Public commentator Zekeri Idris has called on Nigerians to hold elected leaders accountable, insisting that public office holders are employees of the people and should be treated as such.
Speaking during an appearance on the advocacy programme A Place At The Table on News Central, Idris said President Bola Tinubu works for Nigerians and should be regarded as a public servant accountable to the citizens.
According to him, meaningful progress in Nigeria and across Africa depends on improving the quality of leadership rather than searching for political “messiahs.”
Idris also criticised ethnic politics, arguing that tribal sentiments often prevent Nigerians from demanding accountability from leaders despite the economic challenges facing the country.
“Tinubu works for me; he works for you, and you must speak to him like an employee. He is not your employer,” he said.
He added that Nigerians must move away from the mindset of defending political leaders solely because of ethnic affiliation, warning that such attitudes weaken democratic accountability.
“We can debate all we want, but until we stand up and get leadership right, and we’re not looking for a Messiah. Let us completely forget those who are using a problem to solve a problem.
“In Nigeria, it is tribalism. They say things like, ‘They want to remove our person from power,’ and even when you are suffering, you think that person is your person. Poverty does not know ethnicity,” Idris said.
His remarks have since generated discussions on social media, with supporters agreeing that citizens should demand greater accountability from elected officials, while others offered differing views on his comments about leadership and ethnicity.
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