A one-time gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPA) in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, yesterday said Nigeria will only achieve national transformation through effective leadership.

He stated this while speaking at the 1st anniversary and inaugural lecture of the January 9th Collective (J9C), an amalgalm of non-partisan collection of professionals, committed to the Nigerian Project.

In a lecture titled: “Elite, Leadership and National Transformation,” Agbaje stressed the need for “Nigerians to transform from a people only interested in sharing the national cake to those interested in baking a larger national cake.”

He called for the development of sense of accountability among public employees and political office holders as well as more investment on education if the country is to achieve the Vision 20-2020 goals.

His words: “Nigeria needs effective leadership as transformational leadership involves inspiring the led through positive examples,” admonishing the elites not to shy away from politics.

“Progressive national transformation cannot occur unless the elites get involved in politics because Nigeria is crying for leaders, who model integrity, excellence and responsibility; who will perform and leave legendary impact instead of excuses,” he said.

Decrying the country’s falling standard of education; Agabje noted that a larger percentage of the country’s population is not contributing to the national wealth because the education system is in shambles.

“The system in our educational sector and all others sectors of our national life is not meant to bring out the best, but mediocres. To bring about any envisaged transformation, education and moral values must be emphasised on,” Agbaje said.

Making reference to countries like Indonesia that were at a time, at the same level of political and economic development with Nigeria, Agbaje said: “Nigeria has not been able to get it right like the Asian Tigers because of her inability to harness the energies of the elites and average citizens for a common goal.”

Also speaking, the chairman of the event and member representing Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, stressed the need for Nigerians to continue to fight for the positive transformation of the country.

He said the nation is yet to explore its potential because most of its leaders lack what it takes to steer the ship of state, as “national transformation is an uphill task, which must tackle corruption, ensure security of lives and property and create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”

According to Ossai, effective leadership remains the basic tool for national transformation. “Nigeria has not got to its destination because some of our leaders lack what it takes to achieve the set goals of the country.” Leadership should have listening ear to the people’s needs and desires,” he said.

On the need to hold public officials accountable, Osai said: “Nigerians should beam their searchlight on the oil sector where unprecedented corruption has robbed us off our commonwealth.”

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