Nigeria has a covetous, barren and unproductive leadership and an equally greedy, impoverished and apathetic following. As the general election approaches, it is high time we got it right. We don’t have any excuse for not doing so. Our multiplicity or ethnicity is not an excuse. The political or economic systems we use are not an excuse. We, the people, are the only excuse available, if we don’t get it right. And posterity will not forgive us, if we don’t get it right.
Why is there a need for leadership? What role does a leader play? What marks out one person as more capable of a leadership position than another? Does everyone have the potential for leadership or are some people more cut out for such than others?
Leadership, according to experts, underscores the need for clarity. The nature of leadership demands that there must always be an element of uncertainty. Uncertainty is not an indication of poor leadership; it underscores the need for leadership. It is the environment in which good leadership is most easily identified.
Leadership, therefore, means being clear, even in the face of uncertainty, and not allowing uncertainty to paralyse people, systems and processes.
The nature of mankind is such that it thrives most in the presence of clear directions. People dream. They look forward to the future. But there is always that uncertainty. People naturally become paralysed in the advent of ambiguity. But life generally is ambiguous, requiring the presence of people (leaders) who can breathe a clear direction into such uncertainties. Therein lies the need for leadership. Leadership requires us to make an active choice among many plausible and doubtful alternatives. If we all know what to do in every situation at all times, if we are all able to stand up at any given moment and give directions with absolute certainty, there would be no need for leadership.
Nigeria needs to develop a political culture. Our political parties need to develop enforceable codes of conduct.
The international community must see the political education of our citizenry as being of utmost importance. It is not enough for them to send election observer missions to the country.
The media, religious organisations and social groups must also see to this because any government in power at any time in Nigeria will not do so, as they will always want to use the political illiteracy in the country to their own advantage.
Our elite, the intelligentsia, the upper and the middle class must learn to go out and use their votes. All the apathy among these sections of the society must stop. If not, our students’ union movement, the labour, the market men and women will continue to make decisions concerning our political destiny and we must not complain if they make the wrong decisions. Our politicians, especially the good ones among them whom we need, must learn to walk before they run. They must learn to build their bases and develop their structures.
People who cannot seriously account for their wealth or their flamboyant lifestyle should not continue to aspire to the leadership of this nation. Nigeria is no longer for sale, to the highest bidder. Being generous to people, taking chieftaincy titles and flashing money around should no longer be the prerequisite for governing Nigeria. If Nigerians really love Nigeria, this is the time for us to search for that man; that human being who actually loves Nigeria and is willing to do the right thing for Nigeria. We don’t want anybody to hoodwink us anymore.
We don’t want anyone to just feed some of the masses for a season and think that by doing so, he has a right to their hearts and soul and therefore he should take over the presidency. We need people who would be honest with us in Nigeria and who would really try to lead and govern this nation according to equity, fairness, the rule of law and the fear of God. We need people who would have a plan and a vision for this nation.