Set 17’ of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development Centre (LSD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Wednesday at a media briefing urges Nigerians to resist the temptation of selling their votes before or during the polls and strive for a peaceful, credible, and fair election.
The Governor of the group, Mr Ojoba Daniels, said, “As a serious country and people, 2023 should not just be another general election. The administration of Nigeria must be entrusted into capable hands – from the position of Councillor to the President. Ethnic and religious sentiments must be eschewed!”
Below is the full briefing:
Protocol – The Executive Director, Centre LSD, Dr. Monday Osasah, All Centre LSD staff here present, Set 17 Members of CLSD, Special Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, distinguished Ladies, and Gentlemen.
It gives us great pleasure to speak on the state of the nation which unfortunately has been characterised by insecurity, poverty in the midst of plenty, deteriorating education and healthcare, displacements, brain drain, etc. All of these have continued due to the challenge of leadership; not knowing how to manage human and material resources to deliver development for the citizens of the country.
From development literature, for any country that wants to grow, the leaders/managers of the country’s resources (human and material/natural resources) must focus on four tangent areas, viz – Education, Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Health. This is what makes a nation with developed human capital.
The 2022 students of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) Set 17 are deeply concerned about the current situation in the country. As a group, we wish to bring to the fore, critical issues that have negatively affected Nigeria and Nigerians and must no longer be neglected by the democratically elected leaders – especially as the 2023 general elections draw near.
One of which is insecurity. We note with great concern, the worsening state of insecurity across the country – characterized by kidnappings, banditry, and assassinations, among others. We also note the growing fear within the Federal Capital, arising from recent attacks in several parts of the city as well as threats from unknown sources.
As Nigeria lurches from one violent conflict to another, the country’s leaders and its international supporters become easily – and perhaps understandably – fixated on the latest manifestation of insecurity. The larger problem, however, is that none of this will ever change unless the focus turns more firmly and consistently to the thread that runs through all of that upheaval: the challenge of leaders in the governance of the nation.
Due to the challenge of leadership and bad governance, citizens who are vital resources to the development of Nigeria are willingly leaving the country in droves and putting up their skills, knowledge, and potential to be used by foreign countries to develop or grow their human capital index.
As a serious country and people, 2023 should not just be another general election. The administration of Nigeria must be entrusted into capable hands – from the position of Councillor to the President. Ethnic and religious sentiments must be eschewed! As the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections, we recommend that citizens should look out for candidates with the following credentials:
1. Security: A candidate that will ensure they tackle insecurity and ensure that there is security of lives and properties. The importance of security cannot be overemphasized as this creates the bedrock for every other form of development to thrive.
2. Agriculture: A candidate that will ensure there is food security;
3. Infrastructure: A candidate that will provide infrastructure; not a candidate that will borrow for infrastructure yet, will not provide it.
4. Education: A candidate that is passionate about education in both words and actions; as a nation, we cannot continue with the incessant ASUU strikes that have continued to disrupt young people’s aspirations;
5. Health: A candidate that knows, values, and is determined to provide quality healthcare for citizens; not one who will seek healthcare services outside the chores of the country.
Taking the above premise for choosing the right leader that will enthrone the right leadership and good governance come 2023, we urge Nigerians to ensure they collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote at the various level of elections (Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship, and State Houses of Assembly).
While we encourage all eligible citizens to participate in the coming elections to ensure that credible leaders are voted into power in 2023, we admonish citizens to shun electoral offenses.
Citizens are also urged to resist the temptation of selling their votes before or during the polls and strive for a peaceful, credible, and fair election.
Finally, we hereby reiterate that while a nation cannot become a human capital without the four tangent areas of education, infrastructure, health, and agriculture; all of this cannot be achieved in the midst of insecurity. Additionally, citizens need to remember that their work does not end with voting but regardless of who emerges, citizens in their communities of work, birth, residence, etc should hold all elected officials accountable by following up and ensuring all assigned responsibilities, projects, contracts, and budget allocation are fully completed.
It’s a guarantee that in the nearest future, the Leaders represented here today or by virtue of association with this project and the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) will represent a greater quota of leadership seats such as Presidents, Governors, Federal Ministers, members of the House of Representatives, and Senators to mention a few.
THANK YOU!
