In a political engagement workshop held on June 27, 2024, in Cyberspace, Gbenga Adene, guest speaker, address participants’ concerns on leadership and governance in Ondo State. The event was organized by Voice for Democracy and Good Governance.
When asked about the qualifications of candidates in the upcoming election compared to the past administration, Adene emphasized the importance of a good head over a good degree.
“I have seen a Ph.D holder who gets involved in domestic violence with his wife. That is the reality that someone has gone to school does not make them kind,”
“We need to look beyond qualifications and focus on a candidate’s antecedents and policies.”
In response to a question on abandoned projects, Adene encouraged citizens to hold leaders accountable.
“White-elephant projects should be abandoned, but projects that benefit the masses should be completed,”
“We need to demand accountability from our leaders and ensure that they prioritize our needs.”
Adene also addressed the issue of politicians using the same strategy which is people’s pain points for political campaign.
“Politicians use our pain points to get our votes, but they don’t care about our well-being. We need to be entrepreneurs, we need to be self-employed,”
They know that many people look up to the government, which is why they leverage that to get our attention. We need to open our eyes, just like those Nigerians who were once fervent in prayer but no longer pray about certain matters since they travelled abroad because they realized that some things do not require prayers, but rather work and good governance,”
“We must not rely on politicians for solutions, but take charge of our own destiny.”
Adene’s points resonated with the audience, who expressed appreciation for his honesty and guidance. As Ondo State prepares for the upcoming election, Adene urged the citizens to demand for better leadership and hold leaders accountable.
