As part of the ways to reposition Kwara State to effectively harness its natural resources and be among the leading states in the country, the Leaders Institute in collaboration with Team Kwara on August 9, brought all stakeholders in the state together to discuss on how to make the state have sustainable growth and development.

With the theme, 'The Need For Progressive Leadership In Kwara State,' the one-day event, which was held at the Kingstone Grand Suites, Ahman Pategi Road, Ilorin, came up with a communiqué on how the state would attain a sustainable development if all stakeholders plan for the emergence of quality leadership.

In the spirit of collective resolution, the communiqué noted that Kwara State desires nothing more critical at this time than progressive, purposeful, sincere, accountable and conscientious leadership; one that is not only capable of liberating the people from their current captivity, but equally willing and capable of designing a new map for infrastructural and human capital development.

From the cross-fertilization of views the Tajudeen AbdulKareem convened colloquium noted that the desired leader that would take the state to the promise land must be a leader that would not lead a life of leisure, but a servant that would take responsibility for others.

"The leader should be one that is accommodating and altruistic; such leader must have the ability to transform a vision to reality," it stressed.

In the search for new leaders, therefore, participants reasoned that it is imperative for everybody to get involved since the future of the people is too precious to be left in the hands of a few. Strong societies, the gathering reasoned, are built with the collective spirit and character of their citizens, adding that it is regrettable that in Kwara, building a collective spirit was identified as a major problem that has undermined the ability of the people to have a say in producing quality leadership.

With key speakers, including Prof. Hassan Saliu, lecturer, political science, University of Ilorin; Dr. Amina Ndalolo, former minister of State for Health; Princess Shola Adedoyin, former bank chief executive; and Comrade Issa Aremu, Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the colloquium noted that as a result of the 'privatised' nature of Kwara State politics, a large part of the state has remained in limbo with the attendant lack of development and advancement. It also noted that lack of a defining line between politics and governance has been the bane of sustainable development in the state.

Politics, it was agreed, required some skill, but justifying the confidence of the people after winning an election required much planning and astute management.

Noting that Kwara has reached a defining moment, the gathering acknowledged that the people are in the middle of three wars - war against poverty; war against corruption and domination; and war against oppression and slavery - that must be fought and won. Participants observed that the people are getting divided along religious, ethnic and political lines, while its wealth lies in the hands of a few individuals. The gathering, therefore, resolved that the state would no longer accept 'imported' leaders, but someone who has lived with the people and can easily identify with their aspirations and challenges and also make adequate consultations. Such a person, they noted, must be sensitive and responsive to the people. The forum emphasised that good governance will lose its meaning if strong political characters continue to overshadow the institutions of the state. Unanimously resolving that a state cannot develop without appropriate leadership, the forum recommended the search for a leader that is progressive, forward-looking and ready to take calculative risks; one that will be democratic in approach, cultured, humane and fair minded.

The assemblage criticised the high level of unemployment in the state, describing it as a time bomb. According to the gathering, "it is highly unimaginable and unacceptable for Kwara, as one of the first generation states in Nigeria, to lose all its major industries to myopic and inept leadership, adding that the people are determined to get good governance and no political class can stop them."

The communiqué signed by Tajudeen AbdulKareem identified some of the problems of the state to include indigenes encouraging anti-democratic tendencies of politicians for ephemeral gains, stressing that any political environment that transmits unmerited appreciation for handouts cannot stand the chance of robustly engaging the difficult assignment of development.

The assemblage urged stakeholders in the state to revere the elders and consider them as reservoirs of wisdom and knowledge from where the people can draw inspiration for the sustenance of their heritage and values.

With Dr. Amuda Aluko, Tafida Ilorin, as the chairman of the colloquium, participants called on organisers to create a platform that will bring all political office seekers together to examine the imperatives and modalities for enthroning a progressive leadership in the state in 2015.