Principles and Techniques of Electing and Appointing Visionary Leaders for State/ Nation Building By: Adm. (Pst.) Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FCIA, FnbR, PhD

 

In less than a week  actually November 11, 2023 the people of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi respectively will go to the polls again to elect who governs them as Governor for another four (4) years  according to Independent National Electoral Commission's  time table.

These forth coming Gubernatorial Elections are so critical to the survival of the affected States that we can't  afford to make any mistake in our choices.

Those seeking to be elected as Governor  should be reminded again and again  that  the  office of a Governor is meant for people who can solve identified applicable Socio-Economic problems in Nigeria mentioned below at the State level.

Therefore if you lack the ability to solve them, you do not need to seek for any political office because a nation, State or Local Government Council cannot rise above the level of a leader leading at that particular point in time. More so you cannot give what you don’t have.

SOME OF THE IDENTIFIED SOCIO-ECONOMIC & POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN NIGERIA APPLICABLE AT STATE LEVEL

(1) Problem of lack of qualitative education for all 

(2) Problem of unstable or epileptic power supply in all parts of the country. Even in the Bible, the first thing God created was Light (Power) pointing out its significance in every other nation or State building process 

 (3) The aged long under development problem of the oil/gas rich Niger Delta Region (1956 till date which is about  66Years now)

(4) The problem of not having good transportation system -air, land and sea 

(5) Problem of unemployment and affordable shelter for all 

(6) Problem of not choosing, appointing or electing the right person to do the right job 

(7) Problem of not giving "Real Situation Report" (RSR) on issues at the local, state and national levels respectively 

(8) Problem of lack of good medical facilities/services 

(9) Problem of lack of security of lives, property and the environment 

(10) Problem of lack of maintenance culture

 (11) Problem of not recognizing, empowering and utilizing talented and resourceful persons

 (12) Problem of placing money above integrity and service to humanity 

(13) Problem of deliberate creation of crises situation to benefit a few to the detriment of the common man

 (14) Problem of ineffective supervision of workers and projects with the aim of ensuring compliance, rewarding of faithful workers and punishment of defaulters and indolent ones 

(15) Problem of lack of portable water for all citizens 

(16) Problem of display of injustice by a so-called leader that breads crises situation and consequently leads to an ungovernable society 

(17) Problem of exchanging good ideas by experts to solve identified national problem with pre- determined ideas of selfish leaders that may not solve the problem

 (18) Problem of lack of effective and continuous formulation and implementation of problem solving policies, regulations and laws aimed at promoting the dignity of the citizenry and peaceful coexistence 

 (19) Problem of bribery, corruption and indiscipline 

(20) Problem of re-orientating the mindset of the citizenry to possess the right perception on people and wealth acquired through dubious ways 

(21) Problem of requiring effectiveness, performance and productivity from workers without providing the necessary working tools and enabling environment which I called ‘Pharaohic Leadership and Management Principle 

(22) Problem of talented and resourceful persons leaving the country to foreign lands and being used by foreign nationals to develop their countries while socio- economic and political problems remain unsolved in the country 

(23) The problem of various Ministries, Parastatals, professions, agencies, commissions, etc not being able to sincerely and faithfully carry out their legal/ statutory and civic duties/responsibilities 

(24) Problem of tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, sectionalism which is resulting to our warring against one another instead of waging a tireless war against Indiscipline and Corruption, Impoliteness, Insubordination, Incorrigibility, Insincerity, Individualism, Inhospitality, Inhumanity, Injustice, Inferiority complex and Insensitivity to matters that promote peaceful Co-existence and purposeful nation building activities.

ASSESSMENT/ POSITION OF BAYELSA, KOGI AND IMO AMONGST COMMITTEE OF STATES

Nigeria and indeed all the States especially Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo are  believed to have been blessed by God graciously with abundant human, mineral and natural resources that if prudently managed with result oriented war against corruption and indiscipline can place them among the top three richest States in Nigeria. Bayelsa State has NATURAL GAS, CRUDE OIL, SALT, SILICA SAND etc in Commercial quantities. Kogi State alone has about 29 different natural resources in commercial quantities including vast deposits of COAL to supply all of Nigeria with electricity for 400 years and limestone to keep three giants – sized cement factories (with over 15 million tons annual capacity) operational for an unbroken stretch of 99 years. While Imo State is equally blessed with Crude Oil, Natural Gas, 

