Credible Elections Not Solution to Nigeria’s problem – Cleric

By Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The conduct of a free, fair and credible election in the country would not still guarantee a workable solution to the problem of corruption, underdevelopment and battered image currently facing the nation.

Rather what is of essence to address Nigeria's critical problem of development and stability is to have the emergence of credible leaders who would consider the interest of the overall populace more important  than their individual ego and ‘pockets’.

The Lord Bishop of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church,Calabar,Rev.Tunde Adeleye  who made the remark recently in an interview in his office averred that ’’credible elections,one-man,one-vote;all those ones are good but that doesn’t solve the problem.It is necessary to have  credible persons as leaders because  political parties can produce bad people to emerge through a credible election’’.

Describing the emergence of corrupt leaders through a credible election as ‘’changing monkeys for baboons’’,Rev.Adeleye said however that leaders must have integrity,be futuristic,honest and overall have always the people he or she is leading at heart.

He emphasized that What Nigeria needs to advance it as a nation is to have leaders who think in the direction of developing the people,creating opportunities and,having the fear of God.

According to the Anglican cleric,’’more than 80 percent of Nigerian leaders are either expired or are not NAFDAC-compliant’’ .He continued,’’ they are bereft of any fresh ideas, they are not futuristic, they cannot do anything new for Nigeria. And let the parties not present anybody who do not have anything to offer’’.

On the issue of zoning of the presidency,Adeleye said’’I pitch tent with those who want the president to come from anywhere.The president can come anywhere provided that one is intelligent,detribalized,has programmes that the social.political and economic  life of the people for good’’ adding that ‘’excellence should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning’’ .

Said the Columnist-turned cleric,Adeleye,’’we should not have an election pole that doesn’t move as president’’and  remarked that those who suggested zoning of the presidency were 'murderers' of the nation’s integrity.

Adeleye also spoke on the issue of ‘jumbo’ pay for National Assembly members,saying Nigerians are only perturbed about the pay package of the legislators because of their non performance.

‘’We do not have a functional and effective legislature. What the legislators are involved in is enrichment of selves. They do not have concern for the commoners. They do not sit down and make laws that put money in the pockets of the people. Nobody would be bordered about their jumbo pay if they were making laws that concern the people; that improve society. I feel bad that they are not doing these things. So we need legislators that are concern about the people,’’he remarked.

He noted that the individual score- card of all those contending for the presidency would determine how far they can go in the race and urged Nigerians to do a thorough assessment of the gladiators and choose the best.

On the involvement of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN] in the monitoring of the forthcoming polls, the cleric said although the task is herculean and demanding but is worth the while.

‘’CAN should have the instrument of government. They should have the finance to pay for fare, honorarium, accommodation. They need communication gadgets to ensure that the achieve the one man,one- vote campaign during the polls’’, Adeleye said.

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