The Task Before Nigerian New Leaders

On the 29th of May 2023, a new set of leaders were sworn-in which equally affected leadership at the State and Local Government levels.

The much-touted change will now continue to occupy the minds of the people who always look forward to see the impact of democratic governance in their lives as well as the various sectors of the nation’s economy.

What is most important now is that the current crop of leaders should know that their mandate is divine no matter the process of their emergence.

It is expected that by now, they should have known the shortcomings of their predecessors and should take off by addressing them.

They should know the fact and economic realities on ground which showed that majority of Nigerians today are not sure of the next meal in view the prevailing economic pressure.

The new leaders should be guided by the fact that disharmony anywhere is a threat to harmony everywhere.

It is imperative to point out that Nigerians have heard much of good roads, water supply, robust agriculture, constant electricity supply among others and leaders should know that none of these have really been addressed to make life easier for people.

They should know that armed robbery, kidnapping, hunger, youth restiveness, cultism, insurgency and prostitution will never stop until jobs are created for the youths roaming the streets.

The leaders should be aware that they are there to serve the people and not themselves and also have it at the back of their minds that any leader who is not big enough to stand criticisms is too small to be praised.

The leaders should know that it does not take a second chance to make an impression. It is expected that every project to be embarked upon by the new leaders must be appraised using the parameter of, what is the targeted population? What percentage of the population will benefit from the project? What is the cost of the project? Will the project be completed within the tenure of the administration, and how many jobs will the project create for the benefit of the unemployed people? At the end of the day, leaders will be satisfied that their actions are fair, equitable and justifiable.

Leaders should know that there are many industries for the past 16 years that are in comatose and every effort should be made to put them back to life.

When this are done, jobs will be created and the youths will be gainfully engaged.

The success of every administration depends on the quality of people appointed into offices.

The leaders should pay attention to the cry of hunger, fraud, misappropriation, diversion, executive lawlessness, marginalization and neglect which have become common in the nation’s polity and all actions that promote these should be prevented.

They should not postpone the opportunity they have today and must do everything to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors. Like the needle that is caught in the grooves of a defective record, the same tune should not be repeated.

Thus, all kinds of deliberate lies or falsehood must be avoided and the new leaders must know that whatever they do today will be the basis for which they will be judged tomorrow when another election will take place.

Written By Dr Godson Eze, A Public Affairs Analyst