From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A former Minister of State for Health, Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, has charged Nigerians to elect leaders capable of transforming the country, in the Saturday’s presidential poll.
Aduku, who is the chairman, National Working Committee of North Central Peoples’ Forum, told journalists yesterday in Abuja, said that visionary leadership was the most important need of the nation at this critical moment.
He said: “At the crux of every nation’s enviable development is visionary, committed and capable leadership.
“Interestingly, representative democracy has therefore made it possible for such leadership to emerge through periodic elections which is one of its cardinal pillars.”
He argued that Nigeria, being among the largest growing democracies in the world has enjoyed over two decades of unfettered democratic governance having been bedevilled by many years of military interregnum.
However, according to him, “here we are, in a matter of days, the Barton of political leadership in Nigeria will change hands; right from the Presidency, Senate and the House of Representatives, spiralling all the way down to the State Governors and their Houses of Assembly, all of which are expected to be concluded within two election days of Saturday, 25th February, 2023 and Saturday 11th March, 2023.”
He added: “’The North Central Peoples’ Forum (NCPF) has continued to stand for, and promote all efforts that are geared towards equitable development of the country.
“The Forum will spare no further energy thereto to contribute her quota to the emergence of such leadership that’s capable and committed to all-around development of the country, regardless of region, religion or ethnicity.”
He implored the in-coming administration to prioritize the establishment of North Central Zone Developmental Commission (NCZDC) which will address the myriad of development challenges being experienced by the zone.
“Without any equivocation, as part of its First One Hundred Days in Office, we enjoin the incoming administration under the Leadership of whomever emerges, to give undivided attention to NCZDC with a mandate to ensure sustainable dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue, revamp Ajaokuta Steel Company, among others.”
