Chinedum Treasure
A Professor of Public Administration, Jude Okafor has urged Nigerians to look beyond blaming political leaders for poor governance and examine the role citizens themselves play in sustaining the country’s political system.
Okafor, the immediate past Head of the Department of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said the quality of leadership in any society was closely linked to the conduct, choices and attitude of its citizens.
Speaking on the relationship between leadership and followership, he argued that Nigerians must recognise that responsible governance requires not only good leaders but also responsible and active citizens who are willing to demand accountability.
He particularly criticised vote buying, warning that citizens who accept money from politicians in exchange for their votes weaken their moral authority to question the conduct of those they elect.
“Once you do that, they have settled you. So where is the conscience again that you will go and ask them, why did you do this? Why did you do that? When they have paid you off,” he said.
According to the don, vote buying turns elections into transactions between politicians and voters, with serious consequences for democratic accountability.
He explained that politicians who spend substantial amounts of money to secure electoral victories would naturally seek to recover their expenditure after assuming office, thereby creating incentives for corruption and poor governance.
Okafor said the practice also shifts the focus of elections away from competence, integrity and public service to whoever could offer voters the most immediate financial benefit.
He urged Nigerians to recognise their responsibility in determining the quality of leadership they receive, stressing that citizens cannot consistently complain about poor governance while participating in practices that undermine the democratic process.
The professor said building a better society required sacrifice from both leaders and citizens, adding that Nigerians must be willing to look beyond immediate personal gains and consider the long-term consequences of their political choices. “You cannot have a good society without sacrifice,” he said.
He, however, cautioned against placing the entire burden of sacrifice on ordinary citizens, stressing that political leaders must also demonstrate the willingness to make sacrifices and provide responsible leadership.
Okafor said responsible followership was essential to nation-building, noting that citizens had the power to influence government policies when they organised and demanded accountability.
He cited the role of Nigerian students in opposing unpopular government policies as an example of how citizens can influence government decisions when they act collectively.
According to him, Nigerians should not see themselves as powerless in the face of government policies, as organised citizens can compel leaders to reconsider decisions that run contrary to the public interest.
He therefore urged Nigerians to move beyond complaining about bad leadership and begin examining the choices and actions that help sustain the problems they complain about.
The don also called for greater public understanding of the constitutional responsibilities of elected representatives, particularly legislators.
He said lawmakers should not mislead constituents into believing that their primary responsibility was to personally execute development projects in their constituencies.
Rather, he explained that legislators are expected to identify the needs of their constituents, articulate them through bills and motions, push for their inclusion in government policies and budgets, and exercise oversight to ensure implementation.
Okafor said citizens who understood these responsibilities would be better equipped to demand accountability from their representatives instead of rewarding them for projects that are primarily the responsibility of the executive.
He called for a fundamental change in the relationship between Nigerian leaders and followers, urging citizens to stop treating elections as opportunities to receive temporary financial benefits.
Instead, he said elections should be seen as a means of determining the direction of the country and choosing leaders based on competence, integrity and capacity to serve.
Okafor maintained that the responsibility for building a better Nigeria could not be left to politicians alone, stressing that citizens must contribute through responsible participation, civic vigilance and a willingness to put the common good ahead of immediate personal interests.
As the country approaches another electoral cycle, he urged Nigerians to rethink their role in the political process, saying the quality of governance would ultimately be influenced by both the leaders citizens elect and the standards they are prepared to demand from them.
For Okafor, tackling bad governance therefore requires more than changing political leaders; it requires citizens to change the behaviours and choices that allow poor governance to persist.
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