barack obama tax plan chart
Is Obama’s Tax Plan Best for Your Family?

NIGERIA AND value-based leadership

Nigeria and the values-based leadership

By Gbenga Kayode

Leadership is an issue that affects all humanity. However, the true visionaries and leaders are hard to find. Not only are we affected by this phenomenon, but too are called to exercise it. Whether you are involved in the conduct of government or business, guiding young minds, leading to a family, a team sport or a committee, organizing a dinner, a class project, a shared ride or a home, or just standing for what is right at all times of human effort everyone has a leadership role to play. In other words, they are each called to be stewards of what is right and good, durable and value for ours in a time or another.

Is due to an obvious gap in leadership worthy, responsible in many countries around the world that these composers were released until recently much: "What happened to leadership Have all the great leaders disappeared from the world stage?" The search of true leadership, based in values ​​is not limited to the global arena, but is also relevant to the task of socio-political transformation, cultural, and moral education in developing economies as Nigeria.

And why true leaders need to demonstrate leadership values? Values ​​are considered estimates that are inherently qualities desirable and relevance. That's why experts in the humanities have described values ​​as "our essence, the special essence of who we are as human beings." Such demonstrable and genuine values ​​in which the Nigerian society must be based on include transparency, patriotism, personal integrity, fear of God, courage, leadership transformational, accountability, vision, creativity, knowledge, character and passion.

The leadership also has been described as a form of service. To lead effectively, then a leader must be willing to meet the needs of individuals in the team or group. Be recalled when he realized the inadequacy perceptible in the direction of some economies in Europe, London Sunday Times published an article entitled "What happened to the real leaders?"

In a write-up, readers were asked a series of probing questions as the following:? "Would you expect to learn anything from them (leaders) Do you expect them to do something inspiring or creative, or just right? We have reached to a low real leadership, lower than at any other time in recent history …."

The fact applies not only in the Western world where people to combat the problems of leadership in the past, also applicable to the situation in Nigeria as the most populous Black fame on the needs of the land is values-based visionary leadership. It is a powerful motivator, very ripe for the emergence of a right kind of leadership that can offer Nigerians from the clutches of his many socio-economic problems resulting from poor management or mismanagement.

While stressing the need for anyone entrusted with the sacred trust of leadership in any human community, Walter Lippmann, a late American newspaper commentator, in his syndicated column "Today and tomorrow", however, had tried other description of leaders as "guardians of the ideals of a nation, professing beliefs, their hopes permanent, the faith that makes a nation a mere aggregation of individuals. "

According to Lippmann, the word literally refers to a keeper, guardian or caregiver, which is a word proactive involving action by the wearer. That is, the custodians of the mandate of the people simply hold as in trust on behalf of others. In other words, custody does not imply a behavior motivated by self-interest, inappropriate development that Nigerians daily witness in various aspects of national life.

Today is no longer news in the country to see the mass media are inundated with shocking and disturbing news of reckless inflation of contract sums, the disappearance of false contractors after collecting the mobilization of funds, or often the entire amount of the contract, looting treasures blind with impunity, banditry, the culture of waste, the absolute lack of vision by the leadership, endless hopes dashed, and the lack of creativity in the art of governing, and cases of projects poor quality white elephant cum important irrelevant to the aspirations of the population.

As if the ostensibly light-fingered invasive approach taken by many leaders at different levels of government is not enough, a new dimension, of course, has been introduced to strengthen the looting of the nation's conspiracy collective wealth. It is simply overwhelming these days, as Nigerians can not do anything, continue to hear or read horrific stories of financial mismanagement under various forms, and the apparent looting of the treasury reported in the media. This is supposedly committed by both appointed and elected leaders in active collusion with public officials largely ineffective, shameless and forcibly collecting toll carriers and / or drivers of the men and officers of the Police Nigeria in the country's roads, absolute deviations of the legal powers originally budgeted for projects and programs, to private accounts for personal use corrupt leaders.

Although they are not a perfect system, a former U.S. ambassador in Nigeria in the late regime of General Sani Abacha, Mr. Walter Carrington, at a seminar held recently in Lagos, made a comparative analysis of sustained leadership afflicting Nigeria purpose, which obtains in the United States (U.S.) in relation to values-based leadership. Carrington, specifically mentioned the progressive advances U.S. has been recording over time to the extent that "racism and nepotism "were disappearing rapidly in the United States, thus paving the way for an African-American (obviously referring to Barack Obama) to win the support of most Americans to occupy the White House from the official headquarters of the U.S. Government in Washington DC According to him, instead of advancing different the loss of a value system in Nigeria has made corruption, the concept of "indigeneship", vandalism and political violence continue to be important in the body politic of the country.

It is not unexpected to see why some people wonder aloud if the responsibility, accountability and sense integrity can never be restored in the political dictionary of the current generation of leaders. Perhaps, individuals and groups who frantically, the desire for change significant socio-political life in the country, I think in the context of apparent purpose of leadership, focus that characterized the era of the founding fathers Nigeria, as late Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto), Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Murtala Muhammed, Osadebey Osita, Muhammadu Buhari, and others who have sacrificed much to ensure the welfare of the masses. With their own share of the challenges of managing human affairs to this day Today, leaders of yesteryear are remembered forever as a result of his strength of character, discipline, loyalty and patriotism.

In fact, with nostalgia, one can not but be surprised by the depth of passion is exemplified in the communication of past Nigerian leaders as regards the exercise of their economic programs for the welfare of the people. It is very uplifting for any discerning Nigerians, especially youth, to listen to a program entitled: "The memory of our heroes," a production of Radio Nigeria Network News transmitted by the station management every Monday as a prelude to the commemoration of Nigeria's Golden Jubilee. It is believed revive and reflect on memorable experiences of this great Nigerian would be a new impetus both to the ongoing efforts in Nigeria Project Renaming the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, an initiative to generate moral revival and rebirth national citizenship.

