Sanusi Blames Nigeria’s Woes on Decades of Lousy Leadership

Emir of Kano and ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Muhammad Sanusi II, has said Nigeria’s underdevelopment is a direct result of poor leadership that has persisted for decades.

Speaking at the second Kano International Poetry Festival on Saturday, Sanusi lamented that while other nations are advancing discussions on innovation and technology, Nigeria remains trapped in endless debates on ethnicity and religion.

“You rise and fall with the quality of your leadership, and Nigeria has had lousy leadership for a long time,” he said, stressing that the country cannot make progress until it confronts the structural and moral failures of its leaders.”

Sanusi argued that Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources have been mismanaged, leading to widespread poverty, insecurity, and corruption. According to him, successive governments have failed to prioritize the welfare of citizens, instead fueling division along ethnic and religious lines.

He urged Nigerians to demand accountability from those in power, warning that unless the culture of mediocrity and impunity is broken, the country risks falling further behind its peers in global development.

Sanusi’s remarks come at a time of intense debate over governance and reform, as many Nigerians continue to express frustration with the pace of economic recovery and political leadership.