SUVs: Africa must change how its leaders emerge for meaningful progress – Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili said for Nigeria to change its leadership deficit, come out of the present situation and begin to get things right, there must be a concerted effort to change the way leaders emerge on the continent.

She said presently, Africa has a low-cost leadership, and if nothing changes, the next crop of leaders, legislators will still demand to buy SUVs in the midst of hardship and deprivation that many Nigerians are going through.

Ezekwesili who was speaking at the matriculation ceremony of the 2024 session of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, SPPG, in Abuja noted that the prevailing political culture in Africa and Nigeria is one that subordinates the common good of all to narrow interest by a few.

Ezekwesili stated that it was because of the prevailing situation and she wanted to find a solution to the quality of politics, leadership and economic performance that she established the School of Politics, Policy and Governance.

EFCC fails to produce Emefiele as court shifts case to Nov 8

Enugu doctor escape as kidnappers doze off

She said: “To correct these, we need to design a new pipeline that would contest against this monopoly political class that has a dominant culture.

“You can cry as loud as you can, the next National Assembly, if filled with the same existing pipeline of political players, lawmakers will still buy new sets of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV).

“The next set of executives even at the state and local government levels will carry on with the same, nothing will change.”

In her address the Chief Executive Officer of SPPG, Mrs Alero Ayida-Otobo said Nigeria needs a new order of how things should be done, adding that the last twelve or so years and what Nigerians have been through shows that things need to change for the better.

“If you misbehave when you graduate and you do not live up to our values, to what we hold dear, what we hold important, we will withdraw our certificate, we will disown you, you will be removed from the alumni class”, she warned.