Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since the amalgamation of 1914 as ‘urban bandits’ have now taken over the country’s leadership positions.
The former FCT Minister who made the remarks while speaking at a lecture held on Saturday in Abuja to commemorate the 60th birthday of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, said the pitiable state of the country was brought about because Nigerians have repeatedly elected incompetent leaders who lack the knowledge or capacity to govern effectively.
Speaking on the theme “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria,” El-Rufai blamed what he described as the persistent leadership failures of the ‘urban bandits’ whom he said ascend to power without knowing what to do with it.
“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914, and that is why we are together working and conspiring to build a coalition to take Nigeria back on track because it is off track,” he said.
“We have allowed urban bandits, not the ones in the bushes, but the ones in the urban area, called the urban bandits, to take over leadership.
“I believe that the problem that we have is that we just get incompetent people, and we hand over leadership to them. Most of them don’t really know what to do. They just know how to grab power but don’t know what to do with it.
“We hand over leadership to people who are simply incompetent. They grab power but don’t know what to do with it. Wherever there’s progress in Nigeria, it’s because a competent person has been given the opportunity,” the former governor said.
He however, urged Nigerians to make better choices in the 2027 general elections and vote “wisely for leaders with competence, capability, and genuine commitment to advance the nation.”
“The key challenge is to choose leaders with competence, capacity, and commitment to move Nigeria forward.
“I think the key challenge for Nigerians in 2027 is really to look at those who are offering themselves for leadership and pick those who have the competence, capability, capacity, and commitment to move Nigeria forward,” he emphasized.
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
-
Afrophobia: Should Nigeria ask South African companies to leave?
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Monday Lines 2 Afrophobia: Should Nigeria ask South African companies to leave? By Lasisi Olagunju (Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 6 July, 2026). Jacob Zuma was President of South Africa when he declared on October 21, 2013 that South Africa should not “think like Africans in Africa, generally.” The remark,…
-
Why I did not take Brazil’s penalty against Norway – Vinicius
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Brazil’s hopes of ending their long wait for World Cup glory came to a painful end after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to eliminate the five-time champions. The aftermath of the defeat was dominated by questions over why Vinicius Júnior did not…
-
Blatter questions ‘political power’ after Trump’s FIFA phone call
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday he questioned the football governing body’s decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban. Sources told AFP US President Donald Trump had called FIFA’s current chief Gianni Infantino to ask FIFA to review Balogun’s automatic one-game suspension. The 25-year-old is now…
