Challenge Of Leadership In Nigeria

The high level and severity of poverty currently being witnessed in Nigeria today is undoubtedly enough to prevent the poor from breathing. It is also an attestation to the horrifying poverty figures recently releasedby the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

According to the agency, over one hundred and thirty million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor. Another research also revealed that in less than five months to the current government, poverty index increased geometrically as more Nigerians have been pushed into the poverty line which was occasioned by the recent removal of fuel subsidy.

Therefore, let the poor breathe is not just only fast becoming the newest cliche in governance but it is also imperative to urgently find an alternative means to mitigate the sufferings of Nigerians.

Let the poor breathe as a concept that is credited to the current President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and re-echoed by the Nigerian senate was not in any way intended to ridicule the government as widely perceived but as a reminder to the authority about the inevitability of social contract of every government to her citizens.

This also means that every pursuit of government reforms should prioritize the welfare and security of the citizens with a view to building a betterliving condition for the citizens.

This brings to question the challenge of leadership in the country where governance is structured to favour on thefew political class. Instead, they are neck deep in endemic corruption, greed and self-serving, leaving majority of Nigerians in abject poverty thereby encouraging them to endure for a promised future that may notcome.

The problem of leadership is even becoming more complex, in the political space today when the corridor of power is replete with sycophants and cabals who manipulate the process of governance to their own advantage.

This brings about total disconnect between the leaders and the led as their actions are not often in tandem with their words.

Consequently, some political pundits have described it as the height of insensibility to the plights of Nigerians, considering the hardship citizens are going through at this moment.

The serious implication of this, is that majority of Nigerians no longer have confidence in government programmes and policies even when it is intended to alleviate poverty, establish infrastructure and build institutions.

It is however heart warming to say that despite the challenge of leadership, it is worthy of note that let the poor breathe cliché might be a sign of leadership renewal to chart a new course for the greater good of Nigerians.

With the renewed hope agenda of the current government, Nigerians expect Mr President to be definitive in the fight against corruption by cutting down cost of governance, including the allowances of political office holders.

The wealth of the nation should be equitably distributed amongst Nigerians with the hope of making them to breathe under the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

Written By Godson Enejor, Abuja Operations