By joshua 
ITF President to Leaders: Fix Nigeria or Fail 2027
…Says leadership failure, weak institutions worsening insecurity, poverty
By Our Correspondent, Abakaliki
The National President of the Izhi Tehu Foundation (ITF), Adm. Igwe Christopher Agbo, has delivered a blunt warning to Nigeria’s political leadership: urgently fix the country’s deep-rooted governance failures or risk electoral rejection in 2027.
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview yesterday in Abakaliki, Agbo, who also serves as a Senior Manager at the Central Bank of Nigeria, linked the nation’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and declining living standards to corruption, weak institutions, and poor policy execution.
According to him, governance in Nigeria has fallen far short of expectations, as citizens continue to grapple with rising costs of living, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality healthcare and education.
“Leadership must become more proactive, accountable, and people-oriented. If these issues are not addressed decisively, Nigerians will respond accordingly in 2027,” he said.
Agbo described good governance as the deliberate provision of critical social amenities that directly improve citizens’ quality of life.
He identified key areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and transportation as fundamental benchmarks for assessing government performance.
He stressed that reliable electricity, functional road networks, and access to clean water remain basic necessities that are still out of reach for many Nigerians. In the health sector, he called for well-equipped facilities, skilled personnel, affordable services, and a functional health insurance system that accommodates low-income earners.
On education, he advocated for improved learning environments, qualified teachers, modern instructional materials, and expanded opportunities for extracurricular and skill-based development.
“Transportation is equally critical because it affects the cost of goods and overall economic productivity. A government that is serious must ensure a safe, efficient, and affordable transport system,” he added.
Speaking on accountability, Agbo noted that poverty, fear, and entrenched ethnic and religious loyalties often weaken citizens’ ability to hold leaders responsible.
He, however, emphasised the need for a stronger civil society and increased civic awareness to counter these challenges.
He highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in promoting transparency and citizen engagement, noting that social media tools have become powerful channels for advocacy and public discourse.
“Citizens must begin to see politics not as a means of survival but as a platform for service. Economic empowerment is key to reducing political manipulation and strengthening democratic participation,” he said.
Agbo also underscored the importance of credible elections, warning that flawed electoral processes undermine accountability and embolden poor leadership.
He called for greater transparency from polling units to collation centres, as well as active citizen participation in reporting irregularities and seeking legal redress.
On institutional reforms, he said non-political organisations like the ITF have a critical role to play through policy advocacy, monitoring, and technical support.
He advocated for the automation and digitization of government processes to enhance efficiency and reduce corruption.
He further called for stricter adherence to public procurement laws, competitive bidding, and improved monitoring of public projects to ensure value for money.
“Contractors must be held accountable. There must be consequences for project abandonment and substandard execution. Transparency in public spending is non-negotiable,” he stated.
Agbo maintained that effective governance would directly translate into reduced hardship, job creation, and improved living standards if policies are properly coordinated and implemented.
“A major issue in Nigeria is the lack of policy coordination and commitment. Many policies are either poorly designed or not effectively executed,” he noted.
On inclusiveness, he called for deliberate efforts to empower women, youth, and vulnerable groups through education, skills development, and equitable access to public service opportunities.
He also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government and non-political organisations, noting that open dialogue and feedback mechanisms are essential for responsive governance and sustainable development.
Assessing the current administration’s performance, Agbo said while some efforts have been made, the overall outcome remains below expectations.
He pointed to persistent insecurity, high energy costs, and slow project execution as major concerns.
“Insecurity remains widespread, and questions must be asked about intelligence gathering and the use of modern security technologies. At the same time, basic sectors like power, healthcare, and education are still underperforming,” he said.
He added that rising costs of governance, coupled with limited improvements in citizens’ welfare, continue to erode public trust.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Agbo outlined key qualities Nigerians should demand from their leaders, including integrity, financial discipline, patriotism, responsiveness, and a strong commitment to development.
“These qualities are critical because they are largely missing today. Leadership has been too reactive, especially on security, and there is a clear lack of patriotism in prioritising national interest,” he said.
Agbo called for urgent and collective action, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on decisive leadership, strong institutions, and an empowered citizenry willing to demand accountability.
“If we get leadership and governance right, many of Nigeria’s challenges will naturally begin to resolve. The time to act is now,” he said.