2011: SHEKARAU SEEKS ELECTION OF CREDIBLE LEADERS, URGES NIGERIANS TO VOTE THE BEST

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential aspirant and Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has attributed the dwindling fortunes of the country to bad leadership. Delivering a lecture at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, organised by the students' union of the institution, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau urged Nigerians to pool their resources to elect credible leaders who could champion the cause of national development.

He maintained that the present crop of leaders had failed Nigerians, saying it was time for Nigerians to wake up and critically assess those seeking election into various elective positions in Nigeria with a view to voting for the best.

The presidential hopeful asserted that the latest clamour for good governance at all levels was a pointer to the loss of confidence in the present political leadership in the country.

'Nigerians should look out for dependable people with track record of achievements who are ready to uphold the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate as their watchword,' the governor advised.

Governor Shekarau lamented that the democratic process practised in Nigeria was not properly operated, arguing that some individuals held the larger society to ransom by determining who became what in the country.

He stressed that the time had come for Nigerians to wake up and bring about change in the leadership of the country to take the nation to the promised land, pointing out that the much desired change was only possible with credible, respectable and patriotic leaders at the helm of affairs.

Malam Shekarau who enumerated the attributes of good governance to include political stability, accountability, justice, fair play and zero tolerance for corruption charged the citizens to use their voters' cards wisely to effect positive transformation in the polity.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University, Professor Dipo Kolawole said the university was a centre for the transfer of knowledge to one another hence, imploring Governor Shekarau to share his experience on the way forward for Nigeria.

The president of the institution's students' union, Kehinde Usman Okunuga lamented the development stalemate in the country, stressing the need to reverse the situation in the interest of national progress and development.

The governor was later presented with an award of 'Man of Peace' while other deserving individuals were honoured for their contributions to the university and the society in general.