“I was elated when in a unique church gathering with other people in attendance in the year 2018, before the 2019 elections, the revered man of God, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, made a passionate appeal to all attendees to please go and register as party members at the ward level in any political party of their choices. At that instant, I cast a furtive glance at my wife because before that time I have been bemused with pastors castigating politics and politicians, only after winning elections, this same set of pastors welcome such politicians who are now holders of higher offices in government with high honour qualifying them to sit in exalted seats that even some senior ministers of God cannot sit! However, I would have wished that the statement was made at a larger forum, and possibly repeatedly.” – John Ekundayo, Nation, Sunday 22nd January 2023.

It was during the time of two-party politics in Nigeria. The electoral process adopted in choosing candidates at the polls was the Option A4. It was a system where the registered voters, on the day of election, will queue behind the photograph of the preferred candidate. There was this interesting and intriguing incident that took place in my hometown that is related to the topic of this article. There was one of the candidates already being celebrated as the winner, even before the election. In dramatic twists and turns, in less than 12 hours to the commencement of voting, some people from certain segments of the community, were vehement and vociferous. There was no electricity then in my hometown. Determined as they were, they went from house-to-house in the night to sway and swing voters’ preferences to the other candidate who was seemingly less fancied. This subterranean political persuasion worked as the day of the election witnessed the loss of the seemingly popular candidate! This columnist’s mother took part in that election. Heraccount was emotionally worth learning from. She recounted that in her polling unit she was the only one queuing up behind the photograph of the candidate who eventually lost. Her raison d’etre: the candidate was her close relative and never would she vote against him. She also made sure she did not sit on the fence by not participating in the election. Lessons learnt: one day may be too long in politics to dictate a swing or shift. In addition, interests could be diverse in a clan, community, county and country. In this episode, the incident occurred that way because it took place in a clustered clan-like community. However, one thing to take away: interests of registered voters or electorates. On a larger scale, especially the presidential elections or gubernatorial elections, covering vast communities, districts and/or regions, there will be diversified interests that will dictate the choices that the voters will make on the day of the election.

Regional and Religious Raison d’etre

Truth be told, the Buhari administration at the centre has exacerbated or thickened than any government of the past the regional and religious lines amongst discerning Nigerians. This has been depicted in skewed appointments of key men and women of northern extraction and mostly of his own faith in key government appointments. It is as if the Federal Character Commission (FCC) set up to moderate and ensure equity by adhering to a quota system in such matters does not exist! It was the thinking of certain elders of the church that at his coming in 2019, he would possibly turn over a new leaf, alas, there was no reprieve. Moreover, there was the perceived preference for his own kith and kin to the detriment of other tribes in other regions. This columnist pinpointed this in a series of articles calling on Baba Buhari to act as the real father of the big house called Nigeria. It was too little, and too late. Any wonder, the southern governors vouching overtly for the zoning of the presidency to the south? It was a truism that the Church suffered great casualties resulting from banditry and terrorism under this government possibly more than any other government in history. This is the crux of thematter why certain leaders of the Church are exhibiting so much angst against the ruling party’s choosing a Muslim from the north to be running mate to another Muslim from the south as the party’s presidential flag bearer. This columnist has gone down this lane to justify the Church’s unfavorable disposition to the ruling party and would like to make a categorial stand on 25th February 2023. However, the Church is in an apparent conundrum as her members are strong stakeholders or chieftains in these leading political parties fielding presidential candidates. Which party should the church side with in this seeming scenario? In essence, the church is clamouring for an interest in 2023 but appears to be in a conundrum in voicing her choice of preferred candidate regarding the presidential election.

