Senator Ali Ndume has sparked a fresh debate over Nigeria’s leadership, saying citizens cannot blame politicians alone.
The Borno South senator said Nigerians also influence the quality of leaders produced through the political system.
Ndume spoke in Abuja during the presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era.
He was reacting to comments by Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II about Nigeria’s political and security challenges.
Ndume said politicians come from the same society that later criticises their leadership.
“Every blame is on the politician. And I’m a politician, though accidental, or maybe, forced or recruited into it. But l’m a realist.
I live with the situation I find myself, and I’m proud of it,” he said.
The senator said democracy places responsibility on citizens because leaders emerge from the people.
“Politics is people; politics is one way to run democracy, and what is democracy? It’s the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. From all discussions, now the blame goes down to us, and we are your product,” he said.
Ndume also pointed to electoral malpractice and said citizens have a role in the process.
“And by the way, you are to be blamed because even if it is through rigging, it is you people that do the rigging to bring us in. So, if you put us here, we are doing your bidding,” he said.
He recalled that his political career also brought experiences he never faced before entering politics.
“I was a senate leader, I was a chief whip recently, I went to prison twice. Before I came into politics, l’ve never gone to police station,” Ndume said.
He urged Nigerians to take greater interest in politics and leadership choices.
“You put garbage in, you expect something good out of it? It’s not nossible ” he added.
The Ndume Nigerians leadership debate highlights his call for greater citizen involvement.
