A civil society organization in Osun State, the Osun Masterminds has warned political parties in the State to field competent and seasoned candidates, who have capability to deliver quality leadership to the people of the State.
The organization stated this on Saturday in its second edition of State of the State address delivered by its executive director, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli.
Oyedokun-Alli said leadership in 21st century is about innovative ideas to solve numerous problems, adding that all heads of government and aspiring leaders must show ability to “thinking beyond the box” to deliver development to the people of the State.
“Thus, aspiring leaders must have certain minimum qualification that guarantees the soundness of their minds. While the Nigerian constitution does not demand very high academic qualification, the peculiar demands of leadership at this time demands that the people choose persons who have displayed such capacity as is required in situations of hardship.
“We therefore call on members of the various political parties in the State, to as a matter of importance, thoroughly scrutinize persons who are aspiring for the Governorship seat within their parties, to ensure that they are capable of delivering quality leadership. Ensuring that the candidates in all of the political parties are seasoned is the first step towards placing Osun on the path of honour in the comity of States.
“We never should have a situation where Osun is made the butt of jokes in political discussions in the country. We never should have a situation where clowns, jesters and greedy hangers-on are allowed to lay hands on party tickets, thereby ridiculing Osun as being a State lacking in quality human resource.
“Governance, especially in a State like Osun, is beyond the theatrics of archaic politicking that is limited to singing and dancing. Governance in a State like ours should now be about a debate of ideas and the pitching of plans and programmes to the electorate.
“We also must note that the era of rice and beans politics should rightly be over and must not be re-entrenched. Candidates must be considered on the strength of their mental and leadership capacities, and not by the amounts of bags of rice that they have distributed. Leadership in the 21st century is now about wholesome sustainable development and not petty socialism.”
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The Osun Masterminds also condemned the bloodletting that trailed the Adhoc Ward Congress of the People’s Democratic Party held earlier in the week.
Oyedokun-Alli called on political to ensure they conduct their activities in a manner that will not disrupt the peace of the State.
