Former Minister of Information and elder statesman, Professor Jerry Gana, has called for a strategic and deliberate effort to nurture competent and visionary leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Kaduna on Saturday at the 2025 Reunion of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), Gana emphasised that Nigeria can only overcome its current national challenges if it is led by individuals of integrity, character, and competence.
The event, themed “Leading from the Front: The Role of Christian Elders,” was organised by the Kaduna Chapter of NOSCEF, with Gana serving as the chairman of the occasion.
“There must be a deliberate effort to raise and support people who are capable of leading well,” Gana told journalists after the event.
“Leadership doesn’t happen by chance, it is cultivated. If we want transformation in Nigeria, we must intentionally raise leaders with strong moral and intellectual foundations.”
Gana, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warned that without such deliberate mentorship and leadership development, Nigeria could remain trapped in what he described as maladministration.
He continued: “Elders in churches, communities, and politics must look out for individuals with leadership potential, mentor them, and prepare them to take up leadership roles. Nowhere in the world do great leaders emerge by accident, they are groomed.”
According to him, the failure of leadership in Nigeria is largely due to the way political parties prioritise vested interests over merit, often sidelining candidates who are most qualified.
He urged political parties especially his own, the PDP, to place a premium on selecting leaders based on character, competence and a genuine desire to serve the people.
“In the PDP, I always push for the emergence of excellent candidates,” Gana said.
“As 2027 approaches, we must ensure that those we field, whether for governorship, the National Assembly, or the presidency are men and women of integrity, wisdom, and honour. Nigerians deserve nothing less.”
Gana, who once led the now-defunct Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), reiterated his long-standing belief in excellence and accountability in leadership.
“From my MAMSER days till now, I’ve held the conviction that everything worth doing must be done with excellence,” he said.
“To rescue this nation, 2027 must be the turning point where we choose leaders who can truly lead with vision and competence.”
His remarks come as conversations intensify around Nigeria’s leadership trajectory, with many citizens and stakeholders expressing growing concern over declining standards in governance since the return to democracy in 1999.
For Gana, the path forward is clear: “We need to deliberately nurture leaders who can offer quality governance at the local, state, and national levels. If we’re serious about Nigeria’s future, then we must be serious about who we allow to lead.”
