By John M. O. Ekundayo
While it can be argued that it is better for any leader to declare his leadership style, from the outset, so that his followers will know the expected direction of his administration, appropriating or adopting a leadership style confines a leader to model the way according the proponents of exemplary leadership model-Barry Posner & James Kouzes (authors of ‘The Leadership Challenge’). It is of wisdom to state that transformational leadership main objective as originally propounded by James MacGregor Burns was to inspire followers with vision and passion; in the process the latter themselves are transformed. In a way, transformational leadership, as a model, can be defined as a process involving dynamic influential interactions between leaders and followers, expecting a mutual outcome, within a giving context. The mutual outcome normally results in change(s) to the status quo which invariably energizes followers with the end result of developing them to leaders. Simply and squarely put, leaders that will drive transformational agenda must be courageous to challenge the status quo, be visionary, passionate and proactive to interact with followers to bring about the envisioned innovative change. It must be stressed that that change must uplift the followers-their levels must change in tangible ways that can be felt, seen, touched and embraced!
Wisdom of Nehemiah in the Age of Dr Jonathan:
At this juncture, I will like to draw an analogy from the Biblical Nehemiah, a man that was a servant to a king who was burdened to go back to rebuild the ruins of the ancient Jerusalem. Mr President, you need to accept the fact that Nigeria is presently in ruins; we are blessed with abundant resources yet many Nigerians are living below poverty line. Nehemiah pursued his assignment with catholic zeal and zest. There is a particular reference that I will want Mr President to emulate in the leadership style of Nehemiah in driving his transformation agenda. Before, I go further, I like to remind, Dr Jonathan Goodluck that our dear erstwhile President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (of blessed memory) while reading his inauguration address on 29th May 2007 declared inter alia to the whole world that he would be a servant leader. It was unfortunate that his health compounded the content and context of his traits as a leader and could not really allowed us to fairly assess properly how he performed as a servant leader. I doubt if he would pass if empirically assessed. However, there are some good points that still stand today, by and large for Yar’Adua. These are upholding the rule of law and the Niger Delta amnesty issue.
Dear Mr President, you have 4 years which when broken down is 48 months or 208 weeks translating to 1461 days (sic). Meditating on some portions of Chapter 5 of the book of Nehemiah, my heart was drawn to some issues that Mr President must be passionate, practical, pragmatic and proactive about without delay. Time is running out! In Chapter 5, Nehemiah, who later became the governor of the people, challenged the nobles and leaders who were oppressing and afflicting their fellow citizens. In book of Nehemiah, Chapter 5:7-9, it is stated: “After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers...So I called a great assembly against them. And I said to them...Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”
This is the real situation in Nigeria. We need a President who will have enough resolve or spine to call the bluff off some callous elites who are so greedy that Nigeria can roast so far they are richer in the process. I am not a religious zealot but I know that my country Nigeria is mostly made up of people of two religions (almost 95% of the nation’s population):
Islam and Christianity. I read your encounter with journalists the last time you were in USA in which you declared that the proportion of Muslims to Christians in Nigeria is 50:50. Some may differ but I defer to your stand, Mr President, you are not far from the truth. In the light of this, as a balance, I will like to quote from what Abubakar Siddique, the first Caliph, leader of the Muslim community after the transition of the referred Prophet Mohammed stated in his inaugural speech: “I have been chosen to rule over you, though I am not the best amongst you. Help me if I am right; correct me if I am wrong. The weak among you will be strong until I have attained for him his due…and the strong among you will be weak until I have made him give what he owes...”
From the foregoing, it cannot be overemphasized that we need a President who will vigorously fight corruption putting his own life online to redeem our battered image locally and internationally. Presently, we are “fighting” this virus with kid gloves while it spreading with the speed of light all over the fabric of our nation. Corruption is everywhere; followers and leaders are involved! One can argue that during former President Obasanjo’s era, he was accused of being selective in his war against corruption; nevertheless he made some people to face the music. One notable good deed by Obasanjo (I am not his fan), his administration established two institutions to fight corruption. No government before his own institutionalized the fight against corruption. Mr President, I will plead with you to adequately empower and equipped EFFCC and ICPC especially by giving them free hand to operate. I read in the paper, as the time of writing this piece that you were under pressure to ‘intervene’ in the judicial process indicting the former speaker and his deputy. If it is true, please, do not hearken; let the law take its course. Enough is enough of these dealers in the garb of leaders rampaging and routing our land while throwing decency and decorum to the wind. Is this not the same Honourable Dimeji Bankole who passed through one of the finest and best universities in the world-Harvard? He was even mentioned before he became the speaker that he was an influential member of the ‘Integrity Group’ in the house? Where is that so called integrity group in the House of Representatives today? I doubt its existence.
Agenda Setting To Cripple Corruption: Overhauling EFCC
Subsequently, I will opine that there is need for change in the leadership of EFCC if your transformational agenda will succeed very well. Corruption is like a cancer killing Nigeria and Nigerians gradually; even President Barrack Obama was passionate in pleading with you recently when you visit the White House to do more in fighting this hydra-headed monster! Virtually, all nations on earth have Nigerians living in them-legally and illegally. It is a truism that many cases of Nigerians in Diaspora are but for survival strategies while there are more than enough resources at home to go round for everyone! Tips of the iceberg: After May 29th, how many former governors are undergoing trial? It is only the case of the erstwhile Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives we are reading about. Where are the others? Walking freely all over the land some of them even having the effrontery or temerity to be lobbying for ministerial positions! Are we really serious as a nation? I even read in the newspapers that about two of former governors left the shores of Nigeria a day or so before 29th May 2011. Were not the security agencies aware of this development? What was the role of EFCC and ICPC in this regard? This is time for followers to ask pertinent questions requiring urgent responses if our nation must not pass through what some North African and Middle Eastern countries have gone through and some of them are still wallowing in the imbroglio that may consume their leaders and possibly their nations.
Opportunity To Address Poverty:
Mr President, I was one of your friends on Facebook and I gave a thumb up for your write-up declaring your formal intention to run for the office of the president sometimes in 2010. I read the story, Mr President, of how you could not afford a bag to put your books in while you swam through a river to go to school (sic). Definitely, there are still people in such a situation like that today not only in Oloibiri, but in Numan, Aliade, Baga, Sabongida-Ora, Igboho, Biliri, Takum, Ikot Epkene, Ode-Ekiti, Umunede, Nnewi, etc. What are the practical, pragmatic and proactive steps your transformational leadership will take to address poverty that people will perceive have a human heart of kindness and compassion? Are there going to be a provision to care of the senior citizens throughout the length and breadth of our nation? I have been living in Singapore and Malaysia for 6 years now, and I could see that people from age 65 and above are classified as senior citizens and they are given concessions for some public services like transportation (at times they pay 50%). How about education: can the nation afford to cushion the crunch on parents paying for the tertiary education of their wards by having bursary award for students in this category? Can the Federal Government make funds accessible (could be a loan) to pursue higher degrees (Master degrees and Doctorates) both in local and overseas universities so that no Nigerian is denied education because he or she cannot pay for it?
Creating Jobs: Proactive Agricultural Development As A Way Out
Going back to Nehemiah’s time, virtually everyone was engaged in building the wall, carrying away the rubbles and restoring order to the nation. The citizens need to be mobilized. There is the need for your government to proactively create jobs! Personally, I see Agriculture as a way out. It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and most of the states government avoid practical agriculture like a plague. It is obvious that both federal and state governments annually vote money for agricultural development which callously end up in distribution of fertilizer, loans to ‘farmers’, building dams, etc. These activites, in most cases, have no direct bearing on the lives of farmers or citizens in Okenne, Wukari, Idanre, Otukpo, Baga, Yenogoa, Kabba, Ayangba, Nguru, etc. There must be proactive ways to reach these farmers. Is it not possible to initiate modern day farm settlements in each state of the federation where mass number of youths can be gainfully and productively employed? The merits are numerous: Food Production, Employment Creation, Income Generation and Foreign Exchange Earning. A stitch in time can save nine. I have posted messages like this on your Facebook but I found them deleted, possibly by your agents: it is good that this in public domain.
Conclusion:
Mr President, I want to appreciate you and your assistants (leadership team) taking time to read this and setting down to work. Nigerians are yearning and longing to witness the real transformation; not just words and words, promises and promises; there must be passionate, pragmatic and proactive steps taken to deliver this nation from ruins and rubbles she has been subjected to. The wounds on Nigeria and Nigerians are in the words of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State self inflicted which only, according to him, only leaders with bold resolve can attempt to heal. You can start somewhere and leave an indelible and memorable mark; yours could even be a benchmark, Dr Jonathan Ebele Goodluck!
Feedback is welcome from readers: jmo.ekundayo@gmail.com
This piece is written by John M. O. Ekundayo, a leadership researcher/political commentator, who resides in Malaysia, South East Asia.
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