Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has said Nigerians must accept part of the responsibility for the emergence of leaders they often criticise over poor governance and the country’s challenges.
Ndume made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the public presentation of a book titled Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era.
The event was held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites in Asokoro, Abuja.
The senator was reacting to comments by former Central Bank of Nigeria governor and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who had criticised Nigeria’s political class over the politicisation of ethnicity and religion, as well as what he described as their contribution to the country’s security and governance problems.
While acknowledging the criticism directed at politicians, Ndume argued that citizens also have a role to play because political leaders emerge from the people and are sustained by the democratic process.
He said:
“Every blame is on the politician. And I’m a politician, though accidental, or maybe, forced or recruited into it. But I’m a realist. I live with the situation I find myself, and I’m proud of it.”
Ndume maintained that Nigerians should not completely absolve themselves of responsibility for the quality of leadership in the country.
According to him, democracy is ultimately about the people, stressing that politicians are products of the society from which they emerge.
He said:
“Politics is people; politics is one way to run democracy, and what is democracy? It’s the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. From all discussions, now the blame goes down to us, and we are your product.”
The Borno lawmaker also touched on allegations of electoral manipulation, arguing that citizens still have a role in the process through which political leaders emerge.
Ndume said:
“And by the way, you are to be blamed because even if it is through rigging, it is you people that do the rigging to bring us in. So, if you put us here, we are doing your bidding.”
He urged Nigerians to pay greater attention to the quality of candidates they support and the political processes through which leaders are elected.
The senator further argued that the relationship between citizens and their leaders should be examined when discussing the country’s governance challenges.
He said:
“And God says that he does not bring leaders different from the followers. I think part of this is something that we look at very well, so that you make sure that we have democracy, and when we have democracy, we would have good governance.”
Ndume called for greater citizen participation in politics, saying Nigerians who desire better governance must become more actively involved in the democratic process.
He concluded:
“You put garbage in, you expect something good out of it? It’s not possible.”
His comments have added to the ongoing debate over the responsibilities of political leaders and citizens in shaping Nigeria’s democratic institutions and governance.
