Mind Restructuring: Good People, Good Leadership -By Richard Odusanya

Good people make good leaders– they almost always tell the TRUTH, keep their promises, are willing to own up to their mistakes and take responsibility for the choice they made. A great leader posseses a clear VISION, is COURAGEOUS, has integrity, honesty, humility and focus. He or she is a strategic planner and believes in teamwork, as well as providing direction, inspiration and guidance Great LEADERS exhibit courage, passion, confidence and commitment.

The aforementioned qualities of a good leader, in the spirit of TRUTH and RECONCILIATION was exemplified by our African hero Ta-ta Madiba’ Nelson Mandela, a global icon and one man who refused to die. His good deeds and sacrifice continue to speak even after his demise, Just like Martin Luther King Jr. Madiba’ was a true reflection of the mind of freedom and an evidence of grace, he came out of prison after twenty-seven years, instead of getting angry or bitter, he demonstrated the power of LOVE. He subsequently set up the TRUTH and RECONCILIATION Commission that provided the soothing words and healing balm which ultimately resulted in the total cleansing in spirit and soul of the beautiful people of the nation of South Africa.

In likewise manner, as we continue to navigate with the moral compass overlooking the errors of the past and its attendant consequences, it has become imperative that we identify our own image of a leader “Madiba”, this is as we try to appeal to the conscience of some of our leaders, who are gifted with similar attributes, that makes us to consider them as a moral compass – the likes of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida GCFR, a retired Nigeria Army general and politician who served as military president between 1985-93; an officer, a gentleman and a statesman. If not for the annulment of June ’12, and some human errors noticed here and there, he would have been a global hero. He was unique and unequal in terms of whatever is expected of a charismatic leader.

It is on this note that we earnestly request that, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, a charismatic leader, to once again for the sake of generation yet unborn, the love of our country Nigeria and the fear of God Almighty, be willing to help propagate unity, faith and RECONCILIATION; It is important for a nationalist, a man who have enjoyed the benevolence of God, to make himself available @80. It may just be our turning point. Who knows, my father, the balogun owu Chief Matthew Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo GCFR, may also find a very good reason to support him by providing a much more comfortable exciting moments leading to the much expected healthy relationship with all and sundry. It is important to mention that we submitted a work-in-progress document to the Federal Government through the office of the sectary of the federal government (SGF) and copied both the Chief of staff and the deputy chief of staff in presidential villa.

It is expected that such platform and engagement will reduce tension and encourage dialogue with the sole intent of total commitment to peace and tranquility plus sizeable amount of prosperity and joy. It should be noted, that no nation survives the level of acrimonious tendencies that has generated bad blood among others. It’s a popular maxim anywhere on the planet; A comes before B, hence, a good system precedes good leadership. To acquiesce to the contrary is, being economical with the truth. Or, for benefits of a doubt, just plain benightedness.

Society creates the leadership.

The type of leadership you get is precipitated upon the values and dictums of morality you espouse as a people.

You can not have it another way.

Nigerians’ gradual drift towards nepotism and the knack for the recrimination of the ‘other’ gave fecundity to the soil whence the crop of our elites, today, germinated.

Nigerians were not saints inhabiting the earth, let’s forget the age long staid narrative about the Nigeria of old; it was not all that paradisiacal.

We have been blessed with a few good leaders; Obafemi Awolowo’ Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa et al. What came of their fate in a system, reeking of moral decadence? Inglorious ends. Their efforts at redeeming an obdurate people, lay botched. Never to be resuscitated.

We should pay extra attention to the power wielded by the majority. A leader is just as powerful as his followers; without the powers reposed in him by them, he is nothing but a mortal with a long dream.

The people make the leadership; bad people make bad leadership, good people make good leadership.

You can only oblige an unwieldy horse to the waterhole, you can not coerce it to drink. A leader can only do as much, he can not do the work of the rest of us. This is a clarion call and a call to duty.

ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS.

Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.