Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has said Nigerians must share responsibility for the poor leadership they complain about, arguing that political leaders emerge from the people.

Ndume made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.

He was responding to comments by Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, who had criticised the political class over the politicisation of ethnicity and religion and its alleged contribution to Nigeria’s security and governance challenges.

Ndume said while politicians should be held accountable, citizens also have a role to play because they determine who occupies political offices.

“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,” he said.

According to him, democracy is ultimately about the people, making citizens partly responsible for the quality of leadership produced by the system.

“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,” he said.

The senator further argued that citizens cannot completely absolve themselves of responsibility where electoral malpractice is involved.

“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,” Ndume said.

He urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to the individuals they support and the political processes through which leaders emerge.

Ndume also called for greater citizen participation in politics, saying improved involvement in the democratic process could contribute to better governance.

“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,” he said.

The lawmaker concluded by stressing the need for Nigerians to take responsibility for the choices they make in the political process.

“You put garbage in, you expect something good out of it? It’s not possible,” he said.