Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, has urged Nigerian elites, professionals and young intellectuals to take up more active roles in politics, warning that the country risks sustained governance failure if its most educated citizens continue to withdraw from public leadership.
Alkali delivered the warning on Thursday in Abuja during an engagement with the Gombe State University Alumni Association, led by its national president, Dr. Buhari Magaji. He expressed concern that many qualified Nigerians have distanced themselves from political party structures, leaving crucial leadership roles to individuals ill-equipped to manage the complexities of governance.
The minister noted that a significant number of elected officials lack basic understanding of economic and governance concepts including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation rate, revenue sources, population data, foreign reserves and national borrowing plans. This gap, he said, undermines the capacity of officeholders to make informed decisions.
“We cannot build a competent political class if councillors, chairmen and lawmakers do not understand the fundamentals of governance,” Alkali said. “How can a councillor not know the definition of GDP or national revenue? These are the people making decisions that affect all of us.”
He criticised the country’s intellectual class for disengaging from politics, arguing that their absence has left room for what he described as “stark illiterates” to dominate the system. Alkali urged elites to participate in town hall meetings, engage the public, and join campaign structures to improve credibility and strengthen democratic processes.
“If the elites are there, nobody would rig elections,” he said. “By participating, you lend credibility to the process. But you deliberately choose to stay away—how does that help society?”
Alkali also pointed out that the Nigerian Constitution allows even a secondary-school graduate to run for president, saying this places an even greater obligation on academics, technocrats and other highly trained professionals to be involved, support leadership and help guide officeholders.
He questioned why professors and other experts shy away from contesting local positions such as councillorship, stating that political engagement should be viewed as a platform for impact rather than status.
The minister further emphasised the need for structured mentorship for young Nigerians and commended youth-focused civic organisations for promoting political education. He said national development depends on a blend of youthful innovation and mature experience.
“This country needs your ideas, your skills, your courage,” he told the audience. “If you don’t participate, you weaken the very institutions you expect to serve you.”
Responding, Dr. Magaji highlighted a widening gap between political mentors and young aspirants in Gombe State and appealed for the minister’s support in establishing mentorship programmes for youth in the state.
Senator Alkali assured the association of his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote leadership development, political engagement and national orientation among young people.
