Dayo Sobowale: Nigeria’s Problem Is Leadership, Not The Constitution

Analyst says corruption and poor leadership, rather than constitutional structure, remain Nigeria’s biggest challenges.

ARISE News analyst Dayo Sobowale has stated that Nigeria’s persistent challenges stem more from poor leadership and corruption than from the structure of the country’s constitution.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News while reacting to renewed calls for restructuring and a people-driven constitution, Sobowale dismissed suggestions that constitutional changes alone would solve Nigeria’s problems.

“Nigeria’s problem is leadership, not the constitution,” he said.

According to Sobowale, many of the issues often blamed on the constitutional arrangement are actually consequences of poor governance and weak accountability.

“It’s not a matter of the constitution,” he stated.

He emphasized that corruption has undermined development and prevented public resources from being used to improve citizens’ welfare.

“What is hanging around the leadership is corruption,” he said.

Sobowale maintained that Nigeria has the resources and capacity to address many of its challenges if leaders act responsibly.

“We have literally nothing to show for it because people are just corrupt,” he stated.

According to him, insecurity, food shortages, and economic difficulties are not unique to Nigeria but have been worsened by governance failures.

“That’s a leadership problem,” he said.

Sobowale also cautioned against calls for a wholesale constitutional overhaul, describing such proposals as unrealistic under current political realities.

“The rhetoric is unrealistic,” he stated.

He stated that constitutional amendments are more practical than attempts to completely replace the existing framework.

“You don’t just change your constitution from time to time; you amend it,” he said.

According to Sobowale, many countries have achieved progress through gradual constitutional reforms rather than total restructuring.

“Look at the American Constitution; they have amended it several times,” he stated.

He further mentioned the importance of accountability, transparency, and public service in governance.

“When leaders are elected into office, it is not to siphon people’s funds into their pockets,” he said.

Sobowale maintained that Nigeria’s future depends on leaders putting national interest above personal gain.

“It is to make the nation better,” he stated.

He also called for greater social responsibility and unity among citizens.

“We should be our neighbour’s keeper,” he said.

Sobowale concluded that while constitutional reforms may be necessary in some areas, Nigeria’s most pressing challenge remains the quality of leadership, stressing that corruption, poor governance, and weak accountability not the constitution itself are the major obstacles to national development.