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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said until Nigerians take responsibility at whatever levels they find themselves, the country runs the risk of abandoning the responsibility of leadership only to those who carry political titles.
Shettima stated this while delivering a lecture, entitled, ‘The Leadership Question: Prospects for Nigeria,’ at the 85th birthday celebration of former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, and launching of Adebisi Akande Foundation at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Tuesday.
The vice president defined Leadership as the act of leading a group of people, as well as the act of motivating people to work and focus on a group objective.
Shettima, who was represented by Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, noted that what resulted in the recent wave of brain drain is when hopes are not met, particularly when the leadership is ill-prepared to meet such hopes.
“I have done the mathematics. A nation of 230 million people will need 230 million leaders. The premise of this statement underscores the significance of adequate leadership coverage to deliver the dream and aspiration of a whole nation.
“Behind this statement is the recognition that unless and until everyone takea responsibility at whatever levels we find ourselves, we run the risk of abandoning the responsibility of leadership only to those who carry titles of His Excellencies, Honourable, distinguished and all sorts.
“The organisers felt we have not gotten to the point in our leadership and that is why this foundation is to be established in order to groom leaders among others are the functions of this very important foundation.
“What are the characteristics of leaders?
Leaders should have confidence, strong communication, management skill, creative and innovative thinking, perseverance, willingness to take risks often to change level headed and reactivesness in times of crisis.
“We must accept that expectations are the right of citizens and anticipation is the responsibility of leadership. Expectations for things to be better, expectations to have hope, expectations to have aspirations, for more fulfilling life are indeed the right of the citizens.
“Leadership in whatever form or shape or level has an enviable responsibility to anticipate the yearnings of the people and to meet those expectations. When anticipation meets expectations, there is component of social peace and stability. When hopes are not met because the leadership is ill-prepared to meet such hopes, then we end up with the brain drain.
“The migration of ideas and strengths to places where they can flourish as we now call it is the ‘japa syndrome’. The perceived leadership failures over the years have led to a generation of young citizens wanting to “japa”, other generation reminiscence of fondness mixed with some level of regrets when people continue to believe that the past of a nation was better than its present, then it is a strong call for a reassement of the place of leadership and the mutual responsibility of citizenship, nation building through identification, selection, election and development of quality leaders.
“The leaders you choose at a point in time in history determine the life you will live, the level of improvement in social services, security, and general stability of the nation.
“Consequently, the leadership question cannot be left in the realms of speculations for or in the spare of assumptions. That means we have some problems in the nation.
“When we talk about sustainable development, we are talking about development that takes care of the future. For example in Ibadan, how many companies that used to be here have left and no more in operation,” he said.
He cited various examples including Exide Batteries, Lister Flours that have gone moribund.
“That is what we mean by sustainable development. By now we could have had more industries than what we had before and that is why we are still crying of poor foreign exchange in our country, because we don’t produce. Unless we address these very important questions, we shall never get it right,” Zulum added.
Leading the tributes for Akande, President Bola Tinubu described the former interim All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman as a reliable and dependable ally, whose most enduring aspect of his enviable life is his forthrightness, integrity, reliability and spartan life which he imbibed from his leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Tinubu, represented by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said he probably would not have been president today without Akande’s contributions.
“Baba Akande turning 85 is a landmark achievement that calls for celebration. We must also be thankful to God for his life and for giving the nation an eminent leader like him.
“He remains one of our respected elder statesmen in Nigeria who continues to offer rare insights and counsel on how best to organise our country for effective governance.
“I have benefited immensely from Baba Akande’s good knowledge and perspectives on a wide range of issues as they affect Nigeria and the Western part of the country.
“As an astute politician, Chief Akande has been part of every political epoch in our country since the Second Republic. He was one of the eminent Nigerians that drafted the 1979 constitution, which the amended 1999 constitution, currently in use, largely mirrors. Beyond his sagely contributions to our national development and political evolution over the decades, the most enduring aspect of his enviable life is his forthrightness, integrity, reliability and spartan life which he imbibed from his leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. All these attributes have served him well in all the positions he had the rare honour to occupy in his illustrious life.
“Baba Akande is a sharp and brilliant accountant. He was a former Secretary to the State Government and later Deputy Governor of old Oyo State. He dutifully served the people of Osun State as the Governor with tremendous success from 1999 to 2003.
“A committed democrat, die-hard progressive, and prudent yet compassionate leader of men, Chief Akande has done much for this country and for the progressive family. He has been a prominent architect of our nation’s progressive political parties,” the president said.
