By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
A former Minister of Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien has decried the level of impunity, corruption and mismanagement of resources by political leaders stating that it has led to a shortfall in the economy of Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview with newsmen yesterday in Uyo, Essien frowned at what he described as the gerontocracy system of government being practiced at the national level stating that older people have no business playing focal point in governance.
According to the former National Assembly member, they should play advisory roles from the side.
“At 70, your mental capacity and physical performance has dwindled to a point that you should be on the sideline to advise but not to be the focal point of governance.Now is the computer age where younger ones predominate and so for an old person to want to continue to lead it after 70 is not just unacceptable, untolerable.
“We are having problems with these government that are headed by old people and I still say that the older ones after 70 should not want to provide active and effective leadership.
“A younger person who is more vibrant should be allowed to take over while the older ones play advisory roles.” He stressed.
He further argued that when political positions are compensatory much shouldn’t be expected from such leadership because there would be lack of zeal.
Essien called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to re-energize and re-strategize themselves in readiness to confront the ruling party, stating that with recent turn out of events,”we are virtually going into a one party system situation which is not ideal for this country considering the diversity in population.”
He advised the party to buckle up and not underestimate the likelihood of a third party coming in strongly to take over governance.
” It almost happened in the last election, 2023 where a third unknown force took over the government. Now many people who were disgruntled with the ruling party and failed opposition party are willing to join the third force and that could pose as a danger for the other two parties.” He said.
The Eket Senatorial District leader also pleaded with Akwa Ibom people to allow Governor Umo Eno to settle down, concentrate on delivering his mandate to the people rather than focusing on second tenure stating that two term is earned based on performance.
According to him, “let me repeat myself here, I have never been a fan of every person in an office doing eight years after one year in office. I believe that eight years should be earned as a result of performance in four years of office.You can’t automatically earn eight years when you haven’t done well in four years.
“Umo Eno’s second term campaign is a little too early. People should allow him to concentrate and work. Let him be accessed at a stage and then propelled into second term.”
