Nigeria: Restructure or reconfigure (9)

A manifesto for transformational leadership in Nigeria

CHIEF Obáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ remains celebrated till date for documenting the first federalist manifesto by any Nigerian politician. In his book, Path to Nigerian Freedom (which I rebrand as Oath to a Nation Nigeria)- he expertly advocated federalism as the only basis to safeguard the interests of the over 250 diverse ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria. Given the size and diversity of a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria, Chief Awólọ́wọ̀ foresaw that it will be impossible for a central government to effectively finance and oversee all key sectors of the economy. Furthermore, he understood that Central, Eastern, Northern and Western regions of Nigeria have divergent cultures and belief systems; different religions; distinct languages; and most importantly dissimilar interest in formal education.

Unfortunately, his clear and compelling ideas were never implemented a situation that has continued to stifle the development and progress of the Nigerian nation till date. Several years after the titanic strides of Chief Awólọ́wọ̀ the search for transformational leadership in Nigeria remains ongoing. In 2019, when I received Chief Obáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ Prize for Leadership – becoming the third individual to receive the award after Professor Wole Soyinka in 2012 and Thabo Mbeki in 2014- I made a public commitment in my acceptance speech to continue to advocate for transformational leadership in Nigeria.  Since Nigeria and Africa lost the exemplary Chief Obáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀, many self-proclaimed Awoists have emerged, whose actions and priorities outrightly negate the people-centered ideals and philosophy of Awoism.

Rather than offer transformational leadership to the Nigerian people, we have witnessed the rise of transactional leaders who view leadership from the narrow lens of self-aggrandizement, self-interest, short-termism and the suppression of the public will.  Some of our leaders have simply become our greatest hazard as a nation. I therefore made a public commitment on that day to continue to advocate and develop the guiding principles of transformational leadership in Nigeria.In furtherance of my commitment to transformational leadership in Nigeria, this section develops the first comprehensive and authoritative Manifesto for Transformational Leadership in Nigeria.  The Cambridge Dictionary defines transformation as a “a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that that thing or person is improved.”  I therefore define transformational leadership as leadership that causes a complete positive change in the political, economic, social and education systems of a country. In its authentic form, transformational leadership creates complete and positive change in the ideology, approach, motivations and collective identity of leadership in Nigeria.

For example, in Nigeria of today, the motivation for seeking elective office is largely to steal and enjoy the privileges of office. This kleptomaniac mentality has seeped through even non-elective offices in our civil service, judiciary, police, universities, private enterprises and non-governmental bodies, where to be the leader of a company or an institution is conceived not in terms of an opportunity to serve, but in terms of an opportunity to steal.

Simply, the ideology of leadership in Nigeria has moved from being a platform for transformation, to a platform for illicit transactions. For years, Nigeria has moved from one transactional leader to the other, i.e. leaders that view leadership positions as an opportunity for personal aggrandizement, self-interest and illicit transactions: including but not limited to looting, nepotism, bribery, forgery, money laundering, influence peddling, patronage, abuse of office, public oppression and uncivilized show-off of illicit wealth.

The virus of transactional leadership has produced transactional followers as well, i.e. followers that view their leaders as bank machines that have unlimited access to public funds. Instead of demanding accountability, transparency and good leadership from leaders, transactional followers push their leaders to steal more, acquire more, and to “share the money.” Transactional followership has therefore created additional pressure and impetus for leaders to steal enough to satisfy the endless demands of their followers, community members, families and even places of religious worship. Our idea of a ‘good leader’ is now defined by how much the leader has been able to spend on family parties, church events, and community projects. This winner takes all mentality has made elections in Nigeria a do or die affair as a result of which people do all they can to win a ticket to public looting. This has perpetuated a cycle of catastrophic leadership failure and has for long continued to deflate the balloon of hope of successive generations of Nigerians.

Transformational leadership requires a complete change in the way in which leadership is perceived and understood in Nigeria both from the perspectives of the leaders and the followers. It requires a transformational shift in the manner in which leaders are elected, the demand and expectations of the electorate, as well the priorities and focus of government programs.

I suggest 10 principles of transformation leadership which can provide a basis for idealogy based election and constitutional reform in Nigeria. If effectively implemented, they can significantly address imperfections and deformities in our political, economic, social and educational systems. I therefore invite all current and future leaders of Nigeria to uphold and commit to the following principles of transformational leadership:

Principle 1: True Federalism is a necessary pre-condition for growth in Nigeria

Any politician that does not unequivocally appreciate and advocate for the tenets of true federalism is a danger to the Nigerian nation. A transformational leader will commit to implementing the full tenets of fiscal, constitutional and institutional federalism across political, economic, social and educational spheres of Nigeria.  Recognizing the ethic, cultural and religious diversity of the Nigerian nation, without true federalism Nigeria may never experience sustained peace, progress and stability. There is an urgent need for total devolution of powers to enable each state or geopolitical zone to effectively administer its resources and social political needs. The federal government should only be concerned with management of common political affairs like currency, foreign affairs etc. There will be less crisis and quarrel or inordinate ambition to become President, Minister or Legislator. As a matter of fact, the late Sardauna found regional premiership more prestigious than being the Federal Prime Minister. A commitment to the tenet of true federalism is a prerequisite for transformational leadership in Nigeria.

Principle 2: Full constitutional restructuring in Nigeria is a national priority

A transformational leader will commit to initiating a comprehensive action plan for restructuring in Nigeria within the first 100 days in office. Given the urgency of the multifaceted challenges facing Nigeria, the question should no longer by whether restructuring is necessary or required, it should be how to actualize a national restructuring plan without further delay. Leaders should now be elected, not based on a mere promise to restructure Nigeria, but based on how comprehensive their plans and visions are to actualize a transparent, fair and credible restructuring process for Nigeria.

Restructuring is not a task for the federal government alone. Leaders at all levels of government in Nigeria can demonstrate their commitment to transformational leadership by advocating for restructuring within their own domains. For example, if all elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives make restructuring their plans for the first 100 days in office, if all state governors do the same, and if all members of the state house of assemblies concertedly do the same, then restructuring will get the much-deserved impetus it deserves. To deserve election into positions of authority, a candidate must unequivocally commit to implementing the robust restructuring plan discussed in this book, in all spheres of their mandate and influence.

To be continued…

Please send your comments and suggestions to my email: president@abuad.edu.ng

AARE AFE BABALOLA, OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D (Lond.)