Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwl, has challenged Nigerian politicians to choose and tread the path of desirable and effective leadership, saying that no country can ever attain greatness without surmounting the factors militating against the institution of robust human and material resources of the nation.
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In a paper presentation at the convocation lecture of the Benue State University, Makurdi, entitled, ‘’New Leadership; The Challenges of Nigeria’s Political Class,’’ the Speaker who emphatically noted that Nigeria was the only country with abundant natural resources said; ‘‘let us therefore not be intimidated by the odds, the potentials are immense and the future is bright. If only we collectively choose to tread the path of effective leadership and good governance, greatness is the sure destination.’’
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He noted; ‘’Now therefore is the time for the political class to rise to this challenge, now is the time for leadership to constructively dialogue and engage the followership. Now is the time to recognize and admit that the task of nation building is not the exclusive preserve of leadership but equally that of the followership.’’
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‘’Leadership must however, empower the followership with the necessary stimulus because poverty and nation building are strange bed fellows. A largely marginalised citizenry increasingly crippled by poverty and lack of basic needs can hardly be expected to play its proper role in the development of the nation.’’
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On the lack of development of the country in some key areas, the speaker said,’ vital sectors like power and agriculture have however been largely stagnated just like rail transportation. Incidentally, these sectors are the very stimuli for rapid development, mass employment and mass movement and their negative impact on development efforts in other sectors is no doubt, debilitating’’.
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He said rapid development has to be achieved for the infrastructural growth of the country and that it must be people oriented and targeted to improving the totality of the welfare of the human person.