Lessons Learnt and Way Forward

It is high time the church released her best eleven that have the call into government (politics). This set of people should be harvested from denomination to denomination. Thereafter, there should be proper, proactive and practical training for them that may include serving as interns involved in community service while being monitored and evaluated. Secondly, there should be repeated clarion calls for these set of people to go to the units and wards in their chosen party and be part and parcel of grassroots party politics. It is at the ward levels delegates are chosen and vital decisions are incubated within the party. Poser: how much could the church do for the incumbent Vice President, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, when he was aspiring to become the presidential flag bearer of the ruling party? I know the answer many will give: we prayed. We have been doing that all along, how has it changed the narrative? If there have been many committed Christian delegates, there might have been a different outcome at the primary election of his party. This columnist, in the course of being an exemplary follower and ethnographic researcher, was supporting a gubernatorial aspirant in 2014 in a state in the south west and was one of the people in the inner circle. At the end of the day, I shook my head and was sorry for the elites of this country who churn out big grammar especially in the social media when I beheld the quality of men and women that were the delegates. There were some of them who were semi-illiterates while some could hardly differentiate their left from their right indeciding real matters affecting the community and state. This is the scenario virtually all over Nigeria. I was recounting this incident in a friend’s office in Lagos in which one of the leading party stalwarts was present. My friend was the CEO of his organization with many seated in his spacious office when suddenly the facial expression of this party chieftain changed! He shouted: “send this man out of this place!” Why? He knew I was hitting the nail on the head! Thirdly, and this is related to the previous point, the Church, denomination by denomination, should be involved in leadership cum followership research studies. The RCCG Directorate of Politics and Governance, for instance, has its job already cut out! These studies would unravel in empirical manner: the voting patterns of the church in past elections; what percentage of eligible church members register, and eventually vote; what motivates members’ participation, especially the youths, in party politics and politicking; the role of mother and fathers in family participation in the electoral process; the followership typologies extant within the Church and what to do to address this, etc. The last point mentioned is germane. What are followership typologies within the Church, and why is the knowledge imperative? They are classified in followership literatures as alienated, passive, conformist, pragmatist and exemplary – according to the leading scholar in followership studies, Professor Robert E. Kelly. For instance, if they are more alienated followers, it means the Church may be apolitical in content; and if most of the Church members are conformist, they would go with whatever the pastor says on political matters; however, if they are exemplary, they would engage with the political process whilst independent thinking will guide their choices rather than the pastor dictating the way to go. In this vein, dictating the direction to vote from the pulpit for exemplary followers may not hold water. 

Concluding this piece, this columnist will want to stress the need to be our brothers’ keepers. Biblical Joseph made provision for his brothers and their families as shepherds in Egypt. It is sordid and sad that many Christians in government hardly remember their brothers and sisters while in office. This columnist could vividly recount the camaraderie amongst Muslims brothers and sisters while working as a civilservant in Alausa Secretariat while the same was not perceived among Christians. There was a time one of my senior directors was appealing to me to be a regular worshipper at the Chapel, Alausa. I initially consented but while I perceived lack of love among the flock, I reconsidered my decision and rather adhered to fellowshipping with my local denomination. What is the use of carrying a big Bible and you are inaccessible or unreachable to your brother and sister in Christ? This columnist reached out to the erstwhile Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, a Muslim, via an email while studying in Malaysia. He was God-sent to offer me a scholarship to complete my PhD research in Malaysia, and subsequently offered yours sincerely a pensionable job in the prestigious Lagos State Civil Service. I was on that beat till I retired meritoriously in January 2021. In conclusion, it is high time the Church began preparation towards 2027 in order to make an impact in our country better than previous election years. We are the salt and light of the world; and thus, positioned to teach the world wisdom. The time to act starts from now; and the Church acting should be unanimous, collaborative whilst seeking harmoniously and peacefully the interests of her members. This could be on denomination basis as well as through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). It could even happen that Muslims and Christians may collaborate to ward off the possibility of an atheist emerging in future as the President. In essence, it is of wisdom to avoid confronting any party or flag bearer based on religious instinct or inclination for now. What are the cherished, cogent and crucial interests of the Church? Will these and others things the Church desire be taken into cognizance by the candidates? This should be the Church’s disposition for 2023. One good and gladdening thing: the Church, through CAN, has opened her doors to the leading presidential flag bearers to intimate her with their programmes for the citizens. The onus should be on the individual followers or voters to make up their minds on their choices at the 25th February poll. It is less than a month from now!

