Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has described Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his predecessors, as individuals who came into power unprepared, often by accident.
He made these remarks while delivering a keynote address at the commissioning of Start-Rite School’s new building and during the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja on Sunday
Kukah lamented that despite Nigeria’s embrace of democratic principles, its governance continues to falter due to the lack of deep knowledge and preparation among its leaders.
He traced the history of leadership transitions in Nigeria, arguing that many leaders were thrust into power by unforeseen circumstances rather than careful planning or readiness for the responsibilities of governance.
“If we are to start from the beginning, you will find that almost every leader who came to power in Nigeria did so as a result of one accident or another,” Kukah stated, listing examples from Tinubu to former leaders such as Buhari, Jonathan, Yar’Adua, and Obasanjo.
He emphasized that these transitions have often left the country struggling to meet the evolving demands of leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), also spoke at the event, stressing the need to instil leadership values at an early age.
Marwa linked societal vices in Nigeria, including drug abuse, to lapses in leadership and accountability.
He shared a concerning revelation about a syndicate of visually impaired individuals involved in the illicit drug trade.
Marwa recounted a recent case involving a blind man caught transporting a large consignment of cannabis. Investigations led to a surprising network of visually impaired individuals working in collaboration.
“We arrested a blind man transporting a large consignment of cannabis from Lagos to Kano. Upon interrogation, he claimed ignorance of the contents,” Marwa disclosed, adding that the case exposed a complex syndicate operating under the guise of disability.
The event also served as a tribute to the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba, founder of Start-Rite School, which has grown from a modest class of seven students in 2008 to over 800 students across various levels in Abuja. Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Chairman of the Board of Advisory for Start-Rite School, organized the memorial lecture in her honour.
Marwa praised her vision and dedication to education, describing the school as a testament to her passion for equipping young Nigerians with the skills to succeed in a dynamic world.
