By Ibrahim Muye Yahaya
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor”. Max De Pree Alfred Lasing in his book Endurance: “Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage” (1959) told us how against-all-odds survival tale of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27-member crew remained one of the most timeless leadership allegories out there. When the 1914 Antarctic voyage got stuck for over a year in an ice floe, Shackleton’s extraordinary positivity and decisiveness is said to have almost singlehandedly saved the lives of his entire crew.
His ability to motivate and inspire in the face of bitter cold and extreme deprivation has been fodder for thousands of business school across the globe as case studies.
The dividends of democracy and good governance has not been so palatable in Niger state since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999 and this has placed it under the bar compared to many of its counterparts. A journey from Suleija-Minna, Minna-Bida, Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida, Minna-SarkinPawa, Bida-Mokwa and Kontagora-Rijau road will tell the sorry condition of our roads. Education, healthcare, unemployment and infrastructure have not gotten a robust attention and development. Taking a look at the health sector, hospital renovations and equipping across the state are been mostly carried out by National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Majority of the capital projects and staff development in our tertiary institutions have been taken over by Tertiary Education Fund (TEFTUND). A visit to the state-owned University at Lapai, State College of Education at Minna and Niger State Polytechnic at Zungeru/Bida will justify my claim. It’s glaring that 90% of primary and secondary schools in state is in a sorry state. A traveler along Abuja-Kaduna and Suleija-Minna road can justify my claim by taking a look at Government Arabic Girls College, Dikko, Government Girls Secondary School, Sabon-Wuse and Government Science College, Izom. The case of the two female secondary schools is even more pathetic. From early 80s to mid 90s, both schools have played host not only to the pupils from Niger state, but the residents of FCT and environs who have taken advantage of its standard, environment and proximity. Today the glory of both schools is in the past.
Despite the fact it is a purely agrarian state, many local councils today cannot boast of a single functional tractor. Many communities have remained without potable water; access to healthcare, feeder roads and rural electrification despite the fact the state houses 2 power generating dams in the country. Most pathetic is that the Niger now lags behind Katsina, Akwa-Ibom, Jigawa, Kebbi and Zamfara states created in 1987, 1991 and 1996, respectively. Even the Yobe and Borno states engulfed in insurgency for the past 3years have faired better in terms of physical and human development than ours.
The state deserves a chief executive and other elected officers who will run a transparent government requiring ministries, parastatals and contractors that receive government fund to return the money if they fail to meet their obligations. Leaders that will initiate projects and policies that have direct positive impacts on the masses; leaders that will not tolerate insider deals, special interest tax breaks, kickbacks, shoddy projects and favors for political cronies. As the measures will help to root out corruption and waste from government agencies. This will ensure that taxpayers can see how every of their Kobo is spent.
Bad governments that fail to deliver are replaced through democratic elections by candidates with good policies that will result in progressive reforms and development of the state. Corrupt leaders are replaced by those with integrity to enable the followers to follow by example. The greatest gift that a good government can bequeath to future generation is not cash handouts but knowledge, education, affordable health care, infrastructure, food security and job creation. Only then can we live with dignity and our young live better than us. The state has waited too long for leaders who know that quid pro quo should not be the status quo.
In other to get our state back to track, we need to take a look at the pedigree of all those aspiring to represent us at various offices. Those who will not lead us with negativism and fear of the future, but with vigor, vision and aggressive leadership— those who will not be isolated from the people, but who will feel our pains, share our dreams and take his strength, wisdom and his courage from us.
2015 general election is the golden opportunity for healing. We want to have faith again, we want to be proud again and we just want the truth again. It is time for us to have leaders to run the government in an honest way, and not the other way around
Yahaya wrote from Muye, Niger state. Email: [email protected]; +2348036616767