John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via +2348030598267 (WhatsApp only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

“…It is instructive to state that this book in your hand is not a biography of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola rather it is a contribution to knowledge, in a formal manner, as there is a dearth of peer reviewed resources when researching issues bothering on leadership and followership in Nigeria. While one is not disputing that Nigeria’s academics have done a lot, many of the works done are published locally with no provision for a link of such works on the internet in these days of digital technology. In essence, this book will be bridging a gap, shedding a light and enhancing knowledge as far as the leadership issue in West Africa particularly in Nigeria is concerned.”  – John Ekundayo, in “OUT OF AFRICA: FASHOLA – Reinventing Servant Leadership To Engender Nigeria’s Transformation”, AuthorHouse UK, 2013, pp. xxxi.

IT is a truism that Nigeria had experienced great leaders in Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mallam Aminu Kano, etc., However, many great leadership strides taken by these leaders were not captioned appropriately, particularly in digital format. In essence, this columnist took it upon himself to write a treatise on the followers’ perceptions of the Fashola’s leadership approach in Lagos. In similar fashion, this columnist has been on the trail of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; tracking his trajectory as a politician and statesman. The new treatise, made up of 293 pages, published by Amazon titled: “TINUBU: TRAJECTORY TO THE THRONE” is available in three formats, namely: kindle (e-book), paperback and hardcover. There is a terse teaser available on Amazon.com to the treatise:

“This treatise targeted at the trajectory of titanic and enigmatic Tinubu is worth reading for enlightenment, education and enquiry relating to the leadership – followership dyad within Nigeria’s context of politics and politicking. The man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is so many things to many people. He is enigmatic and a mysterious phenomenon within the political landscape. In another perspective, to some set of people, he is a controversial political person of influence that possesses the capacity and capability to tilt the political equation to the favour of any side he supports, one way or the other. Equally, to another set of political observers, analysts and opinion molders, Tinubu is the cerebral strategist that can give the opposition headache as the latter may not be able to decode his next sagacious cum strategic step. Succinctly and saliently stated, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be tagged as the seeming stormy petrel of party politics and politicking within Nigeria’s context…”

Tasting The Teaser

Hereunder is a pull out of the prologue to the book served as a teaser to followers of this column:

“The man in the saddle in the Centre of Excellence, as Lagos is fondly referred to by Lagosians, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in the eye of the storm in 2003. There was an epoch-making event in which he was involved in as the Governor. He was the arrowhead of a seeming revolt and rebellious act that the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was not favourable disposed to. To the man in the saddle in Lagos, if Nigeria is really a federal republic, the state should have the latitude to function in such a way as to bring governance to the people at the grassroots. Following this tinkering, his government created additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The government at the centre in Abuja frowned at this seeming awkward development.

“How dare Tinubu to confront and challenge the ‘presidential’ powers of Baba Obasanjo? He was outrightly audacious as many presupposed. The erstwhile president decided surreptitiously to withhold local government allocation to the State of Aquatic Splendour – Lagos. The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as a panelist in Ado Ekiti at an economic summit, saliently stated inter alia: “During my time as a commissioner in Lagos, we started with N600 million monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 1999. The seizure of Lagos funds by President Olusegun Obasanjo made us to think like a sovereign state. Today, Lagos is making over N45 billion monthly.” Albeit painful, the Lagos State Government took the Federal Government to court and the Supreme Court was on the side of Lagos.

“Howbeit, the helmsman at the centre did not blink an eye. He acted autocratically as a typical soldier in agbada thinking that a civilian president is synonymous in wielding absolute power as a military head of state. He acted erratically and erroneously. It paid off for Lagos, as in the words of the then Honourable Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, it made Lagos to launch into a learning curve of shoring up her Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Moreover, when the successor of Chief Obasanjo came into power, Alhaj Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he graciously released all the withheld fund of Lagos to the then administration of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. The culminative effect was that this act emboldened and encouraged other states who were hitherto intimidated by the seeming ubiquitous federal government to establish local government council areas toeing the step of Lagos. This they did in trying to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots. Imagine, presently, if Alimoso Local Government Area (LGA) is still being administered as one entity. Alimoso in land mass and population is apparently bigger than Singapore – a south east Asia nation!

