The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, recently discussed what he describes as an “accidental leadership cycle” that has brought several Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, into power.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new Start-Rite School building and the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja on Sunday, Bishop Kukah highlighted that many of these leaders assumed office without adequate preparation.
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“If we look at Nigeria’s leadership journey, you will find that almost every leader who came to power did so by accident,” Kukah said. “President Tinubu, despite claiming to be prepared for the role, is clearly struggling. We are still trying to find our footing.”
He continued by tracing the leadership lineage: “Tinubu took over from Buhari, who had already disengaged from governance.
Buhari succeeded Jonathan, a man who never envisioned himself as president but was thrust into leadership due to circumstances. Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, who planned to return to teaching after his governorship.
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“Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president. Before that, Obasanjo replaced Abacha, who was poised to rule indefinitely until nature intervened.
Abacha followed Shonekan, a business executive abruptly drafted to lead the country. The cycle is evident, and the missing link in all of this is knowledge and preparation,” Kukah concluded.
