Nigeria @62: Elder Statesman Blames Country’s Woes On Economic Sabotage

An elder statesman, Alhaji Umaru Dahiru Baraden Bauchi, has said that Nigeria’s current problems inhibit it from actualising its full potential 62 years after the attainment of self-government.

He said this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Bauchi yesterday.

The elder statesman said putting into cognisance the current myriad of challenges Nigerians sleep and wake up to every day would have been unilaterally addressed to the envy of other nations had Nigerians not engulfed their minds with quick money making and luxury without justifiable means to get their ends met.

“Corruption, economic sabotage and lack of patriotism are some of the factors that gave birth to bad leadership in Nigeria thus resulting in the current state of the nation,” he said.

Bauchi added, “By this time, Nigeria ought to be leading other countries of the world in other parts of human endeavours.”

He said Nigerian over the years created artificial hardship for their countrymen purposely to make them less busy in monitoring the leadership affairs.

He added that the absence of patriotism among the leaders also contributed to poor leadership which caused a lot of problems for the country and its people.

The elder statesman said corruption became a serious pandemic in the country and it became the major factor in producing leaders without focus and determination but only their personal interests.

Bauchi said only population and some few developments could be traced since gaining independence while he called on both leaders and followers to put the interest of the country above their personal one as the country needs urgent interventions and re-branding in all sectors.