Lead/Zinc, Calcium Carbonate etc

MY DEFINITION OF A VISIONARY LEADER & TECHNIQUES OF ELECTING /APPOINTING THEM  FOR STATE/NATION BUILDING:

A visionary leader in my own definition is someone who identifies the Socio-economic problems in a given society and proffers strategic solutions to them within a reasonable time for present and future generations. This means he or she does not explain or describe problems nor rub the identified problems with Vaseline  or paint them with different primary or secondary colours for the citizens to see them clearly (feel the pain more) rather, he uses his resourcefulness, creativity, hard work, diligence and all available resources which are Men, Materials and Money (3Ms) to solve identified problems. In other words, a visionary leader does not shift blame on past administration(s) for non performance but uses what I call ‘Root-tology Approach and not Branch-tology or Stem-tology or Fruit-tology Approach’ in solving identified problems.

At this juncture, let us look at four (4) Techniques of Electing or Appointing Visionary Leaders for the development of a Country, State or Local Government.

1. PRINCIPLE OF ELECTION / APPOINTMENT BASED ON PERFORMANCE ON CURRENT ASSIGNMENT

This is applicable to current political office holders at local, state and federal levels who have indicated their intention to vie for the Governorship position. We must allow the common man to carry out Simple Performance Auditing Exercise (SPAE) on the administration and activities of such a political office holder considering the identified Socio-economic problems in their area of jurisdiction.  If the exercise conducted scores the officer between 75 and 100 percent he or she could be considered as a visionary leader. The truth is that a person lacks the moral right to be elected or  appointed again to do a job or higher assignment in which failure has been recorded in the course of discharging his current assignment.

The Media (Print/Electronic) should invite such political office holders to tell the public their achievements while in office. They should verify such claims to ensure their authenticity or otherwise. They should also inform the public accordingly and appropriately, using the principle of giving Real Situation Report (RSR) and not Money Influenced Report (MIR) that is far from the real issues observed.

2. PRINCIPLE OF ELECTION / APPOINTMENT BASED ON PERFORMANCE ON PAST ASSIGNMENTS:

This is applicable to those who had ruled the State before  as well as those who have not been given political office currently, but had at one time or the other participated directly or indirectly in the affairs of government at decision making level; local, state or federal respectively. It is also applicable to those who have held strategic leadership positions in government parastatals, organisations, Institutions,  professional and religious affiliated associations etc. We must look at the performances in different assignments of such a political office aspirant considering some of the identified major problems that are applicable to their area of jurisdiction. 

Once again, we must state it clearly that an individual who had failed in previous assignments is most likely to fail if given a bigger or higher responsibility. Therefore, the same Simple Performance Auditing Exercise must be conducted on such a political office seeker. A leader whose past activities reveal that he is incapable, corrupt and a total disappointment to humanity will be a curse to the electorates if elected again or  given another political appointment.

3. PRINCIPLE OF ELECTION / APPOINTMENT BASED ON PROPER ANALYSIS OF PARTY/INDIVIDUAL MANIFESTO/MISSION /VISION/POLICIES/ BLUE PRINT 

In analyzing Manifestos /Policies/Vision, Blue Print,  the following has to be considered. 

i) Analyzing them to see whether it is aimed at addressing the identified Socio-economic problems; the time frame to solve them as well as the methodologies to be adopted to execute such programmes.

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ii) Another vital point to note in analyzing manifestos/policies and visions is the prudent comparison of the past activities of such a person with his/ her stated manifesto and policies. If the previous activities either in his/her  personal life , business, appointments etc, contradicts what he or she claim, such a person is not a visionary leader. This is because you cannot wake up overnight and lay claim to have a vision for the country, state or local government. It is expected that before the time of seeking for any elective or appointive position,  the person in question would have been using his talents, gifts, monies, privileges and position for the development of humanity and pursuance of his vision. His resources would have been used to affect the lives of people positively.

A visionary leader is someone who is pregnant with a burden and passion which results in giving himself or herself to solving identified problems in the society. Therefore, whether he or she is seeking for political office or not, he or she  should have been involved in strategic activities aimed at realizing his or her  vision.

