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An Open Letter from Awo, Balewa and Zik to President G. E. A. Jonathan

Adewale T Akande - 5/30/2011

On behalf of all Nigerians in heaven, we are using this forum to congratulate you for winning the recently concluded general elections that ushered you as an elected President of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 29th of May.

We are also congratulating those newly eleceted representatives and leaders to be part of the crew in making a new Nigeria a reality. This infact a new beginning of a new Nigeria of our dreams we have been waiting for. A Nigeria where the people approve to the government operating the nation. A Nigeria where all elected representatives are liable in many ways to the yearnings of the people who voted and elected them to implement those pledges and promises made before elections with much transparency, accountability and good intention. We are at the same time congratulating Nigerians and other stakeholders involved in making this year generation elections a successful exercise. They have all exhibited their good citizenship and civil responsibility with their impressive turnout to make the whole exercise free, fair and credible apart from stage managed riot from the usual naive individuals that caused loss of lives. Nigerians have spoken with their votes.

Your excellency, there is no doubt that you are having a great opportunity to make your mark in sands of time in leading a country which is complex with several diversity of two hundred and fifty ethnic groups, with four hundred distinct languages. The country with over one hundred and sixty population that makes her the most populous and largest democracy in Africa. With update information we lay our hands on in heaven, non out of the forty-seven countries that make up Europe and non of the all fifty-four African countries and a couple of disputed territories (Western Sahara and Somaliland), and South Sudan-the Africa’s newest “baby” officially born on July 9, 2011 can withstand what God have blessed this country in terms of abundant natural and human resources. With all these in place, Nigerians does not deserve to live in poverty, darkness, fear, stress, complexity, confusion and frustration, unemployment and underpaid. Even Denmark, which is regarded as the happiest country in the world according to the U.S. government-funded World Values Survey cannot boast one-quarter of Nigeria’s human and natural resources. It is now your responsiblity as the new leader of this crippling giant to make something happens to get her back to its feet.

Dear President Jonathan, in order to make something happens in this Africa’s hardest job of burden of responsibilities or scopes of duties, you need to be smart, tough, organise, vision of what you want to accomplish in four years (just 1,460 days). You should have integrity driven with more talents and specialists to effect changes that the million of Nigerians are looking for. As a lucky boy that rose from assistant school prefect to senior prefect in your secondary school days, also elevated deputy Governor of Bayelsa state to the Governor, and from Vice-President to the President of Nigeria, so you are lucky as your name implies (Goodluck) with abundant human and natural resources at your disposal to break the jinx of the past “accidental leaders”. It is now left with your ability without fear or favour to influence, motivate and provide the tools and environment to others so that they can best contribute towards the successful attainment of your goals and pledges made before the elections. You should remember the words of Prof. Chinua Achebe that the major problems of the nation “...is simply and squarely a failure of leadership...there is nothing basically wrong with the Nigeria character”

Another person that gives vivid description of the country’s past leaders is the new INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, who actually perfomed brilliantly well in the conduct of the recently concluded general elections. He said in a lecture in Abuja that; “If the truth be told, past Nigerian leaders with few exceptions were self-serving rulers, not leaders. Some were even despots... They have generaly lacked vision, focus and selflessness and even enlighted self-interest. Many in leadership positions are unimaginably corrupt, they are greedy, they are vindictive, they are reckless and in many fundamental respects,senseless. Virtualy, whoever has access to power attempts to abuse it.” This year general elections have given bith to a new Nigeria with responsible leaders with integrity, patriotism and accountability. Leadership is about getting things done, getting results and improve performances.

Your excellency, we do not say that you can change Nigeria in a day, but priority must be given to those needs of Nigerian citizens in order to have a successful term. Abraham Maslow’s needs pyramid explains the levels of human needs pshchological and physical that helps in long way for their survival and in pursuit of happiness. Nigerians need simple things, that is, the basic amenities to give the best quality of life. The very first issue we are appealing you and your Cabinet to find solution to before celebrating the next 51st independence anniversay is the problem of electricity. This problems have complicate the lives of Nigerians. Electricity has a greater share on the present problems of Nigeria. Everything on earth is interconnected with everything. If the country’s electricity is undistrupted for months, then the citizens today’s complex lifestyle will give way for necessary soci-political development and economic growth.