“It is interesting and intriguing to bring to bear the usual sobriquet: “the last man standing” used for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group at a time was synonymous with the party, Alliance for Democracy (AD). AD was the ruling party in the south west states of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Lagos. In the previous presidential election of 1999, the People Democratic Party (PDP), despite having a Yoruba man as the presidential candidate, in person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, did not gain upper hand in that election in the region. However, in 2003, PDP, through seemingly deceitful deft moves of Obasanjo, wanted to have in-road into the southwest through an accord or alliance with the AD. It was mutually agreed that AD Governors would support Obasanjo in the presidential election while he would let them have their way in returning as helmsmen of their states for the second term. Bola Tinubu smelt a rat! He, in principle, did not follow the others in turning his state to PDP in the presidential election. He was the only and odd man out. That saved him as the others lost their seats in the bandwagon effect that attended to the presidential election. The Jagaban Borgu, Tinubu, was the only Governor that returned for the second term. Hence, the sobriquet: “the last man standing!” Till date, the erstwhile President Obasanjo and his ilk, in PDP, could not forgive Tinubu for denying them access to the juicy seat of Lagos. BAT could not be outwitted in that political game of wits!

“Has anyone been a major player in the successful merger of political parties culminating in a strong and robust party that subsequently wrested power from a ruling party that once pompously posited of being in power consistently and consecutively for 60 years? Not really. All that Nigeria has experienced in our political history was reaching an accord, like the one between the then NPN (National Party of Nigeria) and NPP (Nigeria People’s Party) in the infamous 2nd republic spanning 1979 to 1983. However, in 2012, there was highhandedness with indecorous manifestation of impunity by the leaders of the ruling party, the People Democratic Party (PDP).

“It would be a seeming overstatement to say that the then ruling party was drifting and the centre could not hold as the political storm and crisis that bedevilled the party, PDP, resulted in the emergence of a splinter group within the party. This splinter group was referred to as the new-PDP. In addition, the prevailing and pervading cluelessness of the soul of the then ruling party, PDP, ignited in the convergence and congruence of notable like minds in the opposition parties. These core crucial and cerebral minds began congregating days and nights while traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria. At the arrow head of these political jaw-jaw and manoeuvrings were the top leaders in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Notably among these leaders were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ACN), General Muhammed Buhari (retired) (CPC), Chief Ogbonaya Onu (ANPP), Owelle Rochas Okorocha (APGA) to mention a few. However, to many chieftains of PDP, the political savvy, skilfulness and sagacity of the enigmatic and titanic Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) is the nexus ensuring the huge success of the merger of seemingly rag-tag ‘strange bedfellows’ that later culminated as the APC. This happened in February 2013. Ultimately, the presidential election of 2015 sounded the death knell of the PDP signalling the first election that would unseat a ruling party. Enter APC, with her presidential elect, Muhammad Buhari who was later sworn in as the dejure President on 29th May 2023. The man at the centre of that handshake between the north and south was undoubtedly Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom. Anyone still wondering why the northern Governors under the auspices of APC came together and decided in the spirit of fairness, justice and equity to categorically inform the party, that unlike the main opposition party, PDP, the ruling party better look to the south for the presidential flag bearer in paying back the people of the south. The architect of the historic merger was Asiwaju Tinubu buoyed and boosted by many other stalwarts.

“Drawing the curtain on the scripting of this prologue, it is enlightening and educating sharing this episode to nail the unfounded fears on the raging issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket the opposition parties are peddling in a pedestrian manner against the ruling party, APC. This author was highly honoured to be part of the esteemed guests at the send forth event of the then Honourable Commissioner of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), Lagos State, in person of Ben Akabueze, having served meritoriously in that capacity for nine years! One of the years was with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu while the remaining eight years were with Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, as the helmsman in the state. It is intriguing and interesting to state that towards the end of the event, Akabueze, though usually terse and taciturn in attitude, especially in personal matters, suddenly opened up on how he, an Igbo man, found his way into the cabinet of Lagos State.

