The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented the state of leadership in Nigeria, saying the nation has endured many years under ineffective leaders.

Speaking at the second Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST) in Kano on Saturday, Sanusi noted that Nigeria has consistently been saddled with what he described as “lousy leaders.”

He further argued that the country would have gone bankrupt if the federal government had not removed fuel subsidy. The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor emphasized that good governance remains the only path to rescuing the nation from its current challenges.

“You rise and fall with the quality of your leadership, and Nigeria has had lousy leadership for a long time. You cannot give what you do not have. Until we begin to reflect on the people we choose to lead us, nothing will change.

“In many parts of this country, you look at those in charge and ask yourself, ‘Oh God, is this really the person? How did we end up here?’ You see it every day in the newspapers, on the news, in the legislature—the debates, the petty arguments, and the endless time wasted on issues that don’t matter,” Sanusi said.

He urged Nigerian youths to take charge of the nation’s future, stressing that with determination, they could replace the older generation currently in power and chart a new course for the country.