Saraki decries accidental leadership, calls for deliberate political participation

DDM News

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has blamed Nigeria’s struggles on the rise of accidental and unprepared leaders.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Saraki made the statement at the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) reunion in Houston, Texas, United States.

He presented a keynote address titled “Empowering the Future from Legacy to Infinity” at the National Space Centre.

Saraki said Nigeria often misses development opportunities because unqualified individuals find themselves in leadership positions.

He lamented that strange circumstances sometimes thrust power on people who lack preparation and vision.

“Nations led by unprepared leaders suffer from stunted growth and repeated challenges,” Saraki stated.

Saraki is a two-term governor of Kwara State and a former President of the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019.

He is also the son of the late Olusola Saraki, a key figure in Nigerian politics for decades.

Saraki played a major role in Nigeria’s political shifts, moving from APC to PDP before contesting for president.

In his speech, he celebrated Nigerians who are excelling globally across many professions and disciplines.

He mentioned Adewale Adeyemo, Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary, and Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners.

Saraki also recognized Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, Brig. Gen. Amanda Azubuike, and UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

According to him, “Individually, Nigerians shine globally, but collectively, we’ve failed to build a strong nation.”

He urged professionals in the diaspora to reflect on this contradiction and engage in nation-building.

Saraki stressed that leadership success is never accidental but requires preparation, planning, and public accountability.

He urged the public to hold leaders accountable and support only those who offer competent governance.

He said democracy can only thrive when citizens play an active role in shaping their future.

Saraki noted that many professionals withdrew from politics after military rule due to skepticism about democratic promises.

He explained that this created room for less qualified individuals to dominate the political transition in 1999.

These people, he said, often saw politics as survival rather than service, bringing harmful tactics into governance.

Quoting Bertolt Brecht, Saraki warned that avoiding politics allows incompetence to take charge of society’s direction.

He called on all capable Nigerians to enter public service and abandon the idea that politics is dirty.

“We must be deliberate in improving leadership and stop recycling unqualified leaders,” he stated.

Saraki encouraged KCOBA members and others in the diaspora to return and mentor future generations.

He urged Nigerians to engage meaningfully in leadership if they want change to happen.

“No nation develops by accident,” he emphasized. “We must act intentionally and responsibly.”

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