We have low-cost leadership in our politics today and you cannot produce anything from it. We need to change our political culture —Ezekwesili

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, has called for a transformation in Africa’s political culture, emphasizing that such a change is crucial for driving significant development on the continent.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony for the 2023/2024 session of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) in Abuja, she highlighted the need to address a prevailing political culture in Africa that prioritizes narrow interests over the collective welfare.

According to her; “We have low-cost leadership in our politics today and you cannot produce anything from low-cost leadership

She said that the young people and technology would propel Africa forward, saying, however, that politics and governance process represent a major stumbling block.

“To correct these, we need to design a new pipeline that would contest against this monopoly political class that has a dominant culture.

“You can cry as loud, the next National Assembly, if filled with the same existing pipeline of political players, lawmakers will still buy new sets of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV).

“The next set of Executive even at the state and local government levels will carry on with the same, nothing will change.

“You are a response to this hopelessness, you are the ones that will change it; we need a critical mass of people thinking with a mindset of service to the country and to the people at all levels.

“It is not about you, it cannot be about you, you represent an answer to the most significant answer to our problem as a continent.

“We are in a place of competent anger that pushes you to design solutions; you have to be purposeful and intentional,” she charged the students