 |
Ukorebi Esien | July 15, 2026
Founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, Dr. Fidelis Duker, has urged Nigerians to place competence and proven capacity above political familiarity in electing leaders, warning that the country's development would remain elusive if voters continue to recycle underperforming politicians under the guise of experience.
Duker made the call while speaking on the state of the nation's leadership and the prospects for Nigeria's democratic future, insisting that leadership should be determined by performance rather than the number of years an individual has spent in public office.
According to him, Nigeria can no longer afford to entrust its future to leaders whose records have failed to inspire confidence, stressing that the nation requires visionary individuals with the competence, integrity and courage to address its mounting socio-economic and governance challenges.
He argued that the tendency to return familiar political figures to positions of authority, despite poor records in previous offices, has contributed significantly to the country's slow pace of development.
"The country must stop confusing longevity in politics with competence. Experience that produces no measurable results should not be rewarded with another opportunity to lead," he said.
The renowned filmmaker noted that genuine leadership is measured by tangible impact on the lives of citizens, not by political connections or the ability to remain relevant within the political establishment.
He urged Nigerians to become more discerning during elections by critically evaluating the track records, vision and capacity of candidates rather than relying on ethnic, religious or partisan sentiments.
Duker maintained that the nation's democratic process would only yield meaningful progress when competence becomes the primary criterion for public office.
He expressed concern over the recurring cycle of poor governance, attributing it partly to the electorate's willingness to overlook past failures in favour of familiar political faces.
According to him, Nigeria possesses abundant human resources capable of transforming the country, but such individuals often remain outside the corridors of power because the political system continues to favour established interests over merit.
He called on political parties to strengthen their internal democratic processes by prioritising credible candidates with demonstrable records of achievement.
Duker further urged young Nigerians and professionals with innovative ideas not to shy away from participating in politics, saying the country's future depends on the emergence of a new generation of competent and accountable leaders.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria could still achieve sustainable development if citizens demand higher standards of leadership and hold elected officials accountable for their performance.
The filmmaker concluded by urging Nigerians to make competence, character and measurable achievements the defining considerations in future elections, insisting that the nation can no longer afford to recycle failure in the name of political experience.
0 comments: