From: Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
North East leaders has called for new leadership that will ensure inclusiveness and transparency in government.
They made the call at the formal launch of The Nigeria Agenda (TNA) in Bauchi, Bauchi State.
An elder statesman, Alhaji Yerima Aliyu Giade stressed the need for leaders with exceptional character and skills as critical to Nigeria’s development.
“We want continuity and a person with a good agenda, so the project is timely. We want an agenda with an actor who is serious.”
Giade supports The Nigeria Agenda mission, adding the programme would translate well in the choice of leadership.
In her remarks, North-East Zonal Coordinator, Patriotic Coalition Mrs Naomi John said that women have a great role to play in the Nigeria Agenda because according to her, women are in the majority in every aspect of governance.
She also said that women are the worst hit whenever there is bad leadership stressing that women group are ever ready now more than ever before to play key role in the coming dispensation.
She said TNA would create awareness among Nigerians on the choice of credible and accountable leadership.
“The awareness would bridge the distance that exists between leaders in government and citizens in the country,” she said.
Also Speaking former Commissioner for Information, Adamawa state, Alhaji Ahmad Sajoh, the Converner, reiterated that Nigeria leaders can address insecurity challenges facing the country.
He called on North East leaders to support and champion the cause for
effective leadership development systems of Nigeria.
He stressed that leadership is a responsibility which the leader must discharge with passion irrespective of his ethno-religious affiliation because according to him, “leaders are selected or elected by majority of people and it should be devoid of sectional sentiment”.
Ahmed Sajo likened keadership to a football team which must have a Coach and a captain who give directions as to how the team will play saying that, “if the coach is bad, the team will play badly. So, we need to have leaders who know what to do at the appropriate time”.
The Nigeria Agenda Convener then charged Nigerians to look very well before electing next leaders for the country saying that, “The Nigeria Agenda group is basically to set to mobilize the people, sensitive them on how to go about it. Very soon, we will come out with our plan of action after series of meetings and note comparing”.
Sajoh commended the North East Coordinators for their resilience and steadfastness in promoting the TNA across the six states of Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Borno, Yobe and Bauchi.
Alhaji Umar Sade, former Bauchi State’ Commissioner for Information and Bauchi state Coordinator of TNA Said Nigeria needs leadership development systems;
According to him,”It is incumbent on Nigerian leaders to understand how cultural differences affect development and progress of the country.
Mr ‘Niyi Akinsiju, Chief Advocate of TNA explained that rather than promote individual ethnic nationalism more
“Nigerians should be awakened to the need to emplace leadership that will ensure transparency in government and integrity in the business of governance.
Akinsiju also said that, “what Nigeria needs is a committed, dedicated, responsible and selfless leader like the First and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who gave his all for the good of the country”.
The Chief Advocate of the group lamented that, “nothing has changed since the first coup that claimed the precious lives of the best leaders ever produced in the country. We need to get back to those good years of good leadership”.
He then assured that ‘The Nigeria Agenda’ group is committed to ensuring that the next leadership of the country did better than what is happening now because according to him, “Nigeria can be better with good leaders in place”.
All other prominent people who spoke during the session, agreed that Nigeria must get it right in the next general elections in order to change things for the better for Nigerians by electing credible people.
The TNA North East was launched in Bauchi with stakeholders of all the North East states and their coordinators.