Lamido, quintessential politician @ 68

In retrospect, we are all going to be judged by history. But the most fascinating aspect of life is identifying key characteristics and core competencies of leaders who are successful in life. That is why it is always important for leaders to have a principled stand in life, as political scientist once observed that “a […]

In retrospect, we are all going to be judged by history. But the most fascinating aspect of life is identifying key characteristics and core competencies of leaders who are successful in life.

That is why it is always important for leaders to have a principled stand in life, as political scientist once observed that “a person who stands for nothing will fall for anything.”

As Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State turned 68 years today (August, 30th 2016) his life could best be chronicled in this premise.

By all indices, Lamido was a good student of late sage, Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory. He has grown to become a leader, a mentor and a person who always stand on the side of the common man. His life is full of activities of struggles to emancipate the poor, provide service to humanity and stand for truth.

From his early days in politics, Lamido has been regarded by many as “epitome of revolutionary politics” in the country and his contributions to humanity remains a legend.

His stand on issues mirrors his inspirational perspective, and his social perspective is mirroring his philosophical and psychological perspective.

Perhaps, his power to understand and appreciate the needs of his fellow human beings and to be of service to them was what dominated his life and makes him to appear differently with other politicians.

As a result of his experiences in the nation’s politics, his trials, tribulations and accomplishments in life, Lamido has developed a desire to focus on issues that will enhance the quality of life of his people, motivate and inspire them, and promotes creativity and optimism in them.

Any understanding of his role and performance as a leader must look at the environment in which he operated as politician. But, the most obvious fact about him as a leader is that while he was the governor Jigawa State, Lamido had used his vast international experience to look at the state from global perspective by acting locally in order to meet the basic needs of the people. Somehow, the idea appeared very strange particularly to those who are desperate in milking the state’s resources dry.

In my assessment of his character, Lamido is one of the most politically savvy and engaging persons I ever know. He could make friends even with his political opponents and successfully disarm them.

Lamido is always an inquisitive person on issues that affects the lives of people, but he’ll listen to you any time you brought an issue and pays attention to whatever you have to say before forming an opinion.

When you listen to Lamido, you won’t be disappointed. He’s an intense, driven, passionate person, qualities and attributes he carries into his relationships with his subordinates. Our stay together was never boring and each day then was different and full of exciting experiences.

As his subordinates, we had a strong working relationship that makes us great in meetings and made him to achieve his mission as a governor. His approach to issues has brought unity of thought among us, confirming the reality of his struggles which he was identified with in terms of thinking, reasoning and logic.

His political stature, wisdom, political sagacity and leadership quality, had endeared him to the people so well, as he provided the state’s development structures and lift it from the league of under developed to a developing states in the country.  Throughout our stay with him as his subordinates, Lamido has encouraged us to think not through the prism of someone else’s mind but through our own perceptions and prejudices in a more articulated manner.

As Leadership provides strategic direction and inspiration, initiate change, encourage new learning, and develop a distinct organizational culture, which is about the big picture and promoting change, there was so much interest in the way leaders adapt their public persona and leadership style to suit the situation they found themselves in.

For an effective leadership, the need to always displays high level of ‘emotional intelligence and emotional maturity that will mobilise, feel, use, understand and learn from others’ emotions must always be in the front burner.

For those acquainted with Jigawa State since its creation, they are conversant with its state of underdevelopment. But the then Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has transformed the state into a new world.

Then, where could Lamido be in the state’s history and in the nation’s politics? Scholars who are of the view that “People’s characters always remain the same no matter the changes in their lives,” have provided the answer, Lamido as Revolutionary Politician could best fit into the circle for successfully impacting positively in the lives of his people through insight and good governance.

He successfully redefined and reintegrated Jigawa State economic development process; set a process that comes up with new generation of entrepreneurs; reinvented the state as a “New World”; scaled up its internally generated revenue (IGR) through economic activities; and also transformed the State’s Economy into knowledge-based.

An early thinking about leadership has been influenced by the belief that leadership was innate and that some individuals were born with certain traits that made them effective leaders. Lamido also falls into this assertion as he could be referred as ‘heroic leader’ who left once an underdeveloped state as “an oasis of tranquillity”, where youths and women now serve as tools of transformation, with people sparkling with a culture of decency, maturity, intellect, and confidence.

To a large extent, he had successfully addressed the twin problems of poverty and illiteracy which are the consequences of hunger, disease, ignorance, idleness and destitution and systematically turnaround people into core productive assets by instilling the culture of progressive politics in the people.

As he turned 68, a cursory look at his life would reveal a life full of struggles that emancipated the common man; though through trials that was full of ups and downs, but his political success and of course future endeavours would eventually write his name in gold.

Mago was former Jigawa State’s Commissioner for Economic Empowerment under Sule Lamido.