By Sani Aliyu, Zaria Professor Siraj Barau Abdulkarim of the Public Administration Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has describ...
By Sani Aliyu, Zaria
Professor Siraj Barau Abdulkarim of the Public Administration Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has described Nigeria's 25 years of democratic governance as a tragic irony. He made this assertion during his inaugural lecture titled "Leadership and Public Policy: The Twin Imperatives for Peace and Development in Nigeria."
Professor Abdulkarim lamented that while democratic governance was expected to usher in progress and prosperity, it has instead witnessed a political class that thrives while the majority of citizens endure economic hardship, insecurity, and systemic corruption.
"The dwindling quality of leadership, diminishing capacity to deliver development, and the recklessness and lack of empathy displayed by those in power are deeply troubling," he stated.
He expressed grave concern for Nigeria's youth, whose future he said is jeopardized by poor leadership. "The stark contrast between the opulence of the political elite and the suffering of the masses reflects a profound disconnect between the government and the governed," he added.
Professor Abdulkarim warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, facing significant challenges in health, education, the economy, security, and corruption. These interconnected issues, he argued, have severely hindered national development.
Highlighting the consequences of poor governance, he pointed to the agricultural sector, once a national pride, now crippled by insecurity and mismanagement. "Basic staples like tomatoes, pepper, garri, and other essentials are now beyond the reach of the average citizen, let alone the impoverished masses," he remarked.
The professor called for urgent public discourse and decisive policy direction to address the challenges threatening to unravel Nigeria's social fabric, urging leaders to bridge the growing divide between themselves and the people who entrusted them with power.
No comments