For example, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo has a vision to provide free education to all people with free text books. This was incorporated as one of the cardinal points in his party’s manifesto. Hence he was able to execute it in all the states that won election under his party - Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) even when he did not emerge as the Nation’s President. I am sure that if Pa Awo is alive today, there wouldn’t have been private school system even amongst some religious leaders that is designed for only the rich while the common man’s children are suffering for lack of qualitative education.

Such a visionary leader’s past statements, publications and activities before indicating his or her interest to seek for political office should be consistent and in line with that vision. Hence he or she cannot be bought with position or money if that will mean a position mutation from his or her  visions, goals and targets. For example, if your vision is to provide free and qualitative education, your past activities would have been tailored in that line. It means that your resources were being used in involving humanitarian activities on  education in the society especially your immediate environment and not deceptive activities during campaign period. If your campaign slogan or  vision is to provide good roads if elected into office but you can't even spent #50,000 only out the Millions of Naira in your Bank Account to repair the  pot holes around  your residence or street, you are just a deceiver and not a visionary leader. This principle is applicable to other identified socio  economic problems.

4. PRINCIPLE OF ELECTION / APPOINTMENT BASED ON SINCERE ATTESTATION/RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE OF UNCOMMON GIFTS/TALENTS IN THE COURSE OF DISCHARGING DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES BY ANALYTICAL PEOPLE

The attestation, recognition and acceptance by analytical people to your uncommon gifts, talents or skills forms part of the criteria to be considered because you cannot hide in the mist of analytical people if you are actually a visionary leader. The society tends to contact people of visionary leadership qualities when they are in a cross-road and do not know what to do. They contact them to address seeming difficult issues. Even supposed enemies contact them for help or seek for advice when they have come to the end of the road. Only visionary leaders know the way out. Joseph in the Bible stands out as a visionary leader in this regard. When it was crystal clear that a task cannot be done, he was contacted, consulted and released from prison ( the prison that was deliberately designed to limit him and the usefulness and public expression of his  God-given gifts/talents) without legal representation and was given the position of a Prime Minister in Egypt. The question is, why was he contacted? It was because Joseph had before this time used his uncommon gifts/ talents to solve problems affecting the citizens of Egypt in his little corner (brightening the corner where he was) and they took cognizance of him. 

Some people are ignorant of this truth that God and even the people of the world are observing your activities. Sometimes such observations are unknown to you but it is certain you will be remembered if you are consistent and don’t give up. The case of the biblical Joseph is a clear state of attestation, recognition and acceptance of a visionary leader with display of uncommon talents to solve identified Socio-economic problems in Egypt at that time. 

Like I said before that these three States - Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi as well as many of the other States of the Federation are in urgent need of visionary leaders who can read between the lines, dream, produce targets and work out the modalities to execute tasks and achieve results. The visionary leader is ideological and practical in getting things done. However, when the people get bored of abnormal situation, they are then pressured to seek and search for normal people to take over the affairs of governance. The normal leaders are the visionary leaders. 

The challenge before the citizens of these States is to resolve to  elect  credible and visionary leader as their Governor and after the election this same principles and techniques are used in appointing people into appointive political offices in the State. Only and only then  these States  can come out gradually from this mess they found themselves over the years.

The Principle of Success is “IT IS IN YOUR HAND”. 

There was a European who lived in centuries past. He claimed to be the most intelligent and wisest person during his life time. A young boy wanting to disprove his claims approached him with a critical question. He took a living butterfly, covered it with his two palms and asked the European: “Tell me whether the butterfly in my hand is dead or alive”. Unknown to the man, the boy had decided the following in his heart. If he says it is alive, he would Squeeze the butterfly to death and prove him wrong. On the other hand if he says it is dead, he would open his hands, allow the butterfly to fly away and still prove him wrong. A large crowd was there to witness this glorious event. The man thought for a while and said to the boy: “The answer is, IT IS IN YOUR HAND; WHETHER THE BUTTERFLY IS  DEAD OR ALIVE, IT IS IN YOUR HAND."

By the same token, The FAILURE or SUCCESS of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi  STATES  is in the  HANDS of their citizens and NOT in the hands of any other person, group of persons within or outside the States or Country because others  wouldn't want you to come out from this underdevelopment status because they are benefiting from it.

CONSEQUENCES OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN  A COUNTRY, STATE  OR  LOCAL GOVERNMENT 

They are many but let me just point out few of them.

First, there will be uninterrupted power supply throughout the country or State which is the key to solving other Socio-economic problems. Like I said earlier on that  even in the Bible, the first thing God created was light. This shows the significance of Power in State or Nation building activities.

Second, the citizens of the State or  Country who might have left for other States or  Countries for safety or any other economic reasons might return home. If the citizens of the State or Country in the Diaspora are not returning home, instead, the remaining ones are still leaving the State  or constantly visiting embassies to obtain visa to travel out to other countries of the world it means visionary leadership has not emerged over the years. 

Third, talented and resourceful persons (Technocrats) in the State /Country will be recognized, empowered and utilized for profitable State /Nation building activities. 

Fourth, talented and resourceful citizens of the State/Country who are being used by other State Governors or foreigners in developing their States/ Countries will return home to assist in  State/Nation building and development activities. 

Fifth, lip services to the State or Nation's  educational sector which is another vital key to sustainable and improved development of the State / Country will be replaced with sincere and goal oriented investment. 

Sixth, there will be high level of technological growth that will lead to decrease in import and increase exports, manufacturing / production of goods and services for local, national and international use.

Seventh, there will be strict or uncompromising enforcement of laws and policies on all citizens (complete practice of rule of law) and compliance to set down rules and procedures at all levels of governance. 

Eight, there will  be practice of  Local Government Autonomy and True or Fiscal Federalism where the federating units (states) are statutorily empowered to control their resources (all type of resources) for competitive development and payment of tax where applicable to the federal government.

Last but not the least, indiscipline and corruption in practice and principle will be wiped out  both at the Local , State and Federal Levels of Government  while the poverty level of the citizens will be reduced to zero percent.

CONCLUSION:

Critical analysis of the Nation's wealth reveal that an average Nigerian can receive a Monthly Allowance of N41,500 as one of the benefits as a bonafide citizen of this great country. The implication is that the Minimum Salary or Wages for those employed either in the Public or Private sector should be between N150,000 and N200,000 per month. 

Many may have this wrong notion or entertain fear that the N41,500 Citizenship Monthly Allowance might encourage laziness in the society. In my opinion, it can only lead to high level of production as people especially talented ones are empowered financially from primary school days in embarking on research activities to manufacture or event machines and equipment that the State or Nation is importing for production activities. 

What is the sense of a State budgeting several Billions of Naira annually and in the case of Nigeria several Trillions of Naira in a year when between 70 and 80 percent of the amount is going to developed nations through the use and acquisition of technological equipment and payment of  professional services.

The question is, when will Nigerians manufacture cars of different type, Air-craft, Crude Oil Drilling Equipment, Ships, Computer, Television, GSM handsets etc in this country? The people who are manufacturing them do not have two heads. In fact the personnel being used in manufacturing some of these equipment/machines as well as rendering technological and professional services are Nigerians in developed countries. I am sure we have such people right in our Local Government Councils, States or even at the Federal Level that are endowed with uncommon gifts and talents to move the Local , State  and by extension the Nation forward but the absence of recognition,  empowerment and utilization of their talents in the society is negatively affecting their usefulness.

It is close to 17 years I published this in one of my book titled: ‘Principles and Techniques of Electing Visionary Leaders for Nation Building’ yet I have not seen any significant effort by successive the governments to address the problems. 

The question is: How can we come out of these identified socio-economic problems? I believe electing / appointing visionary leaders is the key to  solving them.

If we continue to avoid talented and resourceful persons in the Local Government Council/ State/Country because they are not party loyalists and be talking about this one is a member or not member of a particular political party or he is not from my ethnic nationality, we may not come out of this man-made economic and political crises and under- development in the Local, State  and by extension Nigeria as a whole. After all,  the biblical Joseph wasn’t even an Egyptian, neither was he a party loyalist but his talents / gifts  were recognized, released from prison of limitation and was appointed the Prime Minister (PM) to solve the up-coming famine in the land of Egypt at that time. 

When Visionary Leadership emerges, Socio-economic Problems will naturally fade away to the thin air. We need visionary leaders and the time is now!

Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac is an Astute Chartered Administrator, Pastor, Strategic Planner, Organizational Development Expert, School Proprietor, Award Winning Inspirational, Analytical, Motivational and Prolific Writer/Author