Mr. President, another important issue we are much particular about is the educational sector which the past regimes have not been given necessary priority. Education is the only sector that makes a successful transition from childhood to adulthood where they will become “an impresively confident, knowledgeable, charming, resourceful, problem solver”. Education according to Chris Ormell. The editor of “Prospero” journal is “...pleasant maturation suprises..the young people who emerge should occasion such pleasant suprises, because they will actually enjoy displaying the disciplined envisioning and empathetic mental powers which today’s world so urgently needs, both in relation to things and people”. Education should be made compulsory for all school age children from primary to university level as from the 1st of October, 2011. New law should be made to prohibit all the school age children from street hawking, loitering or begging for alms during the school hours of specific time. The only solution to poverty is functional and qualitative education. The more educated people are the less they are prone to illness and squalor.

Your excellence, we have been witnessing widespread abuses, corruption and insecurity of lives and property of Nigerians. The mission of Nigeria police force is “to deliver qualitative and efficient security and law enforcement services to the citizens of Nigeria” and not extort the poor citizens of hard earn money. The inefficiency of Police regarding maintaining law and order became obvious with the widespread extortion of money from motorist, riotings, kidnappings, killings, institutionalised bribery, election malpractices, frequent armed robbery, torture, harassment and loss of personal liberties and properties. All these problems can be changed if you take the bull by the horn by setting up a committee now to investigate, recommend, and implement within three months on better ways to recruit, train, motivate, renumerate and kit the police force to international standard. Then abolish all illegal road blocks or check points throughout Nigeria and that no policeman or traffic agent must extort or collect money from motorist in any way or any form as from next independence anniversary speech. Hencefort, all fines and any legal transaction of money involving them with the public must be paid to the government accredited or designated banks with appropriate receipts. The use of mobile telephones to record voice and photographs policeman will be at great advantage. Any policeman or group of policemen collecting or found with large sum of money while on duty after all said and done will be summarily dismissed.

Dear Mr President, another area we jointly agreed for you to look into is the transportation sector. Available, accessible and effective transportation system is an improvement to the quality of life in any community regardless of size and location. Rail transportation is a colonial legacy in Nigeria which your regime have to revive and manage well. With the country’s population, the returns from effective and well managed railway transportation system can provide a free qualitative and functional education to every Nigerian children up to university level to save oil or even gas returns for other investment. Besides, your regime should embark on a National Road Safety Action Plan to be implemented over the next ten years. The aim of this safety plan should be concentrated on four “E” s: engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services to reduce roads accident in all our roads. Any expenditure on road safety improvement should be seen as an investment. The country’s growing population needs other new tansportation alternatives. The best ways to touch the people lives at the grass-root level in moving from one area to another is rehabilition, construction and managing of all roads. If all the seven hundred and seventy-four ( 774 ) local governments chairmen newly elected in Nigeria should embark and maintaining a genuine roads facelift in their areas, then country will be saved to all motorists.

Finally, President Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan, the history of great men are often backed by skills, experiences, intelligence, integrity, with the instincts- all combined together to achieve their goals. This last general election has finally put an end to “amala”, “tuwo” and “ogbono” politics in Nigeria. It is now the era of competent, reliable and patriotic politicians. Fighting of corruption have to start with you by declaring your assets, your new ministers and all elected representatives throughout the country. The only way to fight corruption is through transparency and accountability. A smaller, and more focused Cabinet has the possibility of minimizing cost, social complexity and human imperfection. There is also a need for a Sovereign National Conference to address the great issues facing Nigeria as a nation. You have to embark on wide scale projects on agriculture, turism, oil and gas to boost employment opportunities and find a lasting solutions to Niger-Delta imbroglio. Let all Nigerians know that with love and unity among the Kanuris, the Igbos, the Gwaris, the Yorubas, the Fulanis, the Ijaws, the Hausas, the Urhobos, the Ijaws, the Nupes, the Edos, the Tivs and the Ibibos, we can build a new Nigeria of peace, unity, progress, harmony and development with which no country of the world can withstand.

God bless you and all the people of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A Memo to the Emerging Leaders of a New Nigeria

The past history of Nigeria is a story we tell based on hazy recollections of virtual realities we went through since the last five decades. The future of the country is a daydream produced by our hopes and fears. Fear because of the re-appearing of the same old, fake and greedy politicians without integrity and trust. The long list of accussed corrupted political leaders recently published by the Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shows they have not changed. Hope because of the emerging of the young, dynamic, patriotic and responsible leaders with exemplary of decency, hard work, integrity, technological innovation needed for improvement of the lot of the common man. Leadership has become a major traffic jam or “go-slow” to Nigeria’s development. Leading without vision in Nigeria has brought political and socio-economical catastrophe since the “no victors, no vanquished” civil war, the six successful coups and four failed ones that led to the thirty years of accidental military-installed dictatorship and the present twelve years of inept and corrupt “democratic” kleptocrats. To be an effective and responsible leader, your followers must have great trust in you. A person’s observable behaviour is an indication of his character.

The Giant of Africa that could be able to feed the whole of Africa with its fertile land area of 923,773 square kilometres of land, about four times the size of United Kingdom (234,000 square kilometres) cannot produce enough food for its own citizens. In the 1970s, a country rated as 33rd highest per capita income in the world has now become the 13th poorest nation in the world. Nigeria, one of the world’s most strategic nations has sunk into a politicized tribalism, ethnic and religion jingoism, social and economic dilapidation. The world’s tenth most populous country refuse to take advantage of its population, human and natural resources to rule the world, or become a super power and set the pace for others as future of the world belongs to Africa. Without any doubt, only emerging of responsible and patriotic leaders can save Nigeria from sinking. A leader is a person who directs the activities of others for the good of all. Leaders do not command excellence, they build excellence, that is, being all you can be.

There is no country in the whole world that does not have a Nigerian community and professionals in all different fields. With all the returns from the oil sector, our leaders has found it difficult to provide undistrupted electricity supply and clean tap water for all. At a time when other African countries are setting plans to embark on new generation Metro-rail- transportation, the nation cannot run prudently and successfuly a railway transportation from Kano to Lagos and Calabar to Maiduguri. Since the discovery of oil in the late 1950s, that make us to be the largest crude oil producer in Africa and the second largest oil reserves in Africa, this country cannot boast of modern and standard four or five-lane highways from Ibadan to Benin and Abuja to Sokoto as way of reducing traffic accidents on our roads. It is sad that the less priviledged children and individuals could not reach their full potentials because of inability of government to provide a standard and high-quality curriculum education and public institutions. If action is not taken by now, all these developments might not happen in the next fifty years. Leadership is defined through action. It is the active engagement of the mind by the exemplary leaders with the surrounding environment that causes development. Effective leaders take the action that has a high probability of success.

At twenty first century, we cannot train, kit and renumerate police force that will not take bribe apart of taking responsibility of preventing armed robbers and kidnappers from endangering the lives of the populace. The offical vision of the Nigerian Police Force is “making the country safer and secured for the attainment of national aspiration” and the mission “is to deliver qualitative and efficient security and law enforcement services to citizens of Nigeria”. But there is no security of live and property in our fatherland. How could one explain that the tenth most petroleum- rich nation in the world has millions of people living in deplorable conditions and in great poverty. Government with good, dynamic and responsible leaders is the only institution capable of overseeing such developments, at least in a well-planned way. Nigeria has not been opportuned to have such leaders since independence. This is the time for responsible leaders with integrity and possibilities of progressive, transparency, accountability and visionary governance. Success can only be achieved when there is a unity of effort.

According to the first African - American to become the President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama; “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug trafficers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end”. Now is the time for faithful and responsible leaders in Nigeria to transform our gifted natural and human resources to prosperity. The time for a New Nigeria is now. The country needs a new set of leadership which are capable of mobilizing additional human, technical, financial and natural resources and find out the existing untapped ones. It is now the time for elusive social reforms, harmony between religious groups, administrative accountability and transparency, functioning and grassroots democracy. The country need hard-working leaders who are capable of decentralize decision making powers and resources to enable local authorities to provide responsive services to their citizens.

All eligible voters must invest their votes for a brighter future in the coming general elections. According to Benjamin Franklin; “employ thy time well. If thou meanest to get leisure” Nigerians have no time to waste again. This is the time for leaders who see urgent need to change this poor nation into great and prosperous one economically, socially and politically. Nigeria is in need of leaders with vision, goal and mission that can be demostrated with integrity, dignity, trust and patriotism. Leaders that have good understanding of human nature such as needs, emotions and motivation. Leaders that will not recruit green horns on excuse of the party allegiance or family ties in their winning team. Leaders that will inspire their professional cabinet and co-workers into higher levels of teamwork motivation to achieve realistic targets.

Leadership is organising a group of people to achieve a common goal. In a more simple form as stated by Alan Keith; “Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen”. Leaders are people who have a clear idea of what they want to achieve and why. They are set out to influence the actions, beliefs and feelings of others in positive ways and to the advantage of the community or society. Leadership involves identifying potential problems and solving them before they reach crisis proportions. Good leaders analyze, plan and adapt their plans to new circumstances and opportunities. Great leaders are known by their beliefs and characters, jobs, tasks and human nature. They are also known by their implementing, motivating and providing direction to achieve a desired goal. Leaders should be cosistent in principles or values as it help to attain their vision. Humility is another vital attribute of a good leader. This help in learning from mistakes, getting feedback as they are able to listen to comments, suggestios and identify problem areas. Leaders do not just solve problems brought to them, they analyse situations, recognise potential problems and deal with them before they become more problems.

Dr. Warren Bennis defined leaders as “... people, who are able to express themselves fully. They also know what they want, why they want it, and how to communicate what they want to others, in order to gain their co-operation and support....they know how to achieve their goals”. Dr. Bennis also explained the great differences between “managers” and “leaders”. According to him in his work titled “On Becoming a Leader” he stated that; “Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing”. The basic principles of good leader are that they know their limit and seek self-improvement, be technically proficient, seek responsibility and take responsibility for their actions, make sound and timely decisions and set good examples. Leaders ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished. They will never embark on white elephant projects that will never end. Good leaders are concern for the task to be done and the people to do it. On the issue of task which is clearly spelled out, they emphasize on the achievement of concrete objectives by looking for high levels of productivity, and ways to organise people and activities in order to meet those objectives. On the issue of co-workers, leaders take great concern on these people needs, interests, problems,development and motivate them to make win and achieve their particular goal as a team.

Democracy according to Diane Ravitch “...is a process, a way of living and working together. It is evolutionary, not static. It requires cooperation, compromise, and tolerance among all citizens. Making it work is hard, not easy. Freedom means responsibility. Not freedom from responsibility” Every citizen have to engage and involve in fulfilling this responsibility in pursuit of community goals. The Nigerians positive response to the last voters registration exercice indicate that all citizens must be active, not passive to choose responsible leaders as the success or failure of the government is now their responsibility. Full participation of all Nigerians in the next general elections will determine their future. Voting for dynamic and responsible leaders will produce great societies and successful citizens. If you are chosen to lead in the next general elections, that means you have to act and play your part well as perfectly as possible. True leaders make promises and keep those promises.

Nigeria has all the potentials to be a great country,if not the greatest in the world. A great country where the nation does not take from the poor and give to the rich. A great country where the nation take care of its poor, its sick and the underpriviledged. A country is great when it looks its future through education of every child. The government that will identify itself with hope for the future. The government of a great country recognises the principle that the public must be protected and served by delivery of essential services such as social security and health insurance. A country is great not only by its name, population or geographical landmass, but by the competent management of a nation’s resources and rendering good services that make its citizens meet their obligations and responsibilities. A corrupt country can never be great.


The Qualities of a Good Politician in a Democratic Society

The first principles of unalienable rights recognises that everyone is naturaly endowed by their Creator with certain rights that cannot be infringed or given away. Amongst these rights are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. In order to secure or safeguard these vital rights, “.....government are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from consent of the governed” as declared by Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), who was elected as the third President of the United States of America (1801-1809). Constitutions are also made for the purpose of securing, protecting, promoting good governance, accountability and welfare of all citizens-the governed. The government instituted among men are the elected representatives who are also known as the politicians. These politicians are required to implement social reforms and policy measures that contribute to the general welfare of the populace.

My little Oxford dictionary defines politician as “person engaged or interested in politics” and politics as “ science and art of government ; political affairs or life or principles etc.” Politics consists of “social relations involving authority and power”. A politician is defined as one who is actively involved in politics or one who holds or seeks a political office. A politician is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making in government. Politicians play a central role in our lives. They are the concentrated voices of the people that make all efforts to improve their constituencies and peoples’ welfare. Good and dependable politicians are delight to serve the people and consider themselves as servants and people their paymasters. They represent the hopes, aspirations and the interests of every citizen in the state.

A politician qualities are his characters that is natural, while some of the qualities are as a result of external influences. Promising politicians qualities are often backed by skills, experiences, intelligence, integrity, with instincts -all combined together to achieve their goals. First and foremost, the best quality of a politician is honesty, God fearing and loving. A faithful and effective politician is trustworthy and reliable. He must capture the esence of truth, display sincerity, candour and practices what he preaches. He makes decisions and accept responsibility for his actions and his words. The same is true in his dealing with his people. He makes promises and keep those promises. Somebody that people may be relied upon. Loving people with all his heart, might, mind, soul and striving to help them as a true mark of responsible politician.

Moreover, a fake politician, will after taken the oath office with the Holy book and lousy thanksgiving services, use their power as an end it itself, rather than for public good, making them indifferent to the progress of their citizens. A good politician becomes the image of his creator. A good and responsible politician will give high regard for morality, law abiding with no tendencies to corrupt even a single cent or kobo. The greatest strength of good politicians is deriving joy in serving people and not to steal tax payers money. They know that a fulfilling and meaningful life is created through service to others. To be an effective politician, your followers must have trust in you. And the very best way for a politician to build trust is to display good sense of characters and qualities composed of values, beliefs, traits and skills.

