Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says Nigerians must accept part of the blame for the poor leadership they complain about.
He added that politicians are a product of the society from which they emerge.
Ndume spoke on Wednesday at the public presentation of ‘Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era’.
The event held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.
He was responding to remarks by Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, who had criticised the political class over the politicisation of ethnicity and religion and their role in Nigeria’s security and governance challenges.
Ndume said the tendency to place the blame entirely on politicians ignores the role citizens play in determining leaders.
“Every blame is on the politician. And I’m a politician, though accidental, or maybe, forced or recruited into it. But I’m a realist. I live with the situation I find myself, and I’m proud of it,” he said.
‘POLITICS IS ABOUT PEOPLE’
Ndume said citizens must recognise their responsibility in the democratic process because politicians ultimately emerge from the electorate.
“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.
He said citizens also play a role in putting an end to electoral malpractice, including rigging.
“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.
‘YOU PUT GARBAGE IN, THEN EXPECT SOMETHING GOOD OUT’
The senator said Nigerians should examine the quality of people they support and the political processes through which leaders emerge.
He stated that the quality of leadership is linked to the choices and conduct of citizens.
“And God says that he does not bring leaders different from the followers. I think part of this is something that we look at very well, so that you make sure that we have democracy, and when we have democracy, we would have good governance,” Ndume said.
He also spoke about his personal experience in public life, saying he had never been to a police station before entering politics but had subsequently been imprisoned twice.
“I was a senate leader, I was a chief whip recently, I went to prison twice. Before I came into politics, I’ve never gone to police station,” Ndume said.
The lawmaker added that Nigerians should become more involved in the political process if they want better governance.
“You put garbage in, you expect something good out of it? It’s not possible,” he added.
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