The statement by the President’s nephew and confidant, Malam Mamman Daura was unfortunately taken out of context and given wrong ethnic and partisan coloration.
This was the position stated by the Young Nigerian Professionals Network, in a statement it released, signed by Charles Folayan, where it decried the responses of socio-cultural groups to the excerpt from Malam Mamman Daura’s interview with the BBC where he was quoted as saying the country needed competent leaders and that Nigerians should dump the era of ‘turn-by-turn’ leadership.
“The reactions of the socio-cultural groups like Ohanaeze, Afenifere among others to Malam Daura’s remarks were too quick, that they did not appreciate the substance of his important comments.
“Any politician or leader in fact, that is serious with the development and growth of this country will tell you that Nigeria needs to move away from that pattern of zoning baton-leadership. It does not, and cannot guarantee us the kind of credible and sophisticated leadership Nigeria needs at this point.” Charles stated.
The group stated that every region in Nigeria has an abundance of competent leaders and it was time for each region to put forward its best.
“Nigeria needs competent leadership — that must not be put in doubt. And this competent leadership can come from any zone of the country: whether the South East, the South South or the South West, the North East, the North Central or the North West.
“What we want to have on the ballot are options that offer us credible and meritocratic leaders, not leaders based on ethnic or religious sentiments.
“It is unfortunate that leading socio-cultural groups in the country have clothed these innocuous and critical commentary with the garb of ethnicity.” The statement noted.
Young Nigerian Professionals Network also stated that the commentaries made on the media to Malam Mamman Daura’s remarks were made too soon as the complete interview had not yet been released by the BBC.
“The complete interview is yet to be aired on BBC Hausa. People have not listened to the full interview and the media is picking points already. BBC Hausa will air it on Saturday — until the full interview is concluded, we should reserve our comments.”
