The quality of leadership in Nigeria is low – Peter Obi

Former governor of Anambra State has said that the quality of leadership in Nigeria is quite low.

Speaking at the recent Aelex Annual Lecture in Lagos, Obi stated that there was need for Nigerians to do an effective evaluation of the nation’s leadership and to accept that the country is bugged down by incompetent leaders. He explained that good leadership would require vision, as the vision of a leader is expedient to the development of the state.

He said,  “the vision must be clear, so that the leader can drive the state to success. The reason for these failures is the absence of a plan.”
The President of Council, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede stated that it was important for leaders to create a critical mass of human resource in the states and move these resources into public service. “It is not enough to have the brightest of the brightest in the private sector, we must have these sort of resources in public service as well,” he said.
Speaking of Fiscal sructures in the states, former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke enquired of the panel if it was possible to create systems that would help the states manage their human and fiscal resources efficiently.
Peter Obi spoke of Peer Review Mechanisms which according him was started briefly by the Governors’ Forum while he was Governor of Anambra State but did not see the light of day after his state was reviewed.

Also speaking on the panel, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Professor Chidi Odinkalu emphasised that most Nigerian states are built on faulty foundations given the intent of the military whilst creating the states. He berated the dearth of history amongst Nigerians. Professor Odinkalu noted that Nigeria is a country without process, management, details and priorities, adding that States are basically irrational in addressing relevant issues of huge importance.From Agusto & Co., Isaac Babatunde, stated that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of over 27 States is not sufficient to pay the State workers let alone implementing social projects. Babatunde urged states to explore, adopt and adapt winning models from high performing states such as Lagos.

Moderating the panel discussions, Donald Duke was quick to add that the challenge of dysfunctional states in Nigeria goes beyond finance. Duke also said that one of the most essential factors in making states work is the framing of a personal vision and a collective vision for the state, which he said remains a missing component amongst many Nigerian Governors.

“We are losing the essence of the federating units in Nigeria. As a leader, having a vision is essential but having a collective vision for the people is key.”
The Aelex 2016 panel had, Donald Duke (CON), Former Governor of Cross River State; Peter Obi (CON), Former Governor of Anambra State; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (CON), President of Council, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Director, Africa Program, Open Society Justice Initiative, and  Isaac Babatunde, Executive Director, Corporate & Sovereign Ratings, Agusto & Co.

Focused on leadership and governance, the theme for the 11th AELEX Annual Lecture was occassioned by a need to seek efficient ways of “Making States Work”.
AELEX is one of the largest full service commercial and litigation law firms in West Africa with a renowned appreciation of global business standards and demands. The firm boasts offices across Nigeria and in Accra, Ghana. Its list of awards over the years, and in all areas if practice, is a testament to their dedication and service as a firm.