Nigeria’s problem is leadership failure, says Danjuma

Former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilous Danjuma on Saturday said the confused state of the nation  is a clear indication of failure on the part of the leaders.
He also said that the nation is currently in  need of patriotic elder statesmen who would use their wealth of experience and wisdom to give the country a clear sense of direction.
Gen Danjuma who spoke in Zaria after being conferred with the traditional title of Jarmai Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris lamented that the Nigerian society and economy is currently in tatters, adding that in a highly competitive world, northern children are missing out in qualitative and functional education.
He noted that the masses of northerners are chained down in dehumanising and grinding poverty while “we continue to maintain few islands of prosperity on a turbulent ocean of penury and squalor”.
The former Army Chief noted that while the nation is in  need of peace and harmonious co-existence for the overall development of the nation, there cannot be peace and harmony where there is wide disparity between the few rich and a multitude of the poor.
 “I have taken many risks in my life for the sake of Nigeria and at the age of 75, I thought I have paid my dues. I just wanted to spend the rest of my life in quiet retirement, leaving the public arena for a new generation of leaders to improve on the modest achievements of my generation. It seems to me now that real retirement is only possible in the grave. Our lives and living are apparently inevitably tied eternally to responsibilities.
“This event was supposed to be a festive occasion featuring a durbar. But given the sad reality of our present situation in northern Nigeria, I pleaded for a simply but dignified ceremony devoid of pomp and pageantry.
“We are in a season of sorrow and mourning caused by decades of neglect of a sizeable segment of our society. Now, our people are dying in thousands in needless battles and conflicts.
“Our society and economy are in tatters. In a highly competitive world, our children are missing out in getting qualitative and functional education. The masses of our people are chained down in dehumanising and grinding poverty, while we continue to maintain few islands of false prosperity in the turbulent ocean of penury and squalor. There cannot be peace and harmony where there is wide disparity between the few rich and a multitude of the poor.
“Nigeria and indeed, northern Nigeria has never been in short supply of politicians scheming and screaming for due and undue advantages. What has been in short supply are patriotic elder statesmen who would use their experience and wisdom to give our country a clear sense of purpose and direction.
“When elders become decadent, the youths are bound to become delinquent. Our people are confused and perplexed, they have become like flock scattered on many hills without a shepherd. This is a clear indication of leadership failure”.
He stressed that northern leaders have been talking too much and doing less for the development of the north saying “we urgently need to put our house in order so we can overcome our various challenges.” Danjuma stated

 

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