“According to the senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), while working in the financial sector, he got to know Asiwaju Tinubu. He was already contacted for an appointment in his home state, when out of the blue, Tinubu beckoned to him that Lagos is equally home to him, and the Centre of Excellence would need his service. He obliged. He served nine years with a lot of sustainable reforms lauded by national and international bodies. This author was privileged to serve under Pastor Ben Akabueze and could attest to his competence, capability, credibility and cerebral acumen. Any skeptics still out there peddling and positing vociferously the line against Tinubu-Shettima ticket of the ruling APC as aimed at harming or hurting Christians and the interests of the Church? It is unfounded as this author served in Lagos State Civil Service, though originally from Ekiti State, and of the Christian faith, and prior to this time, was graciously offered a scholarship to complete his PhD research study in Malaysia during the tenure of a Muslim Governor, in person of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.”

This treatise tracks the trajectory of the titanic Tinubu and is available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRDDVLB7

Looking forward to your feedback till I meet you on this page next week. Grateful for your interest.

John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via +2348030598267 (WhatsApp only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

“Today, the questions you all you must ask yourselves are these: who can be trusted to accomplish all of this? The man who has done it before, or the man whose most lasting achievement as Vice President is the corrupt sale of national assets to his friends and cronies?

“Who has the better plan? The man whose blueprint guided the emergence of Lagos State as fifth largest economy in Africa or the man whose greatest pride is the amount of money he managed to bury in sand while his state’s infrastructure decayed and its workers suffered endless hardship?

“The choice is yours …” (sic) – Tinubu @ Town Hall Meeting with NLC and TUC, Abuja

IT is Christmas day! Blessed be God Almighty for the Perfect Gift bequeathed to the world in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is not Xmas but Christmas we should celebrate in remembering the Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Now to the matter of the day. This columnist was called upon to be a guest on a live radio programme whilst on a journey a few days ago. There was no prior information as to the time and details; the journalist’s appeal was granted because as a researcher, opinion molder and public affairs analyst, I have learnt to “be prepared” like the Boys’ Scout motto. The live interview was to commence within five minutes of his call. The car pulled up at a safe place off the road. One pointed question posted to me was: with up to two months of the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s (BAO) administration in Ekiti, what is the visible achievement on ground? Instinctively, the professional civil/structural engineer in me was aroused. In responding, yours sincerely depicted an analogy. In any building construction, the foundation stage takes time and tinkering in erection. Equally, the edifice’s size, stature and structure will dictate the type and nature of the foundation. Moreover, and very vital, the nature of the soil is critical to the foundation design and construction. If the ground is marshy or swampy, and a tall building (like 20 floors) is to be erected, the foundation will likely be on piles and may take a few months to be erected. However, if it is a bungalow, in a firm and rocky ground, the foundation will be built within possibly a week, provided the men, materials, money and machinery are available and sufficient. In essence, depending on the blueprint or building plan possessed by the builder, two months or even six months may be inadequate a time span to evaluate objectively the performance of a governor or president in the saddle. In essence, building is a process involving drawing up a plan, setting it out, amassing the inputs (men, money, materials, machinery), directing the inputs accordingly to accomplish the tasks (output), tracking or monitoring the steps to ensure scheduled milestones are accomplished, etc.

Leadership: Perspectives and Processes

Analogically, building is a process akin to leadership. Leadership is a process; no more a personality or great person in power: this is the concurrence among scholars involved in leadership and followership studies globally.  In succinctly surmising it, the acclaimed pioneer scholar in the field of leadership studies, Professor Bennis Warren opined: “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” In law, there is a term referred to as ‘caveat emptor’ meaning buyer beware. Hence, any supposed leader pussyfooting with a strategic footprint (manifesto) is seemingly taking followers for a ride. The manifesto is synonymous with the builder’s blueprint or plan. The perspectives of the leader are encapsulated in the manifesto, and for a presidential candidate that was apparently coerced into crafting a manifesto after months of foot dragging, former Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), is seemingly unprepared for the onerous task of casting a vision talk less of actualizing one! Leader looks at, analyses and processes perspectives in an inclusive context to arrive at a policy that will be a win -win for both the followers and leader. This is the ideal value laden leadership prevalent in strategic, servant and transformational leadership approaches. This is a far cry from the dominant and pervading transactional leadership style which is more of what is in it for me. As 25th February 2023 beckons, the date of the presidential poll, followers are to tinker and tune to the stand and stake of the popular leadership practitioner and mentor, John Maxwell, who rightly posited: “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” This columnist is challenging the mass of followers to come out of ethnic, tribal and religious cocoons and choose a credible, cerebral and capable man to be in the saddle come 29th May 2023; imperatively, one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. How can followers decipher and discern these traits in the man to choose? Pedigree.

