By Igoniko Oduma Yenagoa
A visiting professor to the Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and International Personnel and Management Studies, Ukraine, Prof. Steve Azaiki on Wednesday blamed Nigeria’s stunted development on ill-prepared leadership.

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (second right) his Deputy, Gboribiogha John Jonah, (second left), Chairman NDDC, Bassy Ewa Henshaw (right) and Managing Director, NDDC, Dan Abia (left) during a courtesy call at Government House, Yenagoa. Photo: Lucky Francis.
He spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, during the presentation of his new book entitled, ‘Thoughts on Nigeria: Speeches, Letters and Essays’.
Azaiki, who is also the President of Prof. Steve Azaiki Public Library in Yenagoa, said Nigeria had over the years been led by accidental leaders who were not prepared for leadership roles.
The former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government noted that because of the trend, Nigeria could not assert herself fully as the giant of Africa, adding that with its manpower and natural resources, the country should be the undisputed superpower of the continent.
“In Nigeria, over the years, we have had a situation where people who assumed leadership positions were actually not prepared for such positions.
“We have always found ourselves in a position where people assumed leadership positions by accident, proxy and ill-prepared to lead the country”, he said.
The university don added that the failure of leadership in the country also stemmed from the government’s inability to use the right people at the right places.
He said the syndrome of political patronage which had characterised appointments into public offices had continued to stifle socio-economic and political growth of the nation.
According to him nepotism, tribalism, ethnicity, selfishness and corruption were other ills retarding national development.
He described the reading culture among Nigerians as abysmal saying that there was an urgent need to reverse the development. He added that in the contemporary knowledge-driven world, reading culture should be supported and encouraged.
Azaiki who said that corruption had plagued all sectors of the country recommended the strengthening of institutions in the country in order to curb the menace.
He said “One of the ways we can curb corruption is to strengthen institutions of government. Ghana may not be as rich as Nigeria, but it has a robust policy of strengthening its institutions to rise to the challenges of confronting corrupt practices.”
He added that for Nigeria to succeed in stamping out corruption, the citizenry needed to be spiritually and mentally strong, saying that it was unfortunate that many people who offered themselves for leadership positions lacked the passion but were merely driven by greed and avarice.
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