Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets, has warned that Nigeria is witnessing a growing number of untrained and ill-prepared individuals in political office. He said leadership is increasingly being confused with the mere holding of power, a trend he described as harmful to governance and national development.
Izunaso, who represents Imo West Senatorial District, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of Leadership 365: Daily Reflection for Effective Leadership, a book by Dr Linus Okorie, President of the GOTNI Leadership Centre. He stressed that leadership requires discipline, values and conduct, not just authority or title.
The senator said Nigeria lacks a deliberate system for training leaders, noting that many political actors assume leadership roles without preparation. He argued that leaders must be mindful of their words and actions because they are constantly being observed by the public.
“In this country, we do not train leaders. We just assemble people, and people start talking as if they are leaders. There must be a way leaders should talk. A leader doesn’t talk or walk anyhow because people are watching you,” he said.
Izunaso also challenged the belief that occupying an office automatically makes one a leader. He said leadership often emerges naturally and is evident in behaviour, not position. He added that leadership exists beyond politics and should not be limited to those in government.
“The fact that you occupy an office does not make you a leader. Most times leaders are born, most times leaders emerge… Leadership is not about occupying a high position,” he stated.
He advised young Nigerians to reject the pursuit of quick wealth and instead focus on values and character. According to him, choosing the right role models is more important than chasing money, as leadership should be guided by integrity and purpose.
“For the younger ones coming up, do not embrace the culture of let’s get rich quickly… Money shouldn’t be the motivation to make anybody your role model,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr Okorie said lasting national progress depends on intentional investment in leadership development, not technology alone. He noted that while technology and artificial intelligence are advancing, human capacity remains the most powerful driver of change.
- “But the truth of the matter is that there is nothing that will be as powerful as the human spirit,” Okorie said, adding that nations that succeed do so by grooming future leaders through deliberate and sustained efforts.
