Ethnic, religious debates promote inefficiency, failure in Nigeria, says former Governor Obi

Former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has said that religion and ethnicity are the Chief promoters of inefficiency and failure in Nigeria.

Obi who spoke to journalists in his home town, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State said those who predicate leadership positions on ethnicity and religion, rather than competence and capacity, only promote inefficiency and failure in the country.

Obi who spoke after meeting envoy from British High Commission, led by Head of the Political Desk, Aneesah Islam, said, “The continued recruitment of people for leadership positions, on any basis other than competence, will only continue to produce a crop of incompetent leaders who are not capable of developing the nation.

“I support zoning of some political offices to ensure fairness and equity, because each zone has competent people capable of developing the nation.”

He stated that Nigeria has continued to go from bad to worse due to the failure of leadership in the country.

“Insecurity and criminality have worsened under this administration. Nigeria is more divided today than it has ever been. Mediocrity is now celebrated above meritocracy. The standard of living is worsening every day, with soaring inflation and poverty rate.

“All these are happening because we have leaders who gained access to power through ethnic and religious sentiments rather than competence and past records of success.”

Obi also condemned what he described as ‘transactional politics’ in Nigeria, which manifests more during elections.

He said that the undesirable culture of vote buying and other electoral vices, that play out during elections, must be stamped out in future elections, if true democracy will find its place in the country.

He finally urged the people to always shop for leaders with proven track records of success in private and public lives, who understand what it takes to develop the nation.