Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, emphasizes the need for genuine nationalistic leaders in Nigeria and calls for a reevaluation of the country's democratic focus and scope. He shares these insights as the guest speaker at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture in Lagos.
Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, has expressed his belief that Nigeria is yet to find leaders with a strong national focus. He emphasized that Nigeria's democracy requires a fundamental rethinking in terms of its scope and priorities. These remarks were made during his keynote address at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture themed
“Why We Stride and Slip: Leadership, Nationalism, and the Nigerian Condition,” held in Lagos.
Amaechi raised questions about the extent to which Nigerian leadership has embraced a sense of national unity. He acknowledged former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the few leaders who approached the ideal of nationalism, while suggesting that most others have primarily represented their ethnic groups.
He defined a truly remarkable national leader as someone who can rally the entire nation around a common vision and mission, transcending limitations to take the nation to new heights of greatness and prosperity.
Reflecting on Nigeria's struggle for independence, Amaechi emphasized that authentic nationalistic leadership goes beyond ethnic considerations. He stressed that experience in public service equips individuals with valuable insights into how Nigeria functions and the changes needed for improvement.
Amaechi pointed out that Nigeria's journey towards nationalism and nation-building is relatively young compared to its existence as an independent entity. He noted that there have been more rulers than true nationalistic leaders.
Highlighting the prevalence of ethnic interests in Nigerian politics, Amaechi argued that credible leadership for a diverse nation requires addressing the underlying national questions specific to that nation.
Uma Eleazu, the chairman of the lecture, expressed hope for the future generation despite the challenges facing the country. He acknowledged the 'Japa Syndrome' among the youth as a response to the complexities of living in Nigeria.
The lecture, now in its fourth edition, was organized by TheNiche Foundation for Development Journalism. It serves as a platform to gather diverse perspectives on why Nigeria's immense potential has not been fully realized.
During the event, both Rotimi Amaechi and Uma Eleazu were inducted into TheNiche Hall of Fame, joining other distinguished Nigerians who have made significant contributions to the nation.
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