‘How bad leadership affected Nigeria since independence’

The inability of Nigeria’s political leadership to engender good governance has crippled the country almost 64 years after independence.

Further is the pervasive corruption among the political class, which has stifled every sector of the economy and stretched human existence.

The above was part of the submissions of a lead speaker at a special Independence Anniversary Lecture organised by the Kano State government, yesterday.

Dissecting the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Independence and Leadership Challenges: Repositioning Kano for brighter future’, a Professor of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Kamilu Sani Fagge, acknowledged that though the most populous black nation had recorded relative progress since self-rule, it still lags behind its peers.

He submitted that nations, who shared a comparative advantage with Nigeria several decades ago, have joined global development and left her behind.

The don regretted that despite its abundant natural resources, Nigeria couldn’t grow in the same proportion as the Asian tigers because of endemic failure of leadership across sectors.

He said: “Since Independence, Nigeria has produced leaders. But I can say the kinds of leaders since the return to democracy in 1999 are quite different from those forefathers, who through their common interest, nationalism, patriotism and ideology to the unity of the country, fought for Independence. Unfortunately, those kinds of leaders are no more.

“Corruption is another challenge compounding the leadership failure in the country. People no longer regret the allegation of corruption which is being perpetrated with audacity at all levels of leadership.

“And this is not limited to leadership alone, but eating deep into the followers. Leaders now appropriate public resources to themselves, thereby denying the right quality and better life that citizens deserve.”