Options for Nigeria

I am thoroughly disappointed that many young Nigerians, in thinking about potential options for Nigeria’s leadership, tend to revert to the history books, and indeed, if it were possible, to museums and even cemeteries. Once you talk about 2015, for instance, the usual names crop up – Muhammadu Buhari (who was head of state 30 years ago and is over 70 years old); Ibrahim Babangida (who ruled for eight years between 1985 and 1993 and left office 20 years ago); Atiku Abubakar (who was Obasanjo’s vice-president and left that office 6 years ago); Aliyu Gusau (a permanent fixture in Nigeria’s security infrastructure since 1966 to date), and similar historical people. There is little attempt to think about leaders for the future rather than men from our past. If these people had offered Nigeria excellent or inspirational leadership in their time, the nostalgia may have been understandable, but the current state of Nigeria is evidence of their collective failure! I propose to suggest that there are many options of a more futuristic hue that Nigeria can examine, instead of this retarded focus on failed leaders of the past. This attempt is more of a long list of possible leadership options rather than a short list of actual contenders. I do not endorse or attempt to endorse anyone, but simply seek to widen our horizon as we move towards 2015. Why, for instance, can’t Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State governor, be a strong contender for president or vice president in 2015? Wouldn’t he by then have had excellent preparation for 8 years as Lagos State governor, and to popular acclaim? That’s apart from being chief of staff for five years and being an accomplished legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Hasn’t Aminu Waziri Tambuwal showed extraordinary leadership in holding together a cross-party coalition in the House of Representatives? Aren’t speakership and leveraging multiple terms in the House strong enough preparation for presidency? (I say this in spite of my disagreement with several positions adopted by the House, so remember these are not endorsements.) We may consider other governors – Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, a legal practitioner and former state attorney-general; Sule Lamido of Jigawa, who has been federal foreign minister, member of the House of Representatives and federal parastatal chairman; Babangida Aliyu of Niger, a former federal permanent secretary; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, a former state commissioner; Gabriel Suswan of Benue, who spent 8 years in the House of Representatives; Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, also a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and former federal minister for defence; governor of Rivers State and chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, who has done a lot in his state in terms of education, health and transportation infrastructure; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra; former Governor Ahmed Muazu of Bauchi State; and current ANPP chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu. We may also consider former or serving senators – current Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, also a former speaker of the Lagos House; Senate President David Mark; Senator Abu Ibrahim; Senator Lawan Shuaibu; Senator Bode Olajumoke, etc. Several federal ministers, past or current, may also be qualified – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Babatunde Osotimehin and Oby Ezekwesili, most certainly! There are other individuals who could be considered – Jimi Agbaje, a respected politician, pharmacist and civil society leader; or former CBN governor, Chukwuma Soludo. And there are many more! I am sure some of the names mentioned above can offer Nigeria significantly better leadership than those whom we reflexively fall back upon. These younger gentlemen have occupied high offices of state and have had their leadership competences and maturity tested, and by-and-large many have stood up to the test. There are many more distinguished Nigerian men and women from the pool of professors and vice-chancellors, legal practitioners and SANs, retired senior civil servants, corporate CEOs and directors in the business community (Won’t Tony Elumelu, Atedo Peterside, Jim Ovia, Fola Adeola, Jamodu, Aliko Dangote, etc., all be better presidents than Babangida, Atiku or Jonathan?), and the vast number of Nigerian professionals and academics? Nigerians need a new generation of leaders! The leadership class we have had till date was formed between 1966 and 1975. Their mindsets were shaped by the coups and counter-coups of 1966 and the civil war. They keep Nigeria in its past and do not allow the emergence of a new consciousness and identity. Their understanding of policy, economics and development is anchored in the past; even if they struggle to understand the present, they can never project into the future. They cannot relate to the demands of a world driven by technology, the world of Obama, Cameron, Putin; and even in Africa, all their contemporaries are long gone, replaced by younger men in their 40s and 50s. We need a new leadership that has “moved on” beyond primordial differences and historical grudges and divisions. The old has given its best and must now give way, and a new leadership class must be enthroned. Of course, the new leadership will have to, as individuals, earn their place, but let us start examining and testing these not-so-new new leadership so that we can rescue the future from the past!