By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Abuja
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state, said yesterday that the major problem facing the country is that of leadership.
Masari said this in Abuja shortly after he received leadership award by the African Leadership Magazine, facilitated by the Congressional Black Caucus of Georgia, USA.
“The huge challenge we have now in this country is leadership. Nigeria is short of leadership, how to get the right leadership to take us to higher level should be our focus,” he said.
Masari, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the current economic recession in the country is a blessing in disguise.
“Our present economic crisis is good because ultimately it will take our country to higher level,” he said.
The governor, who accused the United States of America of playing double standards, said if the US could freeze accounts of terrorists within 24 hours after 9/11, claims about complexity in the process of repatriation of stolen funds does not hold water.
He said repatriation of stolen funds would help in the country’s economic recovery, and called on the urging the U.S. to return such funds in goods and services if they cannot return in cash.
“Thieves and the receivers of the stolen properties are all thieves. I appeal to them to return the stolen money. Luckily, we now have the right leadership that will properly utilise the resources,” he said.
He said diplomatic and political strategies could be used to get the monies back into the country.
“I think what we need to do in the country is to bring and build structures that would convince people that the money is not going to be stolen again. I think the problem is once the money is brought back and some people can also take it through another means to some other countries which are providing safe haven for stolen money”, he said.