‘They are all ethnic leaders’ – Amaechi knocks Nigerian politicians

Former Governor of River State, Chibuike Amaechi, has said
that the political class now rides on the strength of ethnicity to achieve
their aim of winning political offices.

The former minister of transport said the country is still
in search of national leaders.

Amaechi, who was the guest speaker at the 2023 TheNiche
Annual Lecture themed “Why We Stride and Slip: Leadership, Nationalism, and the
Nigerian Condition,” held on Thursday in Lagos, added that the only person near
that point of nationalism was former President Olusegun Obasanjo, insisting
that the rest were ethnic leaders.

“Most times, we elect those who openly show that they are
ethnic leaders and they are there for their ethnic group,” he said.

“Our political elites constantly run to their ethnic bases
to provoke ethnic debate each time they fail to win advantages in their
struggle for power and privilege at the national level.

“The only person near that point of Nationalism, with all
due respect, is ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. The rest are ethnic leaders.

“Truly remarkable national leadership is the ability of a
leader to galvanise the totality of a nation around the common national banner
with a vision and a sense of mission.

“The truly remarkable national leader is the one who can
rise above limitations to take the nation and its people to that place they
long for but have never been before.

“It is a place of national greatness, pride, achievements,
and shared goals, aspirations, and prosperity,” he added.