Politics
Africa’s Leadership Question: ‘Most Countries Need Revolution Of Thought’
The President, Nations Leadership Institute (NLS) Mr Akogun Oyedepo, says most African countries need revolution of thought to breed future leaders in their countries.
Oyedepo, a lawyer and political scientist made this known on Monday while speaking at the official unveiling of the institute in Ilorin.
Our source reports that the unveiling of the institute was performed by the Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Mr Salihu Danladi.
Oyedepo declared that successive leaders in most African countries had nothing to learn from the past apart from corruption, tribalism and nepotism.
“We now have a better governance environment in some African countries where we have in place governments that even jailed members of their ruling elites.
“This, I consider a remarkable feat in the fight against corruption in the system.
“Otherwise, the hitherto norm was to protect the ruling oligarchy by shielding members of the class from justice,” Oyedepo said.
He said it was as a result of the turmoil in political landscape that NLI was born.
“We are of the view that as at today in Africa, there is an acute leadership deficiency,” he added.
According to the NLI president, leadership is exerting special influence within a group, community or even the country to move toward permanent beneficial goals that fulfil the group’s real needs.
“A leader therefore must be one that will use his or her informal power, authority and influence to direct and control other people in the pursuit of common goal.
“Leadership is not greed, selfish ambition, showmanship, nepotism, hat sectionalism, tribalism. Leaders that exhibit all these tendencies in position of authority are mere pretenders and they are not leaders properly so called,” Oyedepo said.
He explained that the institute was born to correct all the misconceptions and wrong perception of leadership in a world heading for disaster.
“What we need in most African countries is revolution of thought; thought that will change our perceptions about true meaning of political power and authority.
“We need body thoughts and actions that will not make our leaders enemies of themselves.
“When leaders embark on primitive accumulation of wealth and throw several people in penury; they jeoperdise their own security.
“If the poor must live, they must do so by visiting violence on the rich (incidences of kidnapping, ritual killings, internet fraud and even violent religious extremism are instructive here).
“Corrupt leaders create their own nemesis as their life style and their selfish belief system create material condition for violence,” Oyedepo added.
He called on African leaders to emulate Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who through personal charisma and well informed selfless leadership moved the country from the third world to the first world within a space of 50 years, adding that President Yew achieved the feat without fighting any internal war.
“Therefore, we need not fight wars before many countries in Africa change from the present primitivity to modernity.
“And sometimes war and violence in the attainment of a political power can lead to a new progressive direction or it could also lead to stagnancy and backwardness in all facets of life,” Oyedepo said.
He however commended President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for creating out of from a war torn country, a stable, unified and reconciled country.
“Rwanda has been a success story of a country that moved from violence to posterity, yet the story of South Africa is different.
“From the developing trends in that country, the post-Apartheid South Africa is different from the expected outcome.
“It is not only that the inequalities of the Apartheid years are sustained, the xenophobic attacks on non-South Africans living in the country have put to question years of Mandela’s struggles.
“Perhaps there is the need for another way of social justice in that country or a revolution of thought,” Oyedepo stressed
Oyedepo said NLI was for revolution of thought that would re-direct what he considered as perishing nations.
“There is the need for altruistic leaders that will be honest, bold, knowledgeable and compassionate.
“There is the need for leaders of integrity and character. Leaders that will not promote an ethnic, sectional agenda or a preferred section of their country to be number one in a multi-ethnic society,” he added.
Oyedepo said Nigerians need a country where corruption was no more a norm, where crimes were loathed and leaders that would be nationalistic and patriotic so much that they would know the real needs of the people.
NAN reports that NLI has six schools made up of School of Party Organisation and Campaign Management, School of Legislative Training and Consultancy Service, and School of NGO Training and Operation.
Ohers are the School of Tourism and Hospitality, School of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development, and School of Leadership Values.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by members of Kwara House of Assembly, academics and politicians, while the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Kayode Alabi, was represented by Alhaji Femi Yusuf. (NAN)
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
