Nigeria’s real problem is lack of leadership, not corruption – Dogara

Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday in Abuja said Nigeria’s real problem was lack of leadership and not corruption as widely claimed.

Dogara said this at a conference tagged, The Convergence 2.0: Leadership, Power and Politics for Democracy Renewal,” touted as “Nigeria’s largest gathering of elected young representatives,” organised by the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement.

Dogara said Nigeria was plagued by a lot of challenges, ranging from being ranked as the third most dangerous country of the world to terrorism, banditry, unemployment, and dearth of healthcare facilities, among others.

According to him, it is a clarion call of nation-building for the youths elected into parliament in the just-concluded elections to use their strength and population to fortify the nation.

“Nigeria’s real disease is lack of leadership; I disagree with all those who say our major national disease is financial corruption; rather, the real disease has been the absence of true leadership.

“This in turn breeds moral corruption and wickedness.

“Get a true leader that solves moral corruption and wickedness; when that happens, you will search for financial corruption to no avail.

“Unfortunately, the leadership model we have practised so far is the kind of leadership that produces sycophants who are expected to serve their political godfathers and not the people.

“Our so-called leaders have mastered the art of political witchcraft so much so that if you are independent minded, you are automatically disqualified.

“If for any reason you are picked, then you have to surrender your soul for them to eat in small bites until you become their worshiper,’’ Dogara said.

– NAN