EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

Nigeria is a multinational society of bewildering complexity the subsistence of which an erstwhile leader* had described as nothing short of a phenomenon; a befitting leader should bear qualities of a firm personality with an air of easy grace.

A big and diverse country deserves a strong leader. The force of a multiple criss-cross of contending interests between nations, tribes, classes, groups and religions is volatile enough to overwhelm a ‘pleaser.’ Decisions stand to be made, often on the spur of the moment and between two equally unappealing choices the combined sum of which add up to no option at all. Even when none believe in a certain course of action or ideal, conviction should give strength to a leader. The unpopular stand of a leader that relays new foundations may appear inefficacious; this inspires built-in self-inspiring devices.

A society saddled with a ‘babel’ of tongues needs a selfless leader that all can trust would take no sides on frivolous grounds based on sentiments and affiliations. Matrimonial affinity of cross-carpet inter-tribal knot indicates of such a trait. Prolific command of multilingual skills gives good testimony of unreserved cultural versatility. A record of active involvement in multiple communal development schemes or the vesting of awards and titles from a good spread of tribes rings true to call.

Nigeria needs a leader with honest motives: genuine interest for the good of society takes into cognizance facts not ordinarily available to the streetwise. Short-term policies seem attractive with quick benefits, but a good leader chooses to leave the glory of hard endeavors to future regimes while enduring the opportunity cost of painful-suffering for corrective measures to past errors: content with doing that right thing.

A leader should be accessible. Consultative efforts encourage popular participation. Grassroot initiatives exceed the most ingenious conceptions of what the people need. Adequate compilation of information eases the stress of decision-making processes on issues to mere commonsense application. Responsibility for errors made can be more readily acknowledged and derogated from in the future.

A leader should be encouraging. The reward of a smile or handshake with personality is fulfilling. It motivates people beyond their best skills. Personal presence at a function, mere mention of an achievement, gifts offered in acknowledgement of deeds, promotions, welfare packages, or even a show of concern evinced for a person’s interest all help to bestow a fuller sense of belonging. Credible persons are identified and associated with.

A leader should be just. Equitable standards should be meted out equally to all. All citizens, irrespective of allegation should be afforded access to court and fair-hearing. Appointments and promotions should be based on merit. Actions of a leader should foster peaceful coexistence rather than sectarian interest. A mediating influence preempts provocation and violence.

A leader should be compassionate. A visionary holds up an objective as a primary goal and all follow. Zeal should be adorned with reasonable knowledge of surrounding circumstances. A heart invested in a task shall not relent against all odds. Intuitive skills combine with experience to sharpen discernment of preemptive or corrective measures to be applied. Generosity adds to appeal.

A leader should have temperance. Balanced judgment as an image will keep many temptations at bay. Actions that evince reflection and in-depth appraisal elicit confidence. Abstinence from indulgence fosters good reputation and easy relations. A friendly mien communicates favorable disposition, which improves opportunities. Diplomacy, even under impossible circumstances gives hope.

A leader should be modest. An avant-garde sets the pace for others. Right habits stem from an attitude. A culture cultivated will survive that tenure. Personal and official expenditure should be austere to eschew waste and inculcate work ethics. Encouragement should emphasize local patronage.

A leader should have personality and presence that sets exacting standards. A firm personality exudes strength. Fear of sin and eagerness to please are the virtues so attracted. Common pride of the citizenry in its leadership would help to forge nation-building. Good personality profile of a leader extends the influence of the country and attracts goodwill amongst the comity of nations.

A leader should have experience in representative leadership skills. Performance in past leadership roles inevitably ensure better future performances. Experience acquired in positions at one’s place of residence, at school, at work and in sub-cultures makes good requisites for further engagement in the hold of the mantle of leadership. Of particular advantage are past exposure to control of funds and persons.

A leader should be a family person. Relationship is experienced at various levels of understanding and are best nurtured and acquired first in the home, before the society at large. The family is the smallest unit of a community of persons: capacity-building and the bane or demise of values all begin there. The value of sanctity of ‘God’, ‘life’ and ‘marriage’ are early imbibed from family tutelage on home etiquette and societal ethics.

Above all, a leader must be humble in orientation. A good leader should be a good follower. In careful instructions to guide the way, a leader must allow necessity dictate to him through a subordinate authority. Also the practice of tracing the right paths of predecessors helps for continuity in Government, which paves healthy pathways for future regimes to emulate.

My ideal ‘personality of virtue’ to emulate is Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control. I find her to be a woman of substance worthy of the highest calling. She strikes the on-looker with apparent deceptive appearance as nice, simple, tender, charming, good-looking and attractive. Close contact with her person superimposes other impressions.

Indeed, she is charismatic, yet, with superior allurement.

She stands out with the new-age image of Nigeria as a firm, unflinching unbendable character that appraises the impossible as ‘do-able!’ She cleaned our street of not-so-pure ‘pure water.’ Instituted standards of hygiene and quality in the jungle of fake and adulterated drugs, drinks and foods—health standards climbed. No sacred cows were spared in production and sale of bread, turkey, toothpaste, intravenous etc.

She is honest: in returning extra grant of Medicare fees in excess of a thousand pounds sterling! She is impartial, declining to assist an in-law to procure (NAFDAC) approval, even at the instance of dignitaries from that family.

She is detribalized, betrothed in holy matrimony to a groom of odd descent to her nativity. She is modest, with a dress-code that smacks of clean-pin model specimen and splendor, surpassing coveted designer labels with easy simplicity.

She is intelligent and rational: balancing exalted national responsibilities with humble family-life chores, without excuses for compromise on either. She is humble and selfless, expecting no more from life in return for her endeavors. She is bold and sacrificing, enduring threats and bravely daring full-metal jackets that swoosh by hardly, in service to the nation.

She is knowledgeable: with a culture of research she balances skill with zeal. Her passionate interest in the area of health encapsulates concern as well as a desire to expand knowledge. Authoritative are the facts she divulges.

She has temperance: with the pressure of workload she bears, she still manages a smile. Her affable disposition constitutes a genuine tool for firm diplomacy: it can unnerve and catch the unwary assailant off guard. She is never caught out of character by a seizure of fit: only laughter can change her facial expression.

She has a sense of purpose. With the disposition of a man-on-a-mission she pursues her cause in a pathway riddled with ‘the connected’ and desperados. An idea conceived is a course to be accomplished. She never quits: she ‘gree-die’ till she delivers.


She is devoted. With singleness of purpose she pursues her goals neither keeping in mind the price of reward or the reason to go on. A mind made up is a decision taken with her.

Most of all, I think she is easy to approach and large-hearted for her chosen role as a mother (of the nation), beyond the home.

* Former Head of State – General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida