Written by:
Paul thomas
Ireland


Leadership: The Woe of a Nation (Part 1)

The perfidy of our leaders against the Nigerian state befuddles the least discerning amongst us. The ignoramuses that have pervaded our political landscape since independence is not only the reason for the gargantuan retrogression that has descended on the Nigerian state but is also responsible for the global perception that plagues anyone called a Nigerian. Leadership misadventure, political immaturity and the perpetuity of kleptomaniacs are some of the very conspicuous malaise that confronts us and the very reason why it is necessary for every stake-holder within and without the Nigerian polity to actively congregate so as to decide the steps necessary to make Nigeria a responsible and indispensable entity in global relevance.

The centrality and pertinence of leadership cannot be over-emphasised in Nigeria’s pursuit for global reckoning. A nation’s swiftest mode to relegation in world setting is largely determined by the lacklustre performance of leadership. A country with effective leadership promotes tremendous respect and honour from global counterparts and this is reflected through respect and admiration for the citizens of such country. Simply put a citizen’s relevance and regard from the rest of the world is directly proportional to the reverence that the leadership of that country enjoys on global stage. For instance an American citizen is regarded all over the world because the American leadership is formidable and powerful, American leadership can unleash all necessary weaponry at their disposal just to rescue an American citizen. To trifle with an American citizen is to rouse the American giant from slumber into a duel. Honour is therefore bestowed on every American no matter where they a
ppear on this globe because their leaders bestow honour and sense of belonging to every single American.

Nigeria’s global stigma emanates from failed leadership. Nigerian leaders have subjugated the people for too long through economic emasculation and perpetual pilfering of national resources. In the people’s bid to escape the unabated bashing by their leaders, they have become desperate for alternative means of survival, through unthinkable machinations. The mode and means of these unthinkable varies, from advanced fee fraud, to ritualism, to robbery, to kidnapping, to ethnic violence, to religious unrest etc. all these are sub-conscious revolt against failed and insensitive leadership and because an open defiance targeted at leadership results oftentimes in very costly reprisals from the machinery of the state. The desire for leadership by the average Nigerian is a desire to have a shot at the limitless resources, which can only be accessible through leadership meanderings. It is never a desire to serve but a desire to be served. It is often said that ‘the fastest way to weal
th in Nigeria is via politics or governance’.

The concept of leadership in the Nigerian context is a master-slave scenario, where the leader is the master who must be obeyed without any question from his subjects, the masses. The Nigerian leader is warped in his thinking, his philosophy is to keep the people perpetually in subjection in other to maintain status-quo, because as long as the people are deprived and impoverished they will remain obedient and subservient to their lord and master. Leadership in Nigeria requires no serious or rigorous intellectual sagacity all that it takes to be a leader in Africa; especially Nigeria is the dexterity in thievery and profligacy. Massive leadership failure is one of the fundamental setbacks of the Nigerian state. Every government has successfully over-embezzled and under perform the previous. Successive governments emerge only to exacerbate the plight of the people, promises are made simply because something must be said, Nigerian leaders do not have the intention or the will t
o effect change in the lives of the people. Their poverty serves his motive as long as they are economically disabled they will play the daft.

Our leaders are an embarrassment to the country; they gallivant around the world spending lavishly and foolishly. They stay in the most expensive hotels and resorts in the world while the bulk of their subjects live in abject squalor. Most Nigerians live below the poverty line while their leaders and their cohorts live at the summit of prosperity. Their children and grand-children are in Yale and Harvard while their subjects learn under trees. They perpetuate themselves in government by putting their children to continue the legacy of profligacy and ostentation. The circle continues with very ferocious consequences.

Each succeeding government is more lethal than the previous. The larceny of our leaders is legendary, their rapacious madness is unrivalled. Nigeria a once prosperous and hopeful nation with the abundance of natural resources and unbelievable human endowment, is now become the caricature of the world. The hope that Nigeria engendered for Africa at independence was indescribable. The colonial powers saw Nigeria as the bastion of hope and greatness for Africa. Her good climate and abundant resources with enormous human population especially the intelligentsias emerging at the time gave Nigeria a giant-like dread to the colonials. A strong virile nation was born with immeasurable prospects and unequalled potential to be a world leader. Almost 50 years after, that once opulent nation has become draggle, drab and insipid to say the least. The barrage of insane men that metamorphosed right from the late sixties crippled the once powerful and vibrant entity called Nigeria. Their ins
atiable lust and debauchery brought about the most painful history of Nigeria. The desire to accumulate and the intoxication of power brought untold hardship to uncountable Nigerians. The unbridled aspiration to control the oil wells saw the leaders of the different entities ready to commit lives and resources to kill, maim, and destroy each other. A senseless war ensued and Nigeria went into the dark ages. No victor, no vanquish, an apposite rhetoric for extreme foolishness and utter madness.

Nigerian leaders both past and present ought to cover their faces in shame, for dividing this country along ethnic, religious and political lines. Leaders orchestrate the massacre of people through their constituencies without remorse. Religious riots are set in motion to create chaos within the Nigerian state. Millions have been massacred for no just reason other than irresponsible leadership. Religious riots take place year in, year out and nobody is ever tried or named for fermenting or initiating these crimes. How can thousands be killed yet nobody is held responsible? What does leadership hope to achieve by organising religious riots? How can any serious government pretend to be committed to the development of a nation without ensuring the safety and wellbeing of her citizens? Can the leadership of Nigeria truly feign ignorance of the perpetrators of these religious and ethnic cleansing? If nobody is ever held for these massacres why should the perpetrators ever stop? E
very time people are massacred for their faith the government looks the other way, sometimes the incumbent governors will use machinery of state to exacerbate the crisis or worse still to silence the opposition. Large caches of arms are imported into the country illegally with the full knowledge of the government. With porous borders and connivance from the men in uniform arms and ammunitions are piled obviously awaiting the day when trouble will be ignited. The pernicious intention of Nigerian leaders unfolds in varying dimensions and this is disgraceful.

The masses suffer excruciatingly from systemic failure. Every facet of Nigeria is in dire need of rejuvenation because the head is sick. Politicians are always on the prowl waiting tirelessly for the opportunity to scavenge at the slightest chance. They play any and every card to make themselves relevant, from ethnic to religious to cultural. A nation of a hundred and fifty (150) million, ruled by a cabal is appalling. Nigeria is a country in denial, the deception or perhaps the ignorance of Nigerians to think that Nigeria is ruled by the three main ethnic groups is ridiculous. The oligarchs from the North know truly well who runs the show. Let no Nigerian be in doubt, the North has held on to power tenaciously since the Union Jack gave way to the ‘green white green’ no one has ruled Nigeria since independence when the British handed power to the North without the taciturn approval of the North. Only one tribe controls the enormous resources gendered by the Nigerian state. Th
eir political will and expectation is what takes the centre stage. Elections are won or lost on the platform of Northern approval or disapproval. Mr Obasanjo with all is bravura still needed the approval of the North the two times he ruled Nigeria, a testament to Northern stronghold.

To be continued.

Shalom.

Paul Thomas
Ireland

Please Tell a Friend about this article.