Leaders Have A Huge Role To Play If Nigeria Will Remain United – Fayemi

Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi has submitted that to become a leader is more than defeating political opponents during elections.

This is as he called on leaders in Nigeria to do more in order to produce the Nigeria that many citizens actually dream of y understanding what the followers actually want and then working to fill such gaps.

The Ekiti State Governor pointed out that Nigeria is better off as a united country despite the many challenges that have been witnessed on various fronts but called on everyone to play their roles effectively.

Naija News reports Governor Fayemi made the submissions on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of his book titled, ‘Unfinished Greatness: Envisioning a New Nigeria.’

“Over the last few years, as our beloved country has been buffeted on all sides by a myriad of problems, I have, like many of you here present and online, experienced discomfort at the ease with which cheap and populist options which, yesterday, may have been laughed off as fringe ideas have gained in influence as to become mainstream,” he said.

“In the meantime, those who have held onto the goal of Nigerian oneness and unity have found themselves pushed to the margins and placed on the defensive.

“Matters have not been helped by the inflammatory partisanship which many in leadership positions have adopted in part to score points against opponents but also in order to be recognized by their communities as truly representing their concerns.

“Too many seem to have forgotten that leaders should lead and not simply reproduce the base sentiments and narrow perspectives they encounter on the hustings.

“Leading means understanding the local concerns that are exercising the minds of our constituents, placing these in a wider context which as leaders we are uniquely positioned to see, and formulate approaches that provide a meaningful and responsible way forward.”

Fayemi while acknowledging the challenges facing the country on several fronts, said leaders must courageously and creatively deal with the challenges rather than ignore or suppress them.

“In courageously admitting to and seeking ways to redress the challenges, however, it is important to remember that we come from somewhere, and in the journey we embarked upon as a country, we have scored some wins, and a web of interdependencies bind us ever closely together,” he said.

Dignitaries present at the book launch included Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun while President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.