The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has blamed underdevelopment in the country, despite the availability of human and natural resources, on the way leaders were recruited to manage the country’s affairs.
In a lecture delivered in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the celebration of the 70th birthday of a former governorship candidate in various elections, Chief Olusola Oke SAN, the Minister, also slammed opposition political parties, blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their woes.
In the lecture titled “Leadership Recruitment in Nigeria: Challenges and the Pathway Forward”, Keyamo said the quality of any society’s leadership is largely determined by the integrity and openness of this recruitment process.
This, he said, included how candidates of political parties emerge and what criteria guide those choices.
According to him, “When the process of selecting leaders is flawed, everything else suffers. That is why leadership recruitment is not just an academic issue; it forms the very basis for national development.
“If the selection process is flawless, a country produces capable, ethical leaders who drive development, strengthen institutions, and build public trust.”
Keyamo said a flawed recruitment process has installed incompetent leaders who weaken governance, entrench corruption, and stall progress.
He said, “When leadership positions are treated as rewards for loyalty rather than responsibilities entrusted to those who are competent, the consequences are felt in every home through insecurity, poverty, decaying infrastructure, and lost opportunities.
‘Healthcare suffers; education suffers; infrastructure suffers; the economy suffers, and the ordinary citizen bears the brunt of it all. That is why this conversation is not an academic exercise; it is a matter that affects the daily lives of every Nigerian.”
Keyamo, what should guide the recruitment process is the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. He said there are provisions for the Presidency and Governorship positions in the Constitution.
He said these constitutional thresholds are meant to ensure minimum competence and legitimacy. However, he said the real process of determining the candidates of political parties and those who win elections often departs from these ideals stipulated in the constitution.
Keyamo said the political parties are the vehicles that produce candidates through primaries, congresses, or consensus arrangements. However, he said these processes have been hijacked by money bags, godfatherism, and zoning ethnic considerations.
The Minister said one of the most visible challenges in the nation’s political process is the growing influence of money, saying the cost of seeking public office has risen to levels that exclude many capable Nigerians.
He added, “The high cost of nomination and expression-of-interest forms has turned participation into an elite affair. Many capable Nigerians are priced out, while those with deep pockets or powerful sponsors prevail.
“This monetisation weakens internal democracy and discourages genuine service-oriented aspirants. Godfatherism remains a major feature. Powerful individuals or groups anoint candidates, expecting loyalty and returns on investment once in office.
“This patron-client relationship distorts accountability: the leader serves the godfather more than the people. Take the delegate system that once plagued our political parties, for example.
“The practice has now been expunged, thanks to the electoral reforms pushed through by this administration.
“We all witnessed how dangerous that practice was. It was a breeding ground for manipulation, where a handful of individuals could determine the outcome, and ordinary party members were left with no real voice. By sweeping it away, we have taken a significant step towards cleaning up our electoral process. That is progress we must acknowledge and build upon.”
Proffering solutions to the challenges bedevilling the recruitment process, Keyamo said there is a need to strengthen the Institutions that conduct elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Keyamo, for INEC to perform effectively, it must have the independence and resources it needs. This said, it included guaranteeing its financial autonomy and insulating it from external pressures.
The Minister absolved the APC from the crisis rocking the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC). He said political parties that could not manage their affairs should not be allowed to govern the country.
Although he said internal party reforms must be encouraged, he insisted that political parties must be compelled to conduct their internal affairs transparently and their primaries should be open, fair, and verifiable.
In the review of the autobiography of the Senior Advocate, former Managing Director of the Guardian newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja said the book presents a life shaped not by chance, but by calling; not by ease, but by endurance.
Reflecting on his life at 70, Oke attributed his journey over the past years to the grace of God, describing his life as a testimony of divine favour, resilience, and accomplishment.
Oke said his life story reflects both challenges and triumphs across his career as a legal professional and politician, saying, “At 70, I have seen a lot, both in the legal profession and in politics. It has been a journey of challenges, but also of remarkable accomplishments.”
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership, while also appreciating political associates and leaders who have contributed to his growth over the years.
Oke expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, assuring that the current challenges confronting the nation would soon pass, but charged the government at all levels to intensify efforts toward ending poverty and improving the welfare of citizens.
Describing his milestone as a moment of reflection, Oke said the occasion serves as a renewed call to dedicate himself to the service of humanity and national development.
He also extended appreciation to religious leaders, traditional rulers, and his wives, whom he described as pillars of support throughout his life’s journey, noting that their encouragement and prayers have been instrumental to his success.
