The Search for Exemplary Leaders in Nigeria Continues

The present administration in Nigeria insists that it anchors its policies on transparency, integrity and honesty.

 Millions of Nigerians argue that this is far from the reality in public offices across the country. 

 For several years, successive administrations in the country have failed to incorporate the aforementioned into national life. 

 Rather, activities and actions have been channeled towards stagnancy, retardation and underdevelopment. 

 At the inauguration of boards and parastatals in Oyo state, on 24 June 1999, the then-Governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, of blessed memory, stated : ”We take our time in ensuring that men and women of integrity and probity are chosen among innumerably qualified men and women. "We don’t like being proved wrong and this is why we implore you to rise up to the challenge and improve a lot in your workplace.'' ”We are very serious when we promise our people that probity and public accountability will be our watchword. Most of the areas you have been posted to are affected and already grounded by financial impropriety and squandermania. "We, as a company, have made a covenant with our people, and we shall not renege on it”, Alhaji Adesina concluded.

 Indeed, Nigerians are still wondering if the present crop of political appointees at both the Federal and State levels would make probity and public accountability their watchword, considering the rot in the system. 

 In 2009, the Day Star Christian Center organized a conference, ”Excellence in Leadership”. In attendance was the then Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, who is now the Minister of Works and Housing. Fashola emphasized the need for Nigerians to embrace the basic values of good conduct. 

 ”By sowing for an early crop, the capacity to ‘lead’ particularly in our youth, we can guarantee this nation a harvest of exemplary leaders that our people so dearly expect and indeed deserve”. 

 Without doubt, the country is in dire need of principled and visionary leaders.

 However, the absence of people with good leadership qualities has for long served as a major impediment towards achieving developmental goals. 

 A sizable number of today's leaders at all levels of government are obviously unfit to hold such positions and, unfortunately, have become negative role models to young people. 

 But the existence of principled and visionary leaders seems to be a mirage, when confronted with the fact that most power brokers end up managing wayward children. 

 Young people in public offices now defend lawlessness and criminality, since the criminals who they look up to disrespect and disregard their elders.

 In the political scene, the Father continues to contend with issues of governance, while the Mother runs around to boost the fortunes of her pet project. 

 At the end of it all, the children grow up without parental care, with their behavior similar to that of their nannies and teachers.

 The ”World is yours” becomes their creed, while the state and its resources are at their beck and call. Indeed, transparency, integrity and honesty are not yet within reachable distance.