Leadership and Governance

In 2004, German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, resigned the leadership of his political party, the Social Democratic Party(SDP) trailed by criticism of his welfare programs.

Schroeder had insisted that his administration would not change direction, following mass protests by the opposition party.

He also resigned as the party Chairman as a result of complaints to the party over a freeze on pensions and the introduction of medical fees.

What would aid good governance is not in place. Rather, unnecessary criticism and condemnation of trailing the activities of Those-in-Charge visible are setbacks.

Unguarded remarks, utterances and reckless statements and comments amplify the leadership abilities of an individual, positively or negatively.

Sadly, the trend among leaders in most climes, is to take positions on sensitive issues without thoughtful analysis of available facts.

Indeed, paying attention to details and aspects considered to be irrelevant ensures a very high degree of intelligent fairness that is essential for success in leadership.

Mao Zedong, popularly known as Chairman Mao, was successful with his noble goals for China through despotic means.

His leadership was severe, dictatorial and personalized.

For as long as Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution lasted, thousands of Chinese died of starvation and inhuman labor.

Mao and his co-travelers argued that the same was the price their people had to pay for re-education.

This brand of governance ensured the extermination of the heroes of the civil war and the old party chieftains by the President's armed squad.

Chairman Mao is perhaps the role model of those who hold sway in Nigeria today.

Indeed, the Senate President is among several other political office holders who adore President Ahmed Tinubu.

Those in support of this argument insist that the lawmaker is a regular visitor to Aso Rock for unknown reasons.

However, those against this order of things, stress that the underlying factors revolve around hypocrisy and boot licking.

Nigerians are yet to stop complaining of constitutional breaches and the unabated trampling of the rule of law in the dust, without noticeable changes by the powers that be.

From recent events in the country, the economic reform programs of the All Progressives Congress(APC) led government at the center and in the states, are modeled along the thinking of a free market economy.

It is doubtful if the government, in most recent times, has managed the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.

Of worry is the state of manufacturing industries, which could be said to be epileptic, even as food security is a mirage, insecurity is the chorus everywhere, while crude oil remains the major hope of the present administration.

Interestingly, the future growth of the Nigerian economy rests comfortably on diversification and focus on visionary and creative people-friendly economic policies, although the government still over-relies and over-depends on crude oil to fund its programs.

Can the present administration turn around the troubled economy ? Nobody knows. Donate

The action and inaction of state governors in Nigeria have for long been trailed by a plethora of promises.

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Even though a number of them are not foundation members of the parties in question, they were given the opportunity to ascend the exalted position.

Sadly, they have destroyed these political parties.

The results of the ward, Local Government and State Primaries were manipulated to satisfy the self-centered interests of these State Governors. Interestingly, consensus has replaced election, to the chagrin of the people.

This abnormality revolves around greed.

Indeed, in the present time, the party leadership is now vested in the affected state Governors while the party Chairmen have since become ceremonial heads.

These state governors are now in full control of the structures at the national, state, local government and ward levels. Most of the political parties have been decapitated, while delegates who elected candidates for various political offices were strictly the choice of the powerful.

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Nigerians have continued to fall victims of criminals, who dispossess them of their landed properties in connivance with certain corrupt officials in the Executive and the Judiciary.

The present crop of leaders in Nigeria have been called upon to learn from past leaders.

This call was made on Thursday by the Onyendu Ndigbo of Oyo state, High Chief Alloy Obi on the sidelines of the 2024 Samuel Ladoke Akintola Memorial lecture and Award Presentation in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''Politicians should sustain the legacies they left behind by past leaders.. They should also learn from our former leaders. Furthermore, Nigerians should be prayerful. We need prayers to overcome the country's challenges,'' High Chief Obi stated.

Nigeria needs a detribalized leader who will be able to address its multiferous challenges.