Pedigree: Precursor of Performance

It is stated in Yoruba common parlance: “eniti o ma da’so fun eniyan, torun e lanwo” (meaning: he who promises to sow you a cloth, you should look well at the one he is putting on). Saliently and succinctly stated, this was the pristine perspective of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the town hall meeting in Abuja, the Federal Capital, involving the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). He simply and squarely stated inter alia: “Today, the questions you all you must ask yourselves are these: who can be trusted to accomplish all of this? The man who has done it before, or the man whose most lasting achievement as Vice President is the corrupt sale of national assets to his friends and cronies?

“Who has the better plan? The man whose blueprint guided the emergence of Lagos State as fifth largest economy in Africa or the man whose greatest pride is the amount of money he managed to bury in sand while his state’s infrastructure decayed and its workers suffered endless hardship?

“The choice is yours …” (sic)

What a challenge thrown at the opposition camps of the duo of the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, and People Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar! Critically and cautiously, perusing the contents of the statements, one cannot but conclude on pedigree. Definitely, followers cannot afford to gift the presidency to a non-performer in public office, especially fixating on previous records in office of the trio of Tinubu, Obi and Atiku. Tinubu words are seemingly sacrosanct and without any gainsaying, Tinubu towers heads and shoulders above the duo of Atiku and Obi in this regard. The processing of perspectives resulting, overtime, in strategic policy formulation and execution has culminated in making Lagos, the once dirtiest state, to be the wealthiest. Albeit, Lagos being a state, is a subnational within the awkward federal government of Nigeria, it is the acclaimed 5th economy in Africa, if it was reckoned as a country, and not a state. What a way to measure development in concrete terms from 1999 to 2022! It is pertinent to mention in arriving here, that the State of Aquatic Splendour, Lagos, has been consistent in the choice of courageous, credible and capable leaders within the same political family. This columnist can attest to this having served under three helmsmen within the prestigious Lagos State Civil Service. It is on record that I served as Director, Monitoring and Evaluation under Fashola, Ambode and Sanwo-Olu tenures before meritoriously bowing out in January 2021 at the attainment of the statutory retirement age of 60. No other state has been as favourably disposed as Lagos. The credit should be given to Tinubu for spotting, attracting, pulling, nurturing and mentoring talents (followers) into capable and cerebral leaders who could hold their own in any context. Any living leader in the present-day Nigeria depicting this adroit and adept strategic skills in this fashion and mold?

In concluding this piece, it is imperative for followers to watch out for a foresighted leader come 2023. Nigeria is in such a dire damning existential fiasco whilst seemingly tottering towards apparent economic eclipse. It is when followers collaboratively jettison puerile, pedestrian and pecuniary perspectives that Nigeria could come up, and out, of any socio-economic and political quagmire. Hence, the followers must choose right on 25th February 2023. They must not settle for a manager but a sagacious leader, tinkering in tandem with the positing of a famous leadership scholar and advisor to four United States of America (USA) presidents, Professor Warren Bennis: “the manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.” The dire need of the moment as 2023 presidential poll beckons is for followers to choose a leader that could challenge the status quo ante, and not one who’s manifesto depicts a micro – managing of the country that is apparently sulking and sinking through rarified regional and religious remonstrations. Surmising it, based on tracking leadership processes, perspectives, policies and pedigrees; simultaneously taking cognizance of records whilst in public office, the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is adjudged as the man suited for the job of fixing this ailing country come 29th May 2023.