Another important quality of a good politician is interigity and technical skills to handle those challenging assignments, fiscal matters, policies, plans, projects, ideas and intiative solutions to problems. Integrity is consistency of actions, methods, measures, values, principles, expectations and outcomes. It is doing what is right, both legally and morally at all time even when no one is looking. Since politicians play very significant roles in the administrative processes, especially having hands in thousands of important laws and policies to their communities and country, thereby they should be well-educated, modest, with experience in social welfare, volunteering or should have done some good work for the society. A politician should have a thorough knowledge and up-to-date information about the constituency where he is going to contest an election.

Sir Winston Churchill, a famous British politician who served as Prime Minister twice (1940-45) and (1951-55) once said that “ a politician must have “the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen”. Hence, a poltical career is meant for the people of high integrity and additional skills to achieve results and finding better ways of making life better for the people they represent. Politics are not meant for dropped-outs, area fathers, thugs, assasins, criminals, illiterates god-fathers, inept, dubious and corrupt politicians. This people, apart from being greedy doesn’t know the importance of education and can never invest properly on it. Good governance, transparency and accountability will be eluding states and nations where these above mentioned set of people found themselves in the corridor of power.

An incompetent and irresponsible politician will make people to hang around his house like bees to honey to feed them with “amala”, “tuwo” or “eba”just for days. He prefers to give out expensive gifts, donations and bribes from tax-payers money to win elections. An achiever will not need to do such things to win elections or people to their side in all ramifications. That is why you will hear people saying “Politics is a bad game of deceit and hatred”, “Politics is a do or die affair”, “Politics is a dirty business”, “Politicians are very sick people” and so on. It is those politicians of limited merits and capabilities that are bad and not politics. They cannot do more than their moral and intellectual capacity. A true democratic government is the best concept for the growth of any nation. A good politician enriches lives and feeds souls of many people and not making them to become beggars, touts, kidnappers, armed-robbers and fraudsters.

A good politician should be of a well discipline personality with selfless service to make live better for his people. This should be reflected in the community where he lives in all ramifications. Discipline is necessary for an orderly society and political life, without it, the social life would become miserable. A selfless service is putting the welfare of the people representing before your own. Winston Churchill described it as “ the first of all human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others”. A good politician firmly believes in taking care and maintaining the community of his people. He believes that community service is about giving back. According to Theodore Roosevelt, “the most successful politician is he who says what the people are thinking most often in the loudest voice”. A person or politician who is with criminal background, or any links with criminals or whose allegations on corruption has not been cleared by the law court should be disqualified to participate in elections.

Responsibility and party loyalty is another quality of responsible politician in a democratic state. A transparent politician is nearer to his people and meeting them to understand their problems. Only fake politicians are seen by voters when an election is near or change parties as footballers change clubs. As every parent has its responsibility to teach their children the principles of moral, culture, truth, sincerity to be self- responsible, so politicians need to integrate its citizens with importance of political responsibility and democratic values. A politician leads by example and knows his minimum responsibilities as an elected representative. A politician come to politics to work for his constituents and not to work against them. He is the beck and call of the people and ready to listen to everybody. All these build a strong foundation for a dynamic society which will create solutions for any challenges, and finally develop strategies and political systems that will help implement those solutions automatically. He is quick to give hand to his fellow man. A reliable politician should be very loyal and committed to his party which shares his vision and goals. The value of loyalty simply depends on trust. A citizen should belong to a party with most brillant, skillfull, patriotic and dynamic people with common goals and aspirations. Team work best when they have common goals, mutual respect and understanding of each party member’s strength. Politics is to unite and reach consensus and not to divide or create enimity among people. Power is only a product of collective action.

Finally, to become a great politician or statesman, you have to use your talents, skills, experiences, honesty, integrity, challenges and constraints with the positive effect that we can have in touching other human lives. Politician must leave his constituency better than before elected. Greatness is within reach of a politician who consistently do things they out to be doing. He learns from mistakes and criticisms. It is a bad politician that will see that all the good is in his side and that all the bad lies with his opponent or just because someone does not agree with him, does not mean that all their ideas and solutions are bad. Good politicians show respect to the views and experience of others. Nobody has a monopoly of wisdom. He who aspire to be a great politician should have the ability to find and analyse problems in their constituency and find the best solutions for all these problems. There is no problem in this world without solutions. A good politician knows that simply giving consistent effort in the little task of services, social reforms, kindness or sacrifice in day-to-day life leads to true greatness of a nation. If all politicians make it a point of responsibility to develop and make life better for people in their units, wards, constituencies, states and regions-we will definately have a great country.