Former Governor Donald Duke has sounded the alarm on the state of politics in Nigeria, lamenting that “quack politicians” are driving the country into poverty.
He made this statement during an interview with newsmen in Abuja, on the sidelines of the 2024 Teens Career Conference.
Duke emphasized the need for genuine leadership, stating that many politicians see politics as a means of livelihood rather than service.
He urged the political class to restore hope and pride among Nigerian youths, who are increasingly looking outside the country for a better future.
The conference, titled “The Power of Music,” was organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)–The Everlasting Arm Parish, Garki. Duke’s comments highlight the urgent need for authentic leadership and a shift in the political mindset to prioritize service over self-interest.
Duke said: “The majority of Nigerian youths are not looking within the country for a better future; they have turned their attention to other climes”.
“We need to eliminate quacks who see politics as a means of livelihood rather than a means of service. If politics is seen as a means of service, politicians will become role models and can create hope.”
“Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday.
“Politics could be the most elevating vocation, but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now, so they have brought it down to the lowest level. When politics is right, it elevates everything. It elevates medicine. It elevates your livelihood. When we complain about the country not being good, it is the politicians.
“So if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most nobles of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks,” he said.
Mr Duke attributed the high inflation rate in the country to the cost of energy. He tasked the political class with addressing the energy crisis by converting gas flaring to support the economy.
He urged the Nigerian youths to remain focused and strive to mark history that would be remembered for good.
According to him, God has a purpose for making Nigerian youths at this time.
On his part, the pastor in charge of the parish, Eva Azodoh, emphasised the need for decent role models for young Nigerians. He said the conference aimed to link teenagers and young people with honourable people they could have as role models.
“We wanted to have people who have, by hard work and integrity, achieved what they have achieved in life so that people can look at them and know that by hard work and honest hard work and integrity, you can succeed.
“That is the purpose; you can see the former governor of Cross River. We received one of our best clergies in the RCCG, Kenneth Ozioma, and look at that 15-year-old boy, Damilade Adepegba, who you can see that he has talent, but he has worked hard to achieve what he has, and that is the purpose of this conference.
“You do not have to be a deviant to become a role model; run around half naked or dress in all sorts of manner; neither do you have to become a deviant because you have succeeded,” he said.
