Barrister Ogundeko Decries Manner Of Leader Selection In Nigerian Politics, Calls For Change

By Babatunde Kaka and Zainab Olanrewaju

• The people are sidelined from choosing their leaders – Ogundeko
• He implores youths to get their PVC

Barrister Sesan Ogundeko, has condemned Nigeria’s political arrangement which does not take cognizance of people’s will in (s)election of people that would manage the affairs of the country.

Ogundeko expressed his displeasure at the culture of anointed candidates when he spoke at an event organised by Epe branch of national youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to mark this year’s World Youth Day. Ogundeko, who spoke on “Flattening The Curve of Unemployment In Nigeria, The Youths On Call”, also touched on the electoral process and culture practiced in Nigeria which culminates into election of leaders in government.

He averred that the people are being turned to objects as they have been alienated in decision making regarding how they choose their leaders, adding that there is an urgent need to change the political strategies of selecting leaders in the country.

He opined that such political cultures are doing more harm than good to the ordinary citizens of the country who are meant to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Barrister Ogundeko hinged his discussion on the need for a Paradigm shift from the culture of imposed or anointed leadership.

He also clarified and appealed to youths present at the event that being rich, sharing food or sponsoring the production of election posters does not make one a good leader. He admonished the youths to get their PVC, noting that it is their life.

”Your PVC is your life, make sure you have it. Enough of imposed or anointed leadership in our political culture. A leader is not one who has money or print posters.

You can identify a leader even from the secondary school based on his achievements or ability to serve demonstrated in the past. Leaders are not picked based on number of bags distributed.

Somebody suddenly gets rich, he gives you the money and you are not questioning where he got it from, that is bad. You have failed yourself because of one tin of rice or indomie.

“Let me tell you, when they keep imposing leaders on you, you won’t be able to reach them to confirm their ability to serve or ask questions because their loyalty will be to those who picked them for you”, he said.

Conversely, Ogundeko who sees unemployment as a state of not being ably to get work further averred that youths should live up to expectations and do the work available in Nigeria.

He was of the view that youths who travel abroad get employed in any job they are offered and wondered why such is not replicated in Nigeria.

” Do the work available here rather than travelling abroad to do whatever job they offer you. In Poka, 28 students sat for a scholarship examination and none of them made the 50% pass mark. I have given them another opportunity to appear the following week with their parents knowing that they must have prepared adequately for the examination.

You will agree with me that there is scholarship opportunity to help these students go to school but there are no people to take the scholarships. This is also the situation for employment. There are employment opportunities but most of you are not competent.

Enough of Third class and Second lower graduates, we can only flatten the curve of unemployment if you put in your very best”, he said.

He challenged the teeming population of unemployed youths to take charge of their destiny by being competent and academically sound so as to scale through job openings by merit rather than the other way round.

He therefore gave kudos to the leadership of NYCN, Epe Branch for planning their programmes and events throughout the year. He therefore admonished their Eredo LCDA counterpart to emulate such plans and strategies.