Nigerian Politicians Only Think About Themselves, Their Families- Kole Shettima

The Director of the MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria Kole A. Shettima, has accused Nigerian politicians saying all they think about is themselves and their families.
He also lamented lack of focus on the real issues concerning Nigerians in the debates leading to next year’s general elections.
Shetima said political gladiators and their supporters are gloating over irrelevant issues in the face of grinding economic hardships and insecurity.
Shettima made these disclosures while speaking on Arise TV show Thursday evening.
According to him, “I also want to talk about the behaviour of our politicians. In my view, I think our politicians are behaving like this is a do-or-die affair. To them, it’s not about service to the people, it’s about themselves, their families and their friends, and the next 10 to 20 generations of their families, these are the people they are busy thinking about. They are not thinking about what the country needs and what the people need as well.’’
Lamenting the hardship being experienced by citizens on a day-to-day basis, he said, ‘’I think we have reduced our politics to ethnic identities, no one is talking about the real issues that confront us as a people in terms of naira-to-dollar exchange. No one is talking about the cost of fertilizer that is now N32,000 per bag and also that we have a minimum wage that is N30000 which can’t buy a flight ticket.’’
The agency he heads in Nigerian, the MacArthur Foundation, supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. “MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.”
Prior to joining the Foundation in 1999, Shettima taught at the University of Maiduguri, the University of Toronto, and Ohio University. He volunteered for several organizations including the Inter-Church Coalition on Africa, Women In Nigeria, and Machina Emirate Development Association. He has published in several academic journals including Africa Development, Review of African Political Economy, African Studies Review, and Journal of Asian and African Studies.