Nigeria: Leadership not by example

Leadership failure in Nigeria is spread in all facets of life be it political, social, economic, religious and traditional. Our leaders, in all aspects, mostly do not lead by example. Majority of them are selfish, greedy and uncaring on anything that does not affect them directly. Most unfortunate for Nigerians is that large numbers of […]

Leadership failure in Nigeria is spread in all facets of life be it political, social, economic, religious and traditional. Our leaders, in all aspects, mostly do not lead by example. Majority of them are selfish, greedy and uncaring on anything that does not affect them directly.

Most unfortunate for Nigerians is that large numbers of its leaders do not view leadership as sacrifice and service to humanity. To most of them leadership is all about self-enrichment, pomposity and satisfying personal ego. When seeking for any position of leadership, many Nigerians are carried away by the huge resources they will be in charge of distributing, which they will use their position to harness for their personal enrichment.

Others when in position of authority are pre-occupied with the concern that everybody must worship them notwithstanding their inability to provide what was enshrined as their main functions and duties in regard to the office they occupy. Due to such attitudes of most of our leaders, bootlickers, yes-men and sycophants normally have their field day after they have cut-off such leaders from the actual realities on ground.

The most irresponsible leaders in the eyes of many Nigerians are politicians occupying elected or appointed public offices. Due to the way and manner most of them conduct themselves, they are viewed as opportunist, selfish, ungodly, corrupt and undedicated to those they govern or represent. Abuse of public funds, corruption, nepotism, crude use of force and primitive looting have now become one of the features of political and public office holders in Nigeria. Being godly, truthful and sincere is hard for them to imbibe, something which has made the conduction of elections by them to be massively rigged while their citizens do not believe whatever they say.

Our traditional and religious leaders, who normally play guidance and advisory roles for the betterment of the country, are now mostly selective in rendering their services. Most of them channel their guidance and advice to the citizens without rendering same to the leaders. They always preach to us to be law abiding without preaching to the leaders to rule with justice, equity and selfless service. If they have performed their roles without fear and favour our leaders could not have become what they are today.

The problem with Nigeria is that we are not lucky to have leaders that led by example and are merciful, God-fearing and dedicated. We have leaders that are shameless and wicked. Leaders that find delight in lying and deceiving their subjects. Leadership that is selfish and greedy. If not, why should a leader be comfortable, his children attending exclusive schools within and outside the country while those of his subjects are sitting at home or studying in overcrowded classes or studying under trees or while sitting on the floor.

We have leaders that will collect their own huge salaries and allowances at the right time, including the goodies attached to such offices. But while those they lead collect peanuts as salaries and the unlucky ones among them spend months without salaries. Though large numbers of other Nigerians do not have any means of living hood.

We have leaders that jet out frequently to just have their health checked while their subjects are left to die just because they cannot afford to pay what they are charged at both government-owned and private hospitals.

Our leaders must change from been deceitful, greedy and corrupt. And this can only happen if all Nigerians have the zeal and fearlessness to speak against injustice, tyranny and oppression by our leaders. We must compel our leaders to conduct free and fair elections. We must compel our leaders to rule with justice and equity. We must compel our leaders to fulfil the promises they made to us. We must compel our leaders to rule according to the constitution of our country which they promised to respect.

Today, no Nigerian is safe because no matter your status, you can be killed by assassins, robbed, kidnapped, lose your job without notice, lose your life on our roads due to their terrible conditions or even be seen as a strange creature when in foreign countries. We must all help our leaders not to be corrupt by demanding they do the right things.

Chaji writes from P.O BOX 248, Gyadi/Gyadi, [email protected]