Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has urged Nigerians to be proactive in choosing political leaders to enthrone leaders with vision and commitment to develop Nigeria.
Gambari, who delivered the 14th convocation and 30th anniversary lecture of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, said Nigerians must pay close attention to the formation and running of political parties in the country, so that their voices are heard, and not marginalised in the scheme of things.
He said the docility of Nigerians in the leadership selection processes and party politics had given rise to a situation where political godfathers hijack the system and select leaders of their choice for Nigerians.
In the lecture titled: “Education for Peace, Development and Democracy”, Gambari urged Nigerians to ask questions from those clamouring to be governors and presidents about their development plans for Nigeria, what precisely they want to do when they grab power, so that Nigerians can hold them accountable.
“The generational mission for peace, progress and development must be achieved. Nigeria is the only country we have, so we must salvage and save it from collapse, it is a collective assignment and everyone has to be involved”, he said.
He said Nigeria must elect leaders who are ready to strengthen the institutions of democracy and that what Nigeria needed was strong institutions, not strong leaders, leaders who respect institutions and leaders with solid vision based on institutions.
Gambari stressed that Nigeria needs free and fair election so that persons that would emerge would be trusted. He added that President Buhari remained committed to free and fair election and had given INEC all that the electoral body needed to conduct free and fair elections.
Gambari asked Nigerians to rise above parochial interests that have divided the country, saying governors, local council chairmen, monarchs and civil society organisations had roles to play to enthrone peace, unity and development in the country.
