Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Turaki, SAN, has urged Nigerians to be deliberate in choosing their leaders, saying the quality of elected representatives determines the calibre of leadership the country gets.
Turaki spoke at the 2nd Bala Mohammed Colloquium in Bauchi, organised to mark the 68th birthday of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
He warned voters against exchanging their votes for food, money or other inducements, urging them instead to consider candidates’ capacity to provide quality representation and contribute to national development.
“It is often said that a country has the leaders it deserves. That is true because they don’t become leaders except we choose them or acquiesce to their emergence,” he said.
Turaki also criticised what he described as a weak legislature, contrasting the present situation with an earlier period when legislators, in his view, provided more effective representation and exercised stronger checks and balances.
He further called for greater participation of young people in politics and governance, arguing that youths should be active participants rather than being treated merely as “a decoration, or a statistic to look good.”
“We must stop to say that youths are the leaders of tomorrow. When will that tomorrow come?” he asked, commending Governor Mohammed for prioritising youth inclusion in his administration.
The PDP chairman’s comments came as the party mourned the reported deaths of 32 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that crashed near a naval base at Igbokoda, in Ondo State on Monday.
Turaki described the incident as “deeply painful”, commiserating with the Nigerian Air Force and families of the victims.
“Our service personnel have given so much for the unity and survival of this country, and news of their deaths is deeply painful,” he said.
He called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the cause of the crash and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
