Niger Youths Call for Seasoned Leadership, Back Retired Civil Servants for 2027 Governorship

By Correspondent in Minna.

A group of youths in Niger State has called for a fundamental shift in the state’s leadership recruitment process, advocating that only experienced and well-trained individuals,particularly retired civil servants,should be entrusted with governing the state.

The call is contained in a statement signed by the President of the Kolo Magba Association in Wushishi, Comrade Abdullahi Maina, and made available to journalists in Minna.

According to the association, true leadership is defined by empathy, service and responsiveness to the people’s needs, rather than rhetoric or the display of power.

The youths expressed disappointment with what they described as the immaturity and underwhelming performance of the current crop of politicians, arguing that governance at both federal and state levels has increasingly become an avenue for power exhibition instead of a people-centred effort aimed at solving pressing social and economic challenges.

Speaking under the aegis of the Kolo Magba Association in Wushishi, Wushishi Local Government Area, the group said Niger State needs a mature, selfless leader who would place the welfare of citizens above political party interests ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

While acknowledging the visible infrastructural projects embarked upon by the administration of Governor Umaru Bago,particularly road and flyover constructions,the youths argued that such projects amount to misplaced priorities in the face of widespread hardship across the state.

They noted that basic necessities such as potable water, functional healthcare facilities, stable electricity and food security remain largely unmet for the majority of Nigerlites.

The group recalled the administrations of the late Engineer Abdulkadir Kure and Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu as examples of purposeful and mature leadership, noting that both former governors governed with a clear understanding of the state’s needs and delivered with a strong sense of responsibility.

Describing their proposal as a bold policy direction, the youths urged that only successful and seasoned retired civil servants be allowed to contest governorship positions, while career politicians should concentrate on legislative roles at the state and national levels to ensure balanced governance across the three tiers of government.

“A situation where flyovers are rising but hospitals lack basic equipment, communities have no water, electricity remains unstable, and people are dying daily from hunger and frustration cannot be described as dividends of democracy,” the statement read.

It further stressed that, “Leadership is not about who talks louder, but who listens to the people, shares in their pain, and works out practical solutions to their problems.”

The youths also declared their support for Dr. Mohamed Kpautagi, a Master’s degree holder in Urban and Regional Planning and a retired Director of Urban Development at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

They described him as humble, disciplined and incorruptible, qualities they believe are urgently needed to reverse infrastructural decay and curb the waste of scarce public resources in the state.

According to the group, Dr. Kpautagi’s professional background and life experiences have equipped him with the tolerance, decency and competence required to lead Niger State effectively if elected governor in 2027.

The association further called for a constitutional amendment to restrict governorship contests to senior retired civil servants, arguing that such a move would restore democratic norms, promote decency in governance and prevent what they described as the hijacking of political power by wealthy individuals with little understanding of public administration.

They maintained that Niger State, and Nigeria at large, can only achieve sustainable development when leadership is driven by experience, integrity and a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.