Leaders Wanted 2
M.K.O. Abiola
Ibrahim Babangida
Olusegun Obasanjo
Umar Yar'AduaChronicles of Nigeria's Leadership Decay (Part.2)
Just like Mac Arthur Douglas [the American general] argued in his memoirs that judgment was a crucial determinant of successful leadership. An officer with poor judgment ought to be made to face court martial, he concluded.
Obasanjo, not only made the wrong judgments in a preponderant number of his policies and decisions, even in his personal, turbulent and bohemian life, he was in general infatuated with poor judgment at same time addicted to so many transparent monkeyshines. The consequence of his abrasive tongue, his impulsive behavior and his almost surrealistic attachment to the smaller pleasures of life was that he came across as a rather plain man, even a rustic, transported by a freak of nature into positions far beyond his ken. A reporter once said that no man was so privileged to remake Nigeria history and no one ever made such a spectacular failure of it.
IBB is another character or should I say ‘an enigma’ in Nigeria Leadership row among those who came frustratingly short, and took up about 23 years of our national life. Of all attributes of a leader, character appears the easiest to appreciate. Over JUNE 12, IBB, by his own admission considered the feelings & opinion of some powerful interests before he opted for infamy. That single decision to annul a free & fair election showed his lack of character. This man was also too plain to be mysterious. He was responsible for the controversial annulment of the “JUNE 12” 2003 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, acclaimed to be won by Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, also believed to have been the fairest in Nigeria history. Also, he, IBB was afflicted by a repugnant and obsessive, even affable, flashed smiles instinctively, and unlike the dark and gruff Abacha who had a gentle, robust but deceptive mien. Abacha only came simply as a man obsessed with the material circumstances around him, if not as a social hedonist, then at least a political hedonist. Well, I leave you to imagine what the situation would be like when IBB & Obasanjo answer the final call.
Only recently, it was observed that the symptoms of a different type of lack of character may be manifesting under the Present Yar’Adua presidency. Apart from obvious dissonance b/w avowed principle {Of the much talked about “RULE OF LAW”} and his acceptance of a tainted presidency.
IBB is another character or should I say ‘an enigma’ in Nigeria Leadership row among those who came frustratingly short, and took up about 23 years of our national life. Of all attributes of a leader, character appears the easiest to appreciate. Over JUNE 12, IBB, by his own admission considered the feelings & opinion of some powerful interests before he opted for infamy. That single decision to annul a free & fair election showed his lack of character. This man was also too plain to be mysterious. He was responsible for the controversial annulment of the “JUNE 12” 2003 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, acclaimed to be won by Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, also believed to have been the fairest in Nigeria history. Also, he, IBB was afflicted by a repugnant and obsessive, even affable, flashed smiles instinctively, and unlike the dark and gruff Abacha who had a gentle, robust but deceptive mien. Abacha only came simply as a man obsessed with the material circumstances around him, if not as a social hedonist, then at least a political hedonist. Well, I leave you to imagine what the situation would be like when IBB & Obasanjo answer the final call.
Only recently, it was observed that the symptoms of a different type of lack of character may be manifesting under the Present Yar’Adua presidency. Apart from obvious dissonance b/w avowed principle {Of the much talked about “RULE OF LAW”} and his acceptance of a tainted presidency.
He Yar’Adua may now be poised dangerously on the edge of character decay. As the courts and election tribunals assail the reputation of the ruling party (PDP) People’s Democratic Party at state & even national levels, jittery officials afraid that an avalanche may be threatening the hitherto impregnable position of the party could pressurize Mr. President to do something unwholesome. He appears to lack sufficient character to resist the pressures. But, he has, at least, displayed a far greater sense of history & understanding of the seriousness & demands of national leadership than his predecessor.
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