• John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via +2348030598267 (WhatsApp only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com.

“This dereliction of duty from the centre is the main reason why people have been unable to engage in regular agrarian activity and commerce. Today, rural areas are insecure, markets are unsafe, travel surety is improbable … The opinion, therefore, of one minister, based on a survey of 56,000 households in a country of 200 million people can never diminish the good work that 36 pro-poor-minded governors are doing for this country.” – AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Director of Media and Public Affairs.

THERE was a village tucked between a forest and a bit of savannah vegetation. Surrounding villages are interconnected with this hamlet with foot paths laced with undulating hills and mountains. In this particular village, snakes are not a common sight. Possibly, the dangerous reptiles are kowtowing the ancient scriptural connotation: “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Albeit, they exist in numbers, particularly the green-coloured species; mostly lurking surreptitiously under the lush green grass. There have been some instances of poisonous snake bites occurring within farmlands, playing fields and precincts of houses in and around this hamlet. It is on record that while a few of these nauseating incidents have resulted in cutting short precious human lives, many have caused untold hurt, harm and losses to victims and their loved ones. On a particular day, two relatives were going to the farm – a man and woman in their early thirties. In addition, both of them were armed with cutlasses. Suddenly, a slow-moving serpent emerged a few metres away from the footpath approaching a flat rocky surface. Instinctively, the woman was nearer the slow-moving reptile, and the man thought the onus lied on her to kill the serpent. Simultaneously, the woman was of the opinion that the man, being the male and, usually the head of a household in a normal village setting, should be proactive in cutting off the head of the snake. Indecision and insensitivity led to the escape of the snake into the bush! This incidence illustrated in this short story is amplified by a Yoruba wise saying: “Ki okunrin r’ejo, ki obirin pa ejo, ki ejo sa maa ti saa lo” (meaning: “A man may first see a snake while a woman succeeds in killing it; what matters at the end of the day is that the slithering reptile does not escape”).

Germane Governors’ Grouse

There is a common ground of accord in the face off between the governors and federal government. The states’ helmsmen concurred that poverty pervades the rural areas in comparison with the semi and urban areas. In the words of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), through its Director of Media and Public Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, he poignantly posited: “while rightly pointing out that 72 per cent of the poverty in Nigeria is found in the rural areas, the minister said that the rural populace had been abandoned by governors,” However, the governors’ germane grouse lies in the pervading insecurity ravaging most parts of the country with its attendant negative impact on agribusiness. Virtually and relatively, all parts of this country are affected with more concomitant consequences in the regions such as the north west and north east. Pointedly, Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, has been at daggers’ drawn with the government at the centre for upwards of two years with some indigenes of that state losing lives and limbs. In fact, some of them have lost their farmlands to rampaging killer herdsmen whilst surviving farmers have eloped to other states to ply their trade. In essence, some governors have a gory story to tell. In essence, it is high time the Federal Government squarely and saliently addressed insecurity slowing down agricultural, economic and social activities in our rural communities. Here, the government at the centre has nowhere to hide! The best of the Federal Government in taming insecurity has not been tangibly seen by Nigerians especially the farmers in the rural areas. However, of late, the security forces have doubled their efforts in stemming the tide. Much more still needs to be done for the needed respite to be achieved!

There was the issue of the Anchor Borrowers Programme raised by the minister. He was seemingly defensive. How accommodating and accessible is the programme for the states to plug in? Similarly, for all other Federal intervention schemes and fundings, particularly with the Central Banking of Nigeria (CBN). Year in, year out, many such seemingly poverty alleviating schemes are bogged down with naughty and nauseating red tapism that clog the wheel of progress thus enhancing expansion of poverty than ameliorating it! Pointedly: Do the Federal Government agencies and the CBN employ and exploit pertinent Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) skills to gauge or track output, outcome and impact in a result-based management approach? If our country is really serious in witnessing real developmental progress that followers can feel, see, touch, embrace and enjoy, this is the route to follow.

