nigerians Must Now Demand More from Leaders
As Wale Akingbade emphasizes, President Bola Tinubu on behalf of Federal Government must raise the bar for those seeking public office and Citizens should demand:
1. Competence – Proven ability to understand problems, design workable solutions, and deliver results.
2. Character – Integrity, honesty, and accountability as the foundation of leadership.
3. Capacity – Stamina, foresight, and managerial strength to govern effectively in a complex world.
4. Vision and Ideas – A clear and measurable plan for jobs, infrastructure, education, security, and innovation.
5. People-Centered Leadership – Putting citizens before politics; listening and engaging honestly.
6. Accountability – Transparency in budgets, contracts, and policies with zero tolerance for corruption.
7. Service, Not Self-Enrichment – Leadership as a duty of service to the people, not an avenue for personal gain.
The Leadership We Need
House of Representatives: Must be voices of the people, not extensions of moneybags. They should legislate with knowledge, empathy, and vision.
Senators: Should rise as statesmen, shaping national and international policy with wisdom, foresight, and integrity.
Governors: As chief executives, governors must run states with prudence, vision, and managerial discipline, creating jobs and opportunities.
True leadership is not about titles or wealth; it is about the ability to inspire trust, unite people, and deliver measurable results.
The Way Forward: Policy Recommendations: Aspirants Must show capacity and knowledge of:
1. Monetary Policy: Adopt a consistent inflation-targeting framework and unify exchange rates to restore credibility and reduce arbitrage.
2. Fiscal Reform: Cut waste, reduce recurrent expenditure, expand the tax net fairly, and leverage public-private partnerships for infrastructure.
3. Economic Diversification: Move beyond oil by building strong value chains in agriculture, manufacturing, Technology and Social services.
4. Private Sector Support: Improve ease of doing business, expand access to finance for SMEs, and drive technology adoption.
5. Human Capital Development: Invest in education, healthcare, and youth empowerment to unlock productivity.
As Wale Akingbade stresses: Good governance is not an abstract concept; it is grounded in good management, accountability, and disciplined decision-making.
The Citizen’s Responsibility
Nigeria’s transformation cannot be left to politicians alone. Citizens must:
Reject vote-buying and “see and buy” politics.
Scrutinize candidates’ resumes, integrity, and vision.
Participate in INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at cvr.inecnigeria.org or local centers.
Collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and show up to vote.
Democracy works only when citizens rise to demand accountability and actively shape the future.
“Nigeria Deserves Competence, Character, and Capacity. Vote wisely, reject ‘see and buy’ politics.”
Comments