Shema and the dearth of leadership in Nigeria

It was Charan, Drotter, Neol, who conclude that effective succession  concerns itself with building a series of feeder groups up and down the entire leadership pipeline or progression  While succession planning is a fundamental in the development of any society, or organization in contrast, replacement planning is focused narrowly on identifying specific back-up candidates for […]

It was Charan, Drotter, Neol, who conclude that effective succession  concerns itself with building a series of feeder groups up and down the entire leadership pipeline or progression  While succession planning is a fundamental in the development of any society, or organization in contrast, replacement planning is focused narrowly on identifying specific back-up candidates for given senior management positions. Fundamental to the succession-management process is an underlying philosophy that argues that top talent in the corporation, or state must be managed for the greater good of the enterprise/society.
It is the inability of Nigeria’s elite to master this simple art of succession that the nation is ever grabbling with since independence, a menace that has impacted negatively on the socio-economic and political development of the nation.
Since independence in 1960, the country’s bane of development has been absence , or failure of succession plan initiatives that recognize and prepare future leaders for who will take the mantle of leadership of the various levels of governance in the country. This failure has been responsible for the poor and lamentable leadership quality the nation is forced to grabble with as a result of succession plans.
However, understanding this phenomenal, but fundamental issue in national development Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema in a paper he delivered in Katsina during the graduation ceremony and annual lecture organised by Katsina Vocational Centre weekend hit the nail in the head when he spoke about the need for succession plans in the country.
His analysis is simple, for any nation to build a positive system for sustained national development, the institutionalization of of succession process in the country’s political system is necessary. Governor Shema’s assertion that tutoring potentials that are expected to assume power in order to make them competent and qualitative leaders must be embraced if the nation is to develop its potentials.
While arguing that democracy can only flourish if a well coordinated succession plan is operative, he challenged leaders to ensure succession plans are wedded within the democratic norms. “ As we operate within a democratic dispensation, the major challenge is to ensure that succession process is undertaken within the democratic processes both at party level and through the general elections”
There is no greater fact than this assertion, since as a nation we all know that one of the greatest obstacle to our growth as a nation has been lack of adequate process in either our succession plans, either in inter or intra party politics. It is this menace coupled with poor internal democratic credentials of most of our political parties especially in the 4th republic that is now more than ever dragging our much earned experience into a dangerous path.
By his assertions on succession plan the governor has succeeded in introducing a healthy debate for nation discourse in an era where dictatorship, intolerance and absence of internal party democracy is the norm rather than the exception. There is need, he added for all political class in the country to tutor, mentor and introduce learning in leadership if we are to develop as a nation.
Nigerians are well aware that apart from the military who have ruled for the majority of the nation’s life time, our civilian leaders are usually products of accidental and circumstantial elevations to the pinnacle of leadership. From Shehu Shagari in 1979 even to Olusegun Obasanjo in 1998 none of our civilian leaders prepared for the onerous tasks of national leadership before fate bestowed the responsibility on his/their head(s).
It is this same continuous demonstration of failure to understand the significance of preparedness that Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema is advocating against. Choosing the gathering of youth organized by a nongovernmental organization to reiterate this well known neglected path of development says much about the quality of the man. If as a nation Nigeria has any chance of grooming a leadership that is conscious, ready, determined and prepared for effective administration of the country, then there is no better remedy than what Governor Shema has advocated.
The Governor was also specific on the need to develop a grass root leadership strategy that will enable potentials to be identified from the lower level and be given responsibility for holding lower rung political or elective offices, through this process he added, they(potentials) will grow with more experience on the job and in the process fully become institutionalized and supported in order to ensure that political leadership would be competently and qualitatively regenerated for its continued relevance in the Nigerian political arena.
He has, since his assumption of power, demonstrated these patriotic tendencies of developing talents that will take over, today in Katsina young minds with the potentials to excel in leadership are being identified, modeled and propelled into taking responsibilities as the only way to stir the state, and by extension, the nation in general.
Today, in many government offices in the state, at the national levels, youth were identified and sent to take up responsibilities at all levels. Most of them, enjoying this model of recognition and testing, have proved the governor right that with planned preparedness the nation is surely going to reap from the pool of potential good leaders for prosperity.
Governor Shema has also drawn the attention of Nigeria’s leaders to the fact they must imbibe the tradition of grooming future leaders as done the world over for Nigeria according to him, cannot be left alone. “Globally, all liberal democracies have such processes and practices, Nigeria cannot be left alone”
Nagado wrote from Gamji road Kaduna, can be reached at [email protected]