Intrestingly deserves a mention that in our days, there are still men and women of substance who exemplify the rare values ​​based leadership and courage in service to humanity in both the public and private sector Nigeria's economy. Research has shown that Nigerians like Dr. Christopher Kolade (also known as Mr. Integrity) Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Professor Wole Soyinka, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Sanusi Sanusi Lamido, Abubakar Omar, and other numerous to mentioned here fall into this category. Such people are said to have continued to hold his head high and positions outside the authority despite widespread corruption influences around him. Are certainly a great example of the generation in particular young people.

However, a large number of people believe that what you get now is just a question of a corrupt leader associating himself with any of the vicious cliques hungry individuals whose actions in trade is to carry out his country down until eternity. It is, therefore, is not uncommon to hear the word awesome, 'conspiracy' at all times in speeches political and social. The masses of our people without effort, have been classified as doubtful leaders as belonging to any oil cabal, cabal power electric generators or import rice cabal, cabal political power, or Kabbalah fertilizer business, including more amorphous. Over the years, these groups are believed to have been successful, like, absurdly, to continue working against the collective will of the Nigerian people on all fronts.

Nigerian seek elective political office, with nothing to offer the general population should be discouraged from now. Again, as guardians of the people's mandate for serve and manage their combined resources for the betterment of society, people in positions of leadership should know and chart the way forward for the pilot, defend is best for everyone, but may not be in their interest to do so. Its role has custody must be addressed as a function of time, the preservation of something larger than the auto-lasting value early in the service.

It embodies an attitude which focuses on the task and not as a leader can gain from the position he or she has. Interestingly, implies a loving and caring between leaders and followers, but also involves individuals motivated by their constituents interest.

Consequently, these seem contrary to what happens on earth. In many places in the country today, we held appointed or elected leaders nothing in the confidence of those who seek to serve. Instead, it is abundance of looting, while tens of them just keep advancing their own ideals, hopes and aspirations to keep their fans and frustrated forever. Where there is no common vision to be shared and updated, it is often difficult to tell if the leaders of Nigeria as selfish are serving their people in a meaningful way.

poor reward system has been identified as a major factor, probably many instigates a conscious leader, avid appropriate billions of taxpayers' money to themselves in the name of "allowances", or in many cases, some resort to outright looting of the treasures, regardless of what happens to them after leaving office.

But then, why corruption institutionalized in the system of the nation? An unidentified foreigner who has lived in Nigeria for some time, cited to answer this difficult question this way: "To become corrupt is almost inevitable, because the moral relaxing in the society (Nigeria), and not many people struggle to survive state assistance."

Mismanagement, deceit and greed without limits, just remain the eternal characteristics of the system, as well as economic, presumably with a great view, development plans for the implementation gather dust on shelves. However, many questions that everyone wants answers. And Nigerians concerned have continued to ask rhetorically: "Where are our leaders leading? Who can find the direction we take with respect to updating the much-touted dream of Nigeria? For many, the revival of the different sectors of the nation's economy for the benefit of the generality of People seem desperate.

The selfish nature of some leaders have been demanding problems in the system of Nigeria in recent times. Mismanagement continued not only has built a culture of corruption, impunity, political mischief, looting the treasury irrational, servility, cult of personality leadership without purpose, and rampant disillusionment among the people of Nigeria to await the arrival of a new order in the current system.

too bad leadership has promoted all forms of corrupt activities prevalent in the country now. This, some say, include political, bureaucratic, embezzlement of electoral funds, corruption and bribery. Political corruption that takes place at the highest levels of political authority, is a "corruption of greed. "affects the way decisions are made, manipulates and distorts political institutions and rules of procedure.

And the direct effect this aphid throughout the system? Corruption tarnishes the image of a nation, perhaps, as someone recently said, "that is why Nigeria suffers more than Most companies of international frightening image created by his inability to deal with bribery and corruption. "

Measures to move the country forward for a purpose, values-based leadership, the nation urgently need to get the right acts, retrace your steps that since much time was wrong: anyone who aspires to lead others, regardless of what aspect of the nation's life must be a person who understands the essence legitimately selfless service center on leadership, not individuals that do not really understand anything about leadership, but how much or she could steal from the public.

It should be borne in mind that anyone who aspires to lead the Nigerians not have exceptional values ​​and ideals such as personal integrity, honesty, justice, belief in the eventual success of the Nigerian company accountability, and trust is probably a walk. The current generation of leaders should learn to lead by example and hope to instill in followers for the emergence of a better nation.

According to George Washington in his inaugural speech as former President of the United States while encouraging fellow American leaders to avoid his lips, he was informed that stated: "… the propitious smiles the sky can not be expected of a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained. "

Stressing the need for adequate integrity and effective leadership also, John Adair, a visiting professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Surrey and Exeter in England, once said: "… I firmly believe that maintaining the sovereign securities outside of you grow a whole personality and moral strength of character. The person of integrity will always be tested. The first real test comes when the demands of truth or conflict with their own interests or prospects. What to choose? "A food for thought reality.

Leadership qualities combined with the positional power to expand the capacity of an individual to attract major supporters. Through a concept some have described as self-interest that promises to move Nigeria forward, those responsible for leadership responsibilities must always learn to exercise those interests that align with the objectives of development. As a friend said, "everyone benefits when we do things right."

Kayode, media and professional communication, writes from Lagos.