The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, has called on Nigerians to thoroughly interrogate the programmes and ask tough questions from those running for public offices in 2023.
She stated these in a recorded video message she sent at the 2022 graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, founded by a former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili.
The programme had its theme as, ‘Designing our global future with Africa in mind’.
She said, “I hope Nigerian voters take your inspiration; that is the idea that they should be telling the people who solicit their votes what matters to them, what it is that they want, and how they believe that Nigeria should be.
“So, may Nigerian voters take over their mantle of empowered idealism as they go towards the elections and to remember to hold those leaders accountable, once they (whoever may) emerge.”
Ezekwesili, in her remarks, described Nigeria as a country great in potentials, but lacking in a good leadership system because of distortions in the people’s political culture.
She said that until political leaders shun egotism and adopt a new leadership mindset, the socio-political and economic growth within the country may be hindered.
Ezekwesili said, “According to research on ‘Fix Politics’, what we found is that not just Nigeria but across Africa, there is a political culture that is distorted. It is the political culture where those who are in public leadership subordinate the public good i.e. the common good for their personal and narrow interests.
“And so what it means is that the common good is not served by people who should be serving. Therefore, in order to correct that, you have to basically customise a new leadership mindset.”
