Shekarau Warns: Godfatherism Will Result In Poor Leadership Choices For Nigeria

Shekarau Warns: Godfatherism Will Result In Poor Leadership Choices For Nigeria

Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State, has issued a stern warning about the dangers of godfatherism in the selection of Nigerian leaders. During a presentation titled ‘Challenges of Operating in Political Environment by Public Officers’ at a four-day retreat in Abuja for the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and top management staff, Shekarau emphasized that godfatherism often results in the appointment of inexperienced and morally compromised leaders.

Shekarau criticized the prevailing practice where financial influence or godfather connections determine leadership positions, warning that such a system leads to poor leadership and detrimental policies that harm society. He called for a fundamental change in this practice to avoid perpetuating the cycle of ineffective and corrupt leadership.

He urged political parties to prioritize the election of qualified individuals into leadership roles. “Political parties must ensure that only the right individuals are elected to leadership positions. These leaders should then nominate credible and experienced candidates for public office,” Shekarau asserted.

The retreat, which began on Friday, aims to address various issues facing public officers and promote effective governance.