LP Candidate Stresses Need for Trust in Governance

Labour Party candidate for the House of Representatives in Bende Federal Constituency, Chimaobi Anyaso, has stated that public trust in governance must be built and maintained through openness, accountability, and following the law.

He pointed out that the legitimacy of institutions is not just about laws but also about the trust people have in them.

In a statement he signed on Friday, Anyaso spoke during the 10th Anniversary Conference of the IFE Institute of Advanced Studies at Harvard University. The theme of the conference was “Building Lasting Institutions: Faith, Scholarship, and the African Project.”

He emphasized that trust is the key to good governance.

“Public confidence declines when institutions are seen as unfair, inconsistent, politicized, or corrupt.

“Governments and public institutions should adopt openness, merit-based systems, accountability, and respect for the law.

“The legitimacy of institutions is not determined by law alone but by the trust people have 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 mentioned that Africa's problem is not a lack of talent but a failure to create lasting institutions.

“Africa has produced outstanding leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars, and innovators. The challenge is turning individual success into institutional success,” he said.

Using his experience in the private sector, he pointed out that businesses relying solely on their founders often do not last beyond one generation.

“A business survives when systems replace personalities. The same idea applies to countries,” he said.

He also cautioned against talented citizens pulling away from public life.

“When good people avoid politics, bad people take charge, and society suffers. Leadership is not just a title; it is a responsibility. It is the highest form of service,” he said.

Concerns about weak institutions, poor governance, and falling public trust have long been seen as major challenges to Africa's growth.

Even with many talented people known around the world, several African countries still face issues like unstable institutions, corruption, and leadership failures that hurt economic growth and democracy.