Faulty Leadership Recruitment, Reward System Hinder Ijaw Nation's Progress — Ikuli
A prominent Ijaw commentator and social critic, Most Senior Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has identified what he described as two major challenges confronting the Ijaw Nation: a faulty leadership recruitment process and an ineffective reward system.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ikuli argued that despite being richly endowed with both human and natural resources, the Ijaw people have yet to fully harness their enormous potential due to systemic shortcomings in leadership selection and recognition of excellence.
According to him, the Ijaw Nation remains one of the most blessed ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, possessing abundant talents, intellectual capacity, and natural wealth. However, he lamented that many Ijaws fail to appreciate the magnitude of these blessings, often allowing inferiority complex, low self-esteem, and unhealthy rivalry among themselves to impede collective progress.
"Ijaws are exceptionally gifted people who continue to distinguish themselves wherever they find themselves. Unfortunately, instead of seeing one another as partners in progress, many view their fellow Ijaws as competitors," he said.
Ikuli noted that one of the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the Ijaw Nation is the practice of elevating individuals based on parochial and primordial sentiments rather than competence, merit, and proven capacity.
He maintained that while other major ethnic groups in Nigeria deliberately identify and position highly educated, visionary, and capable individuals in strategic leadership roles, the Ijaw Nation often allows sentiment to override objective judgment.
"The institutionalization of the culture of imposing incompetent individuals in sensitive positions remains one of the greatest problems confronting the Ijaw people. When the wrong people are entrusted with leadership responsibilities, the entire nation bears the consequences," he stated.
As an example of the benefits of effective leadership recruitment, Ikuli pointed to the administration of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, which he described as a success story driven by visionary leadership and commitment to development.
He highlighted several infrastructure and development projects undertaken within the last six years, including road networks across riverine communities, the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, the Nembe-Brass Road, the New Yenagoa City project, the Bayelsa Medical University in Sampou, the ongoing 30,000-capacity FIFA-standard stadium, and the nine-storey state secretariat complex, among others.
According to him, these projects have significantly improved connectivity, economic opportunities, security, healthcare, education, and overall quality of life in the state.
Ikuli further praised the state's investment in technical and vocational education, describing it as a strategic initiative that could position Bayelsa as a future exporter of skilled manpower and healthcare professionals.
On the issue of rewards and recognition, he argued that the Ijaw Nation has failed to adequately honour individuals who have sacrificed for the collective good of the people.
He expressed concern that many families of deceased Ijaw heroes and patriots have been neglected and forgotten, despite the contributions made by their loved ones toward the advancement of the Ijaw cause.
"Other ethnic nationalities reward and celebrate those who serve and make sacrifices for their people. Sadly, many of our heroes and their families are abandoned after their sacrifices," he lamented.
Ikuli therefore called on stakeholders, traditional institutions, political leaders, and opinion moulders across Ijaw land to initiate deliberate reforms aimed at improving leadership recruitment processes and establishing a culture that rewards service, excellence, sacrifice, and integrity.
He stressed that addressing these two critical issues would unlock the vast potential of the Ijaw Nation and accelerate its social, political, and economic development.
"Once the Ijaw Nation gets leadership recruitment and the reward system right, tremendous progress and transformation will naturally follow," he concluded.
