Youngstars Foundation

Nigeria is in dare need of development.  At 50, the nation has barely nothing to showcase as a politically independent nation.  Over the years, the country has experienced high level of political instability with intermittent changes between democratic and dictatorial forms of governance.   However for eleven years now, the polity has witnessed relative stability with the ushering in of the fourth republic in 1999.   Meanwhile, our nascent democracy over these years have not been all that smooth, but it is hoped that it keeps changing for better.

To keep the trend and consolidate on the gains of democratic governance, we need a visionary and benevolent leader as the Number one citizen come May 2011.  Yes, the individual  must have a Vision and should be able to remain focused on this Vision while his tenure lasts.  He should also be able to consolidate on the Visions of past leaders.  For example, the incoming president has to keep alive, the Late President Yar’adua’s Vision of Nigeria becoming one of the twenty most developed economies in the world by the year 2020.  He also has to be one concerned with the welfare of the Nigerian citizenry.  All his decisions has to be aligned in favour of the common people and not for the political class.

My President in 2011 has to be a man of integrity and honour.  He should have a ‘clean’ record in the places he has previously served.  He should not be a person of questionable character.  Again, he must be a man of his words.  He should be able to provide a lasting antidote for the wound of corruption which a greater majority of Nigerians bear.  The first step in this is through personal example.  Inordinate wealth acquisition should not be in his agenda.   He should be very honest and transparent in all his dealings, and by that inspire the governed to follow suit.

In the area of political appointments and giving out responsibilities, the nation’s chief servant has to very stern making his choices.  It will pay the nation more if he chooses from the class of technocrats who have track records of achievement in their chosen careers, than giving consideration to a list compiled by political godfathers.  He also has to ensure that all the geo-political zones as well as the two major religious groups in the country are well accommodated in his cabinet.  It should be his resolve to always get things done in the right manner for the benefit of all.

If Nigeria must emerge as one of the twenty most developed economies of the world come 2020, then ‘Ingenuity’ should be a trait that the man on the Steering must possess.  He should be able to diversify the economy in order to increase our foreign exchange earnings. Nigeria has the potential of being a force to reckon with in the world’s economy.   We only need to develop those areas that are currently lying dormant and I strongly believe the country will produce a president that will lead this endeavour come 2011.

In recent times, insecurity has been the undoing of many developmental projects in the nation.   Under this scenario, the country has lost huge sums of money and material resources to the activities of hoodlums.  To arrest this situation, we need a leader that is very proactive. He should be able to tackle criminal activities before they get out of hand.  Even as the country is in a mess with the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers, the incoming president should be able to stem the tide by using the mighty armed forces of the nation to wrest the sword from these ugly fists.

While it may seem unrealistic to get a perfect leader, we need a leader who will not excuse his incompetences with human frailty.  He should be able to strive conscientiously towards upholding the above mentioned qualities.  Being human, he may give in under tight decision-making situations, but should not in the process let the reins slip off his hands.  It is also important that he takes advice from well meaning individuals, while at the same time not succumbing to the selfish desires of his Party stalwarts.

Nigeria needs a very charismatic leader.  Someone that generations yet unborn will like to emulate.  Yes, the likes of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy of America, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Mahatma Gandhi of India and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.  We need a leader that we can look up to and say ‘There is hope for our children’.  I believe the time for him to emerge is just by the corner.  Let’s see what happens in 2011.   Long live Nigeria! Our country, our pride!