Frank Efe
The National President, Network for Positive Change, NPC, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe has attributed the lack of development in Africa to leaders who he said do not possess the requisite experience and dedication to lead the people.
Pastor Egedegbe who made this statement in an interview with Reformer in Warri Delta State, said leadership in Africa is suffering because the right leaders have not emerged from the various elections being conducted in parts of the continent.
He said: “People shot themselves up for leadership without the requisite experience or the right frame of mind to lead a people. We consider that leadership in Africa is suffering because the right perspective of leaders has not been gotten by those who call themselves leaders. And until you put a square peg in a square hole, you cannot make any meaning.”
He said NPC was formed to advocate for a paradigm shift from what “has been to what it should be,” adding that until African leaders realize that they have come to serve the people, the continent will continue to be underdeveloped.
“What is the mindset of a-would-be leader in the Nigerian setting? We try to analyze what is on ground and what should be with a view to also letting people know that they are a dignified people. They have the right to a good living, freedom of association and expression which are enshrined in the constitution,” he queried.
The human right activist also said that where there is no respect for the rule of law anarchy is bound to set in, stressing that our leaders have to put their foot down in order to salvage the present situation the continent found itself in.
Pastor Egedegbe noted that the crises being faced in Nigeria can be attributed to the way and manner the country was amalgamated by the Colonial masters, saying the colonial masters did not put the diversity of the people into consideration before they joined them together.
He said; “It all started from the pre-colonial era. From all available facts before us today and judging from history, we found out that we were not really compatible because you see so many personalities in our nation. That tells you that we are a people of diverse background and the way we were brought together, you will see that the British did not help us. They came with their selfish interest to amass wealth for themselves and created this fake notion that some people from some part of this country own this nation more than others.”
Speaking on the issue of Boko Haram, Pastor Egedegbe urged President Jonathan to do the right thing even though he will step on toes, emphasizing that the President has been dilly dallying with the issue of Boko Haram for too long without any results.
“That (boko haram) is a very serious issue today, but with due respect to those in leadership position the way and manner they are handling this subject leaves much to be desired. The reason is that they say one thing today and tomorrow they are saying another thing. We do not seem to know where we are on this issue,” he said.
“I want us to believe that Nigeria can be better again if we all put our acts together. Putting our acts together means that we need to speak up and call a spade a spade. Sentiments must go and we must imbibe the culture of true nationalists and not sectional leaders, or those that condoles corruption. I believe that one of the greatest challenges we have today is corruption.”
