Images from L-R: Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Former Vice President of the World Bank; Mrs. Alero Ayida Otobo; CEO @TheSPPG.Org (School of Politics, Policy and Governance); Co-Founder, Teach For Nigeria; Founder Incubator Africa and Mrs Martha Karua, Former member of the National Assembly of Kenya.
Lingering economic crisis, insecurity, famine and the rise in number of coup d’états in Africa are fallouts of the poor quality of political leadership across the continent, stakeholders have warned.
Speaking at the just concluded 2023 School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) Graduation event in Abuja, the stakeholders who are Africa’s thought leaders, called for unity and reawakening of political consciousness among Africans to fix Africa’s leadership crisis.
The speakers at the event include SPPG Convener and Nigeria’s former Minster for Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Kenyan-based activist, Boniface Mwangi; Tunisian activist, speaker and diplomat, Aya Chebbi; Accomplished Lawyer from Kenya, Martha Karua; Zimbabwean politician and one of the top leaders of the Citizens Coalition for Change political party, Gift ‘Ostallos’ Siziba and Senior Programme Officer and Acting Deputy Director, Mac-Arthur Foundation, Africa office, Amina Salihu.
Others are a Parliamentarian from Zimbabwe, Joanah Mamombe, a Chartered Accountant from Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Political Scientist from Senegal, Marieme Cisse; Transformation strategist from Nigeria, Alero Ayida-Otobo, among others.
The event themed: “Renaissance Africa: The Era of Citizens shaping new Leadership Model for Good Governance”, saw the graduation of over 100 SPPG students.
Ezekwesili, charged Africans to participate fully in politics and lend their voices to matters that affect their future. “We want an Africa that is governed by persons of character, competence and capacity that will transform nations. We are tired of bad leadership and the frequency with which that comes in. The conversation within and outside on the reason Africa is behind all other nations throws up a really big challenge,” she stated.
“We cannot simply accept the idea of poor leadership in the public management of our continent. So, SPPG has worked to bring interconnectedness that also mirrors where Africa is going. It matters that citizens make efforts to change things that are unacceptable.”
According to her, speakers at the event showed that Africa is not lacking is individuals that can lead the continent to prosperity and stability.
“Africa has chosen the path of democracy, and if we look at historical numbers, more countries that have enjoyed prosperity have come through the democratic path. So, democracy is very important because it comes with political freedom. With political freedom, comes rule of law which is the cornerstone of economic freedom. Economic freedom leads to proliferation of ideas, innovation and creativity. With democracy, the two most important economic agenda for countries is solved faster and better.”
In her submissions, Karua assured that the hopes of Africans must be restored. She said, “We need to restore hope in our people. Our culture in Africa is respect, oneness and love. We are now lost people. We are neither Africans not outsiders.
“If you love Africa, you will not wage war against your people. Even your people will rebel against you. I think this is a good place to start. We need to reflect on the things we will do. One finger cannot kill a fly. We are here to create a political miracle to solve the problems of Africa. We need a revolution. I do not mean a coup. There is a civilian revolution.”
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