Competence should be the major factor determining who leads Nigeria in 2023 — Lamido Sanusi

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi on Monday declared that Nigeria “is living on extra time” due the myriad of challenges confronting the country.

Sanusi predicted that, Nigeria would face more difficult time in 2023 and therefore disclosed that only competent hands among those jostling to lead the country come next year should be given the job to do.

He called on Nigerians to be ready to take tougher decisions in the interest of moving the country forward.

Sanusi also warned presidential aspirants to be prepared for the onerous task of leading the country.

The former CBN Governor and leader of the Khalifa of Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria, spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as a reception for him (Sanusi) as part of activities marking 80th birthday of Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi.

Sanusi said, “To be honest, we are living on extra time. In 2015, we were in a deep hole. In 2023, we will be in an even much deeper hole than in 2015.

“I think the most important thing is that we should continue to pray for our country that whoever emerge as President, Governors, Senators, members of the House, leadership at all levels that we get good leaders.

“And I think that we should also remind ourselves as Muslims and as citizens that we owe it to ourselves because we know that this country deserves better than we have been giving ourselves.

“Allah commands that we should place our trust only in the hands of those who are capable of handling that trust. If you choose somebody who is incompetent to lead you, if you choose somebody who is weak to lead you, if you choose someone who is dishonest to lead you, you can only blame yourself because Allah says you should only give that trust and He also explains to us what it means to be capable of holding that trust.

“Someone who has the competency to do the job and who can be trusted. Now, if we go and choose leaders who are not competent because they give us money or because of personal interest and I keep saying to my brothers in Tijaniyyaa that we should stop praying for people who come to talk to us to say come and pray for me to be Governor, come and pray for me to be President, they go and give people money to read the Quaran for them.

“We should look at all the candidates, we should choose the people that we think are competent and honest and then we decide who we want to pray for, not who comes to us with money or who comes to us to beg us, whether or not they come for us. And we should go and vote for them and should pray to Allah that our sincere belief that these are the people who are in the best interest of our nation.

“The challenges facing all those people who are struggling to be President, I hope they understand that the problems that they are going to face are multiples of the problems that were faced in 2015 and all of us have to be ready for difficult decisions and if they are taken, we are all going to pay for it.

“But the solution is not for all of us to jump into politics, this country needs good politicians, it needs imams and pastors and bishops who are going to stand up and remind them (politicians) of the fear of God. It needs technocrats who are going to critique their policies, it needs traditional rulers who are going to speak as the conscience of the people, everyone has a role to play and we should try to play that role to the best of our ability.”

Sanusi also denied eyeing presidency seat in 2023, saying he’s contented being spiritual leader of the Tijaniyyah.

He noted that he had served in various capacities both in past and present and will forever be grateful to Allah.

Segun Showunmi who spoke on behalf of the family, asked if Nigeria should be expecting a future President in Sanusi.

Showunmi, a former Spokesman to Vice President, Atiku Abubakar asked, “People who are Khalifa of your quality must never ever be relinquished or extinguished. So,  they (people) asked me to ask you, are we going to be looking for a president in future?  Do I even have the answer? I Do not know.

“But one thing I have said to them is that, for as long as you live, I have taken the liberty to say, you will always be a Nigerian patriot, a detribalised Nigerian, a leader of leaders, a holder of Ummah of Islam, the spiritual leader of the Tijanniya and the leading light of everything beautiful.”