SOME groups and individuals in Edo State blamed the slow progress of the country on the leaders whom they said failed to realise the vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria.The Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) called on leaders and the followers to exhibit commitment to making the country great and a comfortable place for all residents.A statement yesterday in Benin City by the party's Director of Publicity, Mobilisation and Propaganda, Frank Ukonga, said government should do more to meet the aspiration of Nigerians. 'We need peace, jobs, electricity, health and housing for all. We should focus on how to achieve the ideals of vision 20;2020.'The founder of Omega Fire Ministries told journalists that the political class have failed Nigerians as they have showed interests only in themselves. 'At 52, we are expecting some level of maturity but what we have in Nigeria is not yet democracy but civil rule. We have autocratic people in civilian dressing governing us. We need a new crop of leaders with a different mindset who understand the challenges of Nigeria. At 52, we should have leaders who know their responsibilities of serving the people but unfortunately, we are yet to get such leaders, the most lucrative business in Nigeria today is politics where everybody want to go into and make money for themselves alone not minding what the people feels about them.'According to him, the flooding challenge in various states were foretold but typical of the Nigerian leaders, they were not proactive about it. The cleric expressed belief that the country could still make it there is a change of mindset. 'I believe that Nigeria has passed through the worst and after the darkest hour of the night comes the glorious dawn. I foresee a new generation of leaders who will be selfless and give the best to this country. And if this is done, in the next five years, things could be changing for better'But the leadership of the Coalition to Save Nigeria (CSN), in a statement issued to journalists in Benin by its National President, Dr Philip Ugbodaga, lamented that Nigeria fared better under colonial rule just as he described Nigeria's political leaders as corrupt. 'We have nothing to celebrate after 52 years of flag independence, absolutely nothing to celebrate. In 1960, we had powerful political leaders and statesmen with very robust pan African credentials. Today, we see ourselves more from the veil and prism of ethnicity as Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa and so on. The great heritage bequeathed to us by the sacrifices made by our founding fathers have been squandered and dissipated by successive Nigerian leaders.' He said rather than the country celebrating independence, the leaders should sober and reflect on how the country got it wrong to be in the poor state it is.A member of Edo State House of Assembly, Jonhson Oghuma advocated purposeful leadership just as he blamed the present socio-economic and security crises on lack of foresight by previous administrations. Speaking in Beninon the state of the nation, Oghuma, representing Etsako Central Constituency under theplatform of Action Congress of Nigeria described the nation at 52 as a national disaster. ''It is a national shame that Nigeria is 52. Those who rule this country before should hide their faces in shame. It is a monumental shame. They finished their generation, now they have intruded into our generation, they are destroying our generation and they are mortgaging the future of our country and they are still mortgaging it . We cannot afford to fold our hands and watch these people. It is a national disaster, you need to see what is happening to our people, no road no water. In this 21st century a country like Nigeria cannot boast of electricity, it a shame, how can we be driving our economy with generator
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