‘A leader is conscripted to give the people what they need’

Emerging economies, like that of Nigeria, has no reason to wallow in deep-rooted system driven by mediocrity and weak leadership, a chieftain of the Peopled Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, has said.

Isiaka, who made the assertion in Abeokuta, said it was regrettable that Nigerian leaders are either bereft of ideas or “prefer to go on ego-trip of personal aggrandizement,” thereby depriving the people of their basic needs.

The two-time Ogun State governorship aspirant, said the time had come for the country’s leaders to know that government exists for the welfare of the people, adding: “A leader is conscripted to give the people what they need, rather than what he (leader) feels.”

Isiaka, who spoke during a Public Dialogue and Empowerment Programme he organised for members of the public, said it was sad that due to the people’s bitter experience with visionless leaderships, “there is cynicism and distrust between the leader and the led.”

He insisted that the economy could only be transformed through teamwork, knowledge and technology, and to achieve this, Isiaka said: “The focus of governance must be driven by value with the provision of required infrastructure and social services.

“We must desist from a system that appears rigged against the people for the benefit of the political elite, who continue to milk them, providing tokenism in return.

“The question is: Why is the political system flourishing while the citizens languish in poverty and want? I think the state of our politics calls for introspection, as we need to reform the political system to enable it become ideologically-driven, properly managed and people-oriented.”

He added: “Our people’s choice of political leaders seeking elective office must be based on sound criteria, like character, capability, courage, integrity, sincerity of purpose and deep understanding of the job at hand and the environment under context.

“Our people must be more vigilant on the identity, character and antecedent of who is running for office.

“In the face of this broken political system, the people must learn to reject inducements, while exercising their voting rights. Moneybags with inordinate ambitions must be rejected in favour of candidates with track record and programmes that directly affect their social and economic needs.”