Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Monday said his concern for the future of the economy of the country amongst others prompted him to raise the motion which led to the probe of oil subsidy regime in the petroleum industry in the country.

Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State, said the unprecedented revelations in the oil sector occasioned by the probe of the subsidy regime was a landmark achievement for the National Assembly in the history of the country.

He said the report of the panel which investigated the subsidy regime would not be swept under carpet, adding: "We shall ensure that justice is done on the matter and no sinner will go unpunished this time around." 

Speaking at a public lecture entitled: "Leadership and National Transformation in Nigeria" organised by the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Saraki said his love and passion for the country prompted him to initiate the action for the probe early this year.

According to him, "I initiated the action in order to bring sanity into the system. I challenged the subsidy regime by the federal government because of my interest in the development and progress of Nigeria. Nigeria will definitely change for good because things have started changing in this country. Every sector of our economy is experiencing changes. There is therefore the need for all of us to participate in the process that will bring about a total change in the polity."

The senator, who identified leadership problem as the bane of the nation’s development, also made case for efficient participation of all categories of people, including the social class in partisan politics, stressing that the country would only be transformed through efficient leadership.

He said struggling for leadership position among the ruling class affects transformation agenda of previous administrations in the country, and thereby called on political leaders in the country to give maximum support to those in position of authorities for efficient service delivery.

Saraki also contended that "the best set of people are in the private sector, they do not participate in politics and this is affecting the country. Nigeria awaits the emergence of true leaders who will reshape the entire nation and the time is now and not tomorrow for such leader to emerge."

While identifying communication as the greatest tool in the hands of a transformational leader, the former governor stressed the need for proper conversation between the leaders and followers, just as he charged Nigerian leaders to imbibe the habit of efficient communication in the bid to rebuild Nigeria.

"Leadership that can transform this country must build bridges and not walls. Leaders are in the business of building bridge to the future; this requires the breaking down of walls.

"These walls include walls of dissent and intolerance, sectarian chauvinism, bigotry, nepotistic leadership and dereliction of merit. Change will always require the destruction of walls and the building of bridges," he stated.