Bishop Kukah: Tinubu, Buhari became Nigeria’s presidents by accident.

The remarks by Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, underscore a recurring theme in Nigeria’s leadership history — what he describes as an “accidental leadership cycle.” Speaking during the commissioning of the new Start-Rite School building and at the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja, Kukah critiqued the nation’s pattern of unprepared leadership and its consequences for governance.

Key Points from Bishop Kukah’s Remarks:

1. Accidental Leadership Cycle:
   Kukah traced Nigeria’s leadership history, highlighting how many leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, and others, assumed office without thorough preparation or a clear vision for governance.
   • President Tinubu: Despite claiming readiness for the presidency, Kukah suggested Tinubu is “struggling” to stabilize the nation.
   • Muhammadu Buhari: Criticized for “disengaging from governance” before leaving office.
   • Goodluck Jonathan: Acknowledged as someone who never envisioned the presidency but rose to power due to unforeseen circumstances.
   • Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: Planned a return to academia after his governorship but was thrust into leadership.
   • Olusegun Obasanjo: Transitioned from prison to presidency unexpectedly.
   • Ernest Shonekan: A technocrat drafted abruptly into leadership amid political turbulence.
2. Lack of Preparation and Knowledge:
   The cleric identified inadequate preparation and a lack of knowledge as recurring issues undermining effective governance in Nigeria. He stressed that leadership in the country often emerges from unforeseen circumstances rather than deliberate and strategic planning.
3. Impact on Governance:
   The lack of preparedness among leaders has left Nigeria grappling with instability, inefficiency, and challenges in addressing critical issues such as economic development, security, and social equity.

Broader Implications:

Bishop Kukah’s analysis raises questions about the processes and systems through which Nigerian leaders emerge. It highlights the need for reforms in leadership recruitment and development to ensure that future leaders are equipped with the knowledge, vision, and skills necessary for effective governance.

Moving Forward:

To break the cycle of accidental leadership, Kukah’s critique may serve as a call to action for Nigerian institutions and civil society to prioritize capacity building, leadership education, and merit-based selection processes in governance.

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