‘We are yet to get the desired leadership that this nation deserves’- Rashidi Ladoja

A good leader must build institutions and sustainable structures that could produce quality leaders for tomorrow this is according to former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja.

Ladoja, who is the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the upcoming 2015 general elections, made the statement at the International Leadership Lecture for Students of Tertiary Institutions in South West Nigeria, organised by the Reading Awareness Society for Development in Africa, in conjunction with Foundation for Creative Entrepreneurs.

While speaking at the lecture with the theme, “Becoming the dream leader,” and which was held to honour Ladoja, who clocked 70 years recently, Ladoja enjoined Nigerian politicians to serve the people who elect them, rather than aiming to rule the electorate.

He also urged the students to work hard and uphold excellence as the yardstick for success.

“Learning is a lifelong experience and it is not limited to schools but everywhere. Excellence will always create room for you. The difference between failure and success is extra mile,” the ex-governor said.

He added: “We are yet to get the desired leadership that this nation deserves because everybody wants to rule but a good leader will rather create institutions that will rule.

“When institutions are there everybody will enjoy. Let’s build institutions rather than build personalities. The elected are not supposed to rule but serve us, service should be placed above everything.”

Also speaking at the event, Emeritus Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, who was the chairman of the occasion, said literacy was a major criterion for being an outstanding leader.

He encouraged the students to imbibe the culture of humility in becoming outstanding leader in the country.

“Being literate is the major criterion in the democratic process. It is important to link education with democracy because the electorate must understand the happenings around the democratic settings,” Akinkugbe said.

The professor added: “The capacity to motivate and inspire are ingredients of a good leader. Intellectual arrogance is a sin; it is important that a good leader must be humble.

“There is the need for the generation of youths to equip themselves with abilities to right the wrongs in this country. They should learn to serve.”