Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi), has emphasized the importance of leaders accepting criticism as a vital component in achieving national development and realizing the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

Speaking at the Easter Cantata concert organized by the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abejide highlighted the need for leaders to understand that power is a trust held on behalf of the people and must be exercised responsibly for their benefit.

 

“Leaders must learn to accept constructive criticism from the people. That’s the only way to move the country forward,” he stated. “No matter how good you are, people will criticise you. Learning to manage such criticism is key to good governance.”

 

Representing Yagba East, Yagba West, and Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency, Abejide called on leaders to remain accountable and to work with discipline and empathy, especially in times when citizens are disillusioned by the state of the nation.

 

He further urged Nigerians to resist despair and engage actively in the democratic process, despite current hardships. “At this point, it’s not about where you come from. It’s about your commitment to solving problems and uplifting the people,” he added.

 

Abejide acknowledged the high expectations placed on the current administration and attributed the public’s frustration to failures of past leadership. However, he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for taking bold steps to steer the nation toward recovery.

 

“In the Yoruba adage, ‘Adùn lón gbeyin ewúro’—sweetness comes at the end of bitterness. We are in a tough phase, but I believe it will lead to a better Nigeria,” he said.

 

He described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a transformative vision anchored on democracy, development, demographic advantage, and diaspora engagement. According to him, achieving these goals requires collaboration across all levels—local and global, public and private.