Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that effective leadership is not for the faint-hearted, stating that those who aspire to lead must be prepared to take tough decisions rather than seek popularity. Speaking at the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit in Abuja, the Vice President argued that leadership is about action and responsibility, not about being agreeable. "Leadership means walking the talk. Leadership is about taking tough decisions. And leadership is not meant for nice men. Nice men should be selling chocolates, ice cream," he said .
During his keynote address, Vice President Shettima drew attention to the unique governance challenges posed by Nigeria's large population. He praised Rwandan President Paul Kagame but cautioned against directly comparing Nigeria's progress with that of smaller African nations, pointing out that countries like Botswana, Seychelles, and even Rwanda have populations significantly smaller than parts of Nigeria . He stated that numbers count and that Nigeria remains a great nation despite its complex demographics.
The Vice President also used the platform to commend Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno for his swift response to a proposed $500 million investment in the oil palm sector. He recounted how a Malaysian company and its Nigerian partners expressed interest in investing in the sector, and Governor Eno promptly gave the go-ahead for them to start work on 10,000 hectares . Shettima cited this as a prime example of decisive leadership.
Furthermore, Vice President Shettima called on Nigerians to rediscover the country's agricultural heritage, noting that the sector was once the backbone of the economy and remains a critical source of jobs and hope for many citizens . He reiterated that leadership requires taking parochial decisions and that President Bola Tinubu has taken the bullet for making critical decisions to build an economy that the country deserves .
Abuja Network News
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