- Prof. Jerry Gana Urges Deliberate Mentorship for 2027 Leaders
- Parties prioritize vested interests over merit
- Purposeful leadership is the only way Nigeria can achieve meaningful progress
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, has urged Nigerians to make conscious efforts to nurture and support credible leaders in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
He emphasized the country can only overcome its current socio-economic and political challenges if leaders who possess integrity, competence, and character emerge.
Following his address, Gana, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke to journalists in Kaduna on Saturday after the 2025 reunion of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum, themed “Leading from the Front: The Role of Christian Elders.”
The former minister, who chaired the occasion, warned that Nigeria risked stagnation if citizens failed to elect leaders with the capacity to govern effectively. According to him, leadership is not accidental but must be intentionally nurtured through mentorship and training.
“Leaders don’t just emerge; they are deliberately raised,” Gana said. “Elders in churches and other spheres of influence must identify people with the right qualities and prepare them to provide good governance. Nowhere in the world do leaders arise by chance.”
He lamented that political recruitment in Nigeria often falters because parties prioritize vested interests over merit. Gana urged political parties, especially the PDP, to prioritize excellence in candidate selection, emphasizing competence, honour, and integrity.
“In the PDP, I do my best to ensure only excellent candidates are given the chance to emerge. For 2027, we will insist that all our candidates—from governors to lawmakers and the presidency—must be men and women of wisdom and character. Nigerians deserve nothing less,” he said.
However, Gana, who once headed the defunct MAMSER, concluded that purposeful leadership is the only way Nigeria can achieve meaningful progress, stressing that the 2027 polls must produce leaders of excellence at all levels.