He added: “If anyone needs a reliable and dependable compatriot as an ally, Chief Akande is that man anyone can go to battle with. Since we transitioned from the defunct Alliance for Democracy to Action Congress, from Action Congress to Action Congress of Nigeria and now the governing All Progressives Congress, Chief Akande has remained a constant feature. l salute his courage and commitment to democratic and Progressive ideals.
“Whether in public office or later in life in his capacity as pioneer Chairman of ACN or as Interim Chairman of APC, Chief Akande brought honour and integrity into the discharge of his responsibilities.
“He could not have done otherwise. Baba had been sold early in life on those noble values of honesty, integrity, conscience, courage, hard work, perseverance and the importance of a good name among others.
“Highly principled and perceptive, Baba Akande is selfless and intensely patriotic. He gave more to others than he gave himself. What he has given to his family, Osun State Yoruba race, he also gave to this country; the very best.
“For me, Baba has been a close friend, ally and advisor through the years.
“Perhaps, I would not be where I am today as president of this country without the help and support he has given. Many countless other people will also affirm that he has had the same positive effect in their lives as he has in mine.”
Sanwo-Olu also personally extolled Akande’s virtues, saying he was proud to call him a father. The governor highlighted the values from which he said he drew immensely in his career in life.
Earlier in his welcome address, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, recalled his first encounter with Akande in 2007 when he contested as a senator.
Makinde, who chaired the event, said there is need for people to review prospects and recommendations of strategic political leaders such as Akande for better service delivery.
“Let me highlight few of those issues that Baba raised, there can be no better time than the occasion of his 85th birthday to talk briefly about some of the ideals that he stood for.
“We may not be in the same political party, but one of the strongest belief of this great man is that power should be used to benefit the people. In so doing, he advocated for fiscal federalism, restructuring, state police etc.
“I also agree that there’s a vital link between these three constitutional issues and forced type of governance. For example fiscal federalism involves understanding which government functions should be centralised and which should be decentralised.
“You will agree with me that if some of the functions of the Federal Government are decentralised and put in the purview of the state, the people will be begin to focus more on getting their state governors tofunction more effectively. This is part of the article that Baba presented in 1977.
“A case in point is the recent amendment of the recent 1999 constitution (as amended) devolving power generation. I spoke about this with my brother, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu yesterday.
“Generation, transmission and distribution of power is been devolved to the state, so here in Oyo state, citizens asked whey they still do not have a state generated and transmitted power supply. They are asking me that question, so it is a shift in focus to a level of government which is closer to them.
“If they can ask, if they have sent people why are we not having power, you know this is something that has to do with the real development that we desire. We are also waiting to restructure government.
“Those are things that Baba has spoken about and presented as way forward for us as a nation for years. So far, he has been exposing these issues, so it is not too late for us to begin to take actions that show we are learning from this thing.
“Indeed one of the best ways of celebrating our icon, past and present, and honoring their legacy is by examining their thoughts and actions and implementing them in the way that will benefit our people,” Makinde said.
While thanking the guests for the honour done him, the octogenarian sounded a note of warning to politicians about a tribe of criminal Nigerians, who he said were gaining more ground, and who would wage a battle against Nigerian politicians sometime in the future.
Describing them as bagabinds who always accuse politicians of corruption, but who are far more corrupt, Akande listed them to include crude oil thieves, drug barons. fraudsters, ritualists, armed robbers, kidnappers, land grabbers, bandits, cut-corner agents and activists who have turned religious outfits to market, making so much money through them.
He warned politicians to prepare for the Armageddon which the vagabonds would plunge Nigeria into if not curtailed.
“I am becoming afraid because of the battle that is coming, I pray to be alive. If I am alive, I will be behind you. This is going to be a party of vagabonds. They will fight a serious battle with you. Before, vagabonds were few. But they are everywhere now. They try to be in your ampit, living with you. I will name some of them so you will know them and you will know how to fight them. They say politicians are corrupt but they are more corrupt, and are gaining more grounds with the people. They are coming to fight you. They are richer. They include drug barons, crude oil thieves, fraudsters, ritualists, armed robbers, kidnappers, land grabbers, bandits, cut-corner agents and activists. They have turned religious outfits to market, making so much money through them. And they are becoming more and more popular. All business manipulators. They call you politicians corrupt but they are more corrupt.
“Sadly we are in a Nigeria where everybody is getting corrupt. They are coming to fight you. They are in wards, state meetings and struggling to become leaders. The Armageddon is coming. I wish you the best,” he said.
The event attracted the six South West governors, some former governors, current and serving National Assembly members, private sector leaders, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from Osun and Oyo States and some Akande’s friends from the North.
A significant guest was a notable 96-year old politician, Alh. Tanko Yakassai, who also poured encomiums on the celebrant. Yakassai is Akande’s friend of many decades.