Labour Party House of Representatives candidate for Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State in the 2027 election, Chimaobi Anyaso, has said public confidence in governance must be earned and sustained through transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
According to him, the legitimacy of institutions is not determined by law alone but by the confidence people place in them.
In a statement on Friday, personally signed by him, he spoke at the 10th Anniversary Conference of the IFE Institute of Advanced Studies at Harvard University, held under the theme, “Building Lasting Institutions: Faith, Scholarship, and the African Project.”
He argued that trust remains the foundation of effective governance.
“Public confidence declines when institutions are perceived as unfair, inconsistent, politicised, or corrupt.
“Governments and public institutions should embrace transparency, meritocracy, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
“The legitimacy of institutions is not determined by law alone but by the confidence people place in them.
“Leadership without character creates power without purpose. Faith reminds leaders that public office and private enterprise are ultimately acts of stewardship.
“The most valuable currency in leadership is not money, influence or position — it is trust. Once trust is established, institutions can thrive. Once trust is broken, even the strongest institutions begin to weaken,” he said.
Anyaso said Africa’s development challenge is not a shortage of talent but a failure to build enduring institutions.
“Africa has produced exceptional leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars and innovators. The challenge before us is converting individual excellence into institutional excellence,” he said.
Drawing from his private sector experience, he said organisations that depend entirely on their founders rarely survive beyond one generation.
“A business survives when systems replace personalities. The same principle applies to nations,” he said.
He also warned against the withdrawal of capable citizens from public life.
“When good people shy away from politics, bad people take over governance, and society becomes the victim. Leadership is not a position; it is a responsibility. It is the highest form of service,” he said.
Concerns about weak institutions, poor governance and declining public trust have long been identified as central obstacles to Africa’s development.
Despite producing globally recognised talent across various fields, many African countries continue to struggle with institutional instability, corruption and leadership failures that undermine economic growth and democratic consolidation.
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