Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has criticized Nigeria’s leadership history, describing it as an “accidental leadership cycle.”
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday during the commissioning of the new Start-Rite School building and the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture, Kukah highlighted a recurring lack of preparedness among Nigeria’s past and present leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Unprepared Leaders in Nigeria’s History
Bishop Kukah reflected on Nigeria’s governance, pointing out how most of its leaders came to power under unforeseen circumstances. “If we look at Nigeria’s leadership journey, you will find that almost every leader who came to power did so by accident,” he remarked.
He criticized President Tinubu, saying, “Despite claiming to be prepared for the role, he is clearly struggling. We are still trying to find our footing.” Kukah traced the pattern back to Buhari, who he said “had already disengaged from governance” before handing over to Tinubu.
He elaborated on the country’s leadership lineage: “Buhari succeeded Jonathan, a man who never envisioned himself as president but was thrust into leadership due to circumstances. Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, who planned to return to teaching after his governorship. Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president. Before that, Obasanjo replaced Abacha, who was poised to rule indefinitely until nature intervened. Abacha followed Shonekan, a business executive abruptly drafted to lead the country.”
Kukah emphasized that the common missing element across these administrations was “knowledge and preparation.” He argued that while Nigeria has adopted democratic principles like “one man, one vote,” it has consistently failed to produce competent leadership.
Kukah highlighted the increasing complexities of modern governance, stating that leaders need to understand the ever-evolving global environment. He called for a greater focus on education and leadership development to bridge this gap, urging Nigerians to prioritize competence over political convenience in leadership selection.
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NDLEA Chairman Calls for Early Leadership Development
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, echoed Kukah’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of cultivating leadership qualities early in life. “Nigeria’s challenges are deeply rooted in failures of leadership and accountability,” Marwa said.
He also revealed an alarming trend in the drug trade, involving visually impaired individuals. “Recently, the NDLEA uncovered a cartel involving visually impaired individuals,” Marwa disclosed. He recounted how the agency arrested a blind man transporting cannabis from Lagos to Kano, who led them to other blind individuals involved in the operation. “This case presents unique challenges, but it highlights the lengths to which criminal organizations will go,” he noted.
Honoring Amaka Ndoma-Egba
Marwa paid tribute to the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba, in whose memory the lecture was held. He described her as a visionary who established Start-Rite School in 2008 with the aim of preparing students for an ever-changing world.
From its modest beginnings with just seven pupils, Start-Rite School has grown into a top educational institution in Abuja, now serving over 800 students across nursery, primary, and secondary levels.
A Call for Change
The event underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to address its leadership crisis through education and leadership development. “Leadership is key to solving the challenges we face as a nation,” Kukah concluded. Both he and Marwa highlighted the role of institutions like Start-Rite School in shaping the leaders of tomorrow and addressing the country’s governance and societal issues.
With Nigeria’s leadership history under scrutiny, the call for a new approach resonates strongly in a nation eager for transformative governance.