Adebayo, ideal leader for Nigeria’s transformation – Ighodalo

Pastor Itua Ighodalo, the Lead Pastor of Trinity House, a non-denominational Christian fellowship centre, and founder of the African Leadership Group (ALG), has said that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, represents the kind of leader Nigeria urgently needs to navigate its current socio-economic and political challenges.

Speaking during an engagement session, Ighodalo described Adebayo as a knowledgeable, energetic and determined leader, noting that while he may not possess an extensive network of political connections, a strong party structure could easily bridge that gap.

“Adebayo is 53 years old. He is young, he has the energy, the strength and the knowledge. What he probably may not have is a wide bandwidth of interrelationships and connections,” he said. “But that is what a party system does for you. A strong, broad-based party can compensate for that lack of bandwidth and promote him as a solid candidate.”

He praised Adebayo’s articulation and grasp of national issues, though admitting he had yet to fully assess his implementation capacity. “In terms of knowledge, enthusiasm and roadmap, he has spoken very well,” he added.

Ighodalo stressed that Nigeria was still searching for a leader capable of transforming the country and steering it out of its present difficulties. Such a leader, he said, must combine capacity, compassion, determination, energy and genuine love for the nation.

“I think a person between the ages of 45 and 65 should be able to do this job. There is a need for some maturity. A candidate below 40 might be too inexperienced and may not have the network to handle a complex place like Nigeria,” he said. “But someone 45 years and above, surrounded by a strong party system or good team of advisers, should be able to run the country—and Adebayo fits into that category.”

On the qualities required to effectively govern Nigeria, Ighodalo said a competent leader must understand the nation’s history, formation, ethnic complexities, religious dynamics and diverse interests, adding “The person must be accommodating, honest, corruption-free and hard-working. He must be a visionary who sees a great future for Nigeria, bold, and capable of building strong international relationships. Above all, the person must not be greedy or self-centred, which is, unfortunately, the tendency among many of our leaders today.”

Despite the governance challenges facing the country, Ighodalo insisted that Nigeria is not short of capable leaders. Many of them, he said, remain largely unknown because they are not loud or driven by public attention.

“There are many competent people in Nigeria. All over the world, Nigerians are doing extremely well. Part of what we are doing at the African Leadership Group is to identify these people, engage them, and understand how they can contribute. Even if they are not presidential material, they can serve as strong support, because running Nigeria requires a solid, diverse team.”