This assertion was made over the weekend by the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in his address titled, ''Governance and Leadership : 2023 Election and Effective Participation'', at the grand finale of the 40th Annual Shafaudeen International Convention, ''Ishrat 2023'', in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''Our challenges are solvable problems. We don't want a sectional leader. We don't want a tribal leader, but rather, we want a leader who will lead all Nigerians leaders who have not been able to solve the country's problems, and are not supposed to get to the exalted position. Nigeria deserves to have Godly, but non-religious bigot leaders for good governance for our unity and development. He must be able to see to the restructuring of the country and the amendment of the 1999 constitution for us to have fiscal federalism in place that will allow regions, states, local governments to control resources for their development through the right placement of items on the exclusive list and consider concurrent lists. All eligible voters must get registered, collect their Permanent Voters Cards and come out to vote for candidates of their choice, but with the positive mindset of objective exercise to elect a credible leader for real change, Nigeria deserves to have to be truly united and developed.

The provision of the appropriate policies, programs, services and information that supports children and youth development has been recommended for the grooming of the future generation.

 This recommendation was given on Saturday by the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke at the opening ceremony and Inter-House Sports of Shafaudeen Group of Schools in Ibadan,, Oyo state, Nigeria.

In his address titled, ;; Child Rearing and Wellness for Growth and Development, Prof. Olagoke stated : ''Appropriate policies, programs, services and information that focus on nurturing care are, therefore, needed to build an environment in which children and young people can thrive. So,the way parents nurture and the way government as well as other stakeholders support children and the youth constitute one of the most critical factors for their health, growth and development.''

Organization and professional ethics are important elements of governance or corporate governance.

The elite now trample upon the Fundamental Human Rights of the impoverished masses, who have become mere pawns in their(elite) hands for the ease of manipulation to win elections.

The present dividends of democracy include insecurity, poverty aggravation due to unemployment and high prices of commodities beyond the reach of the teeming population, avarice and greed exemplified through the blood of Timocracy running through the system of our politicians driving them crazy into Kleptocrarcy and deceptive plea bargaining; increasing the fold of cabal, cartel and the vicious cycle of the corrupt people's clubs in Nigeria.

In all processes involving governance, leadership by appointment, promotion or election, the effective participation of the people matters at all levels of identification, selection, and electoral processes involving voters' registration and the collection of the Permanent Voters Cards(PVC), party manifesto, campaign training and the voting exercise and monitoring, election results, collation of results and the declaration of results.

The aftermath of this continues to call for effective participation of people in keeping the environment of peace for ease of governance.

Leaders must be above the parochial sentiments of statism, ethnicity, tribalism, ego-centeredness, materialism, but be spiritually rejuvenated in due process without religious bigotry in dispensing power and service.

Governance and leadership cuts across all systems for idea and product generation for the purpose of enhancing productivity and sustainable development. Whatever your professional discipline- religion, politics, media practice, broadcasting, business or entrepreneurship, entertainment, medicine, engineering etc.

We must all be skillful as professionals for us to be able to serve with ethical guidance that will eventually give competence in leadership and credence to due process in governance.

This will equally enhance effective participation of people for a better society. Leaders must be prepared and trained through the agents of socialization-the home, school, vocation and right empowerment.

Our educational orientation must be geared towards realizing this for leaders with all authority and confidence to be on the field when challenged to assume office and with outstanding and credible performance.

However, when we take for granted leadership training needs by allowing people to assume leadership duties, roles and responsibilities, they will lack the ethics and procedures of due process to end up disappointing the people in the discharge of his or her duties, as would be evident in the lack of the rudiment of Management, Administration and Governance.

Corporate governance under democratic norms is, therefore, recommended since it will instill discipline to enhance efficiency in productivity with high goodwill of peace and sustainable development in an environment that is safe and secured where nobody is denied of his/her right of access and right of justice.

Prof. Olagoke delivered this paper on Wednesday September 7, 2022 at the Jagaban Commincations Internaitonal 2022 Mega International Summit in Ibadan