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Help bring generational shift in political leadership, Agbakoba urges Obasanjo

By Joseph Onyekwere
25 July 2017   |   4:22 am
Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has called on the ex-Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to use his political clout to bring generational shift in political leadership.

Olisa Agbakoba

Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has called on the ex-Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to use his political clout to bring generational shift in political leadership.

Agbakoba, who made the call in an open letter dated July 20, 2017, said Obasanjo’s intervention would bring about the desired change.

He said: “I feel compelled to request your intervention because you are one of the few past leaders with enough clout to galvanize the political elite to produce like in France, a Macron or in Canada, a Trudeau.

“I believe it is time for our elder statesmen to give way to a young new vibrant political leadership. I am also convinced that with your support this can be achieved and expanded to become high policy amongst all political parties in Nigeria. Nigeria will greatly benefit. I strongly feel that a radical change in political leadership from old to new will be transformational.”

The SAN expressed concerned about the quality of leadership in Nigeria, saying that corruption is endemic, while poverty is high. “Life expectancy is low. Nigeria ranks poorly on all international human development indicators. Chinua Achebe in his book “The Trouble with Nigeria” pointed out the situation of Nigeria is directly linked to failure of leadership.

“Our country is held back by a crop of leadership that have outlived usefulness and effectiveness as a result of old age. It beggars belief that there is no culture among our political elite, to encourage younger people with new ideas to aspire to positions of leadership, in particular the office of the President,” he stated, adding that the modern history of Nigeria was shaped by young people.

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