ABUJA  –  VICE Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Chris Ngige, ACN, Anambra Central said Tuesday that Nigeria as a country needs quality leadership if the present challenges must be addressed.

Ngige who stressed that the leadership of the nation at all levels has a greater role to play in this regard, said, “those of us who are in authority must “show the light so that the people will find their way,” to quote our late leader, the legendry Zik of Africa.’’

Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige

The former Anambra State governor in a democracy day statement Tuesday in Abuja enthused that the extent to which the leadership of the nation has discharged its constitutional role in the recent past remains contentious, said, “I must be honest with you that the generality of the people of Nigeria is not happy with the turn of events in the country where the much touted dividends of democracy remain largely elusive.

The Party in power at the centre has not done very well and that is the reason for much of the problems of the day.”

He however emphasized that it will be catastrophic if the ship of state capsizes, adding, “It is my honest conviction that it will not pay the nation if we collectively fail. So long as the President shows transparency, fairness, competence and determination in steering the ship of state, we will support him irrespective of religious or ethnic consideration.

Senator Ngige who described the current challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy as a passing phase, said, “A young democracy in a unique federation like ours where the imperative of restructuring is long overdue is bound to experience the peculiar dysfunctional features as we witness today in Nigeria.

However, how long these challenges last is proportional to the mettle of prevailing leadership”
He however urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of these teething challenges, just as he argued that democracy as form of government has no alternative, adding, “the option for us is not to despair in the face of these contradictions since democracy has no alternative.

The way out is for all of us to renew our commitment to the oneness, unity and progress of Nigeria through the vehicle of mutual engagement that enthrones equity and fairness as the critical irreducible rule”.