Nigeria Must Reinvent Leadership to Rescue Democracy, Damagum, George Say

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Nigeria must urgently reinvent its political leadership and governance structures to restore citizens’ trust, rescue democracy, and avert a future of deepening poverty, instability, and mass disillusionment, leading opposition figures and scholars declared yesterday at the inaugural lecture of the African Institute for Statecraft International (AISI) in Abuja.

Themed “Reinventing Political Leadership and Democratic Governance”, the lecture drew political thinkers, party leaders, scholars, and policy scientists, who were unanimous that Nigeria’s leadership crisis lay at the heart of its economic woes and growing discontent among citizens.

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, represented by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, said Nigeria had been plunged into “a state of national shock” by years of failed promises and poor governance.

Damagum said, “Citizens are like a lover betrayed having promised everything but delivered nothing.”

He lamented the lack of preparation and capacity building within the public service, stressing that Nigeria’s five million-strong civil service has largely remained untrained since recruitment, leaving them ill-equipped to deliver 21st-century governance.

“The president or governor cannot do everything. Execution lies at the lower levels, and when unprepared, failure is inevitable,” he added.

Chief Olabode George, represented by a PDP chieftain, Hon. Dare Adeleke, also decried what he called “personality-driven governance.”

He warned that sycophancy had replaced meaningful policy debate in Nigeria’s political culture.

“When leaders borrow trillions without accountability and citizens celebrate personalities rather than interrogate failures, the nation drifts towards systematic destruction,” George said.

He stressed that discipline and accountability remained the only path to redeeming Nigeria’s democracy.

Political analyst and PDP stalwart, Chief Segun Sowunmi, raised the alarm over what he termed an “existential crisis” facing Nigeria’s democracy, pointing to dwindling voter turnout as evidence of eroding public trust.

“In 2023, 93 million Nigerians registered to vote, yet less than 25 million participated. That is a crisis of confidence. Why would any decent citizen risk being macheted just to cast a ballot in an election already compromised?” he asked.

The host and Chief Executive Officer of AISI, Adai Edwin Adai, said the institute was founded to nurture a new generation of leaders who would place service above patronage.

“Africa’s future will be built not just on its resources but on the strength of its leaders and institutions,” Adai declared.
PDP National Woman Leader, Hon. Amina Darasimi Bryhm, said the launch of AISI came at a critical moment for Nigeria and Africa.