How visionless leadership, graft impede nation’s greatness, by ACF, Ali

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday, stated that visionless leadership had robbed the country of development since independence. Also, the Comptroller General (CG) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd), regretted how corruption had hindered the nation from achieving its full potential.

In an independence message by the National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, ACF said given the rich endowments, “Nigeria should have achieved greater heights, but due to the bad leaders produced in the country, a situation that has affected its developmental strides.”

According to the northern leaders, the country has since independence been “mired in short-sighted, mind boggling corruption that has shocked her citizens and the world.”

They added: Nigerian leaders have consistently remained mediocre, refusing to build upon the modest achievements of the First Republic leaders.

“The Nigerian military, which fought heroically to keep the country one, has become a shadow of itself, overwhelmed by a ragtag army.”

Addressing the ‘Beating of retreat and prize-giving ceremony’ of the 67 Regular Course and Short Service 46 (Army) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Ali promised that the Federal Government would do everything within its powers to make Nigeria successful.

The CG, who was guest of honour at the event, urged the graduating cadets to hold firmly to the principles of honesty, commitment and integrity in the course of their professional duties.

Earlier, the NDA Commandant, Brigadier General O.J Akpo, said 287 regular course graduates, comprising 127 Army, 85 Navy and 76 Air Force cadets and 188 short service officers would be commissioned on October 10.