How right is the stand and stake of the governors in prodding the issue of insecurity as the rationale for pervading poverty in the rural areas? This columnist is not on the same page with some of the governors in this matter as they could partly address this issue by partnering with the traditional rulers and local hunters from community to community depending on the context of the states. Moreover, more of the citizens could be mobilized for intelligence gathering through meaningful exploitation of the humongous security votes possessed by the men in the saddle at the subnational levels. In actual fact, some of the states are doing well in this regard. There is room to better their best! In essence, on the part of the governors, there should not be folding of arms or throwing up arms in the air in absolute surrender to bandits, terrorists, killer herdsmen and kidnappers. They should play their own part well whilst the security forces at the command and control of the President should complement.

Lastly, the issue of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) should be concretely addressed by both the federal and state governments for efficient and effective delivery. Here again, modern Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) tools should be engaged and employed to monitor and track the output, outcome and impact of interventions henceforth. Enough of expending resources without commensurate value delivered! MEL is deployed globally by the World Bank, European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), etc. It is a truism that none of these organizations will partner with any country, subnational government or organization without the submission of a robust MEL content. However, these partners still need to follow up after granting the support to see that MEL is actually applied in executing the intervention so that there would be value for money and the projected outcome would be achieved after the intervention.

This columnist would like to posit pointedly that the federal government should devise an incentivized method of making the states buy-in into both Agribusiness, MSME and Social Safety schemes. This may be a sort of agenda setting for the incoming government at the centre come 29th May 2023 as these three thematic developmental pillars are strongly needed to jumpstart the economy with a lot of benefits ranging from enhanced income of citizens; youth engagement or employment; promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI); increased foreign exchange earnings; food accessibility and affordability (security); low expenditure on security; boosting of economic activities, etc. The federal government should evolve a system of rating the performance of the states in crippling and checkmating poverty via exploring and exploitingMEL. The system should be simple, measurable, achievable, remarkable and timely (SMART) possessing a great knack of inherent transparency and accountability to all stakeholders. The support to be granted by the federal agencies should be commensurate with the rating and possibly done on quarterly or biannual basis. The higher the rating, the more support in subsequent interventions. In addition, access to these supports should be streamlined by cutting off undue encumbrances or red tapism associated with government business in our clime.

In conclusion, it is crystal clear that both the national and subnational governments have distinctive roles to play in pillorying poverty among the populace. Hence, there is no room for buck-passing from the federal to states or vice versa. Each has a pivotal role to play in stemming pervading poverty within the rural, semi-urban and urban areas. In the same vein, even as the subnational governments should invest in infrastructure, as most of our states have deficits in the context of infrastructural development, equal attention should gear towards the growth of agribusiness, acquisition of vocational and digital skills, robust Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and promotion of Social Safety schemes. All these interventions should birth people-oriented policies, programmes, and projects that are all inclusive and non-discriminatory. As this article is being concluded, it is good to recall the story line at the outset. The significance is that whether it is the national or subnational government, analogous to the man or woman in that village setting, one should ensure the serpentine nature of poverty on the populace is curtailed or checkmated in harmony with the stand and stake of the United States of America (USA) erstwhile President, Thomas Jefferson, who once posited: “the whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.”

John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via +2348030598267 (WhatsApp only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

By John Ekundayo 

“Political parties are corporations, much like General Motors, for example. GM makes cars, political parties make political candidates. The leadership of GM makes decisions about which cars to make; political parties make decisions about which candidates to make. They do not ask rank-and-file “members” what they want. Both are trying to come up with what they think will win the game.” – Gary Millington

In the last edition of this column, there was a promise to share a story. This columnist will instead make it two. One: it was an encounter involving my first son. His educational background could be confusing. In fact, a friend of mine once asked me, how Samuel Ekundayo’s educational profile could depict he was in Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Nigeria in March 2006, as a Part 2 Mechanical Engineering undergraduate, and then, incongruently completed his PhD in 2012? Puzzling! In reality, it happened; proffering an explanation became a burden. The bit of the story was that when my family members joined me in Singapore in April 2006, Samuel approached a private institution running a UK degree in Singapore. The official we met after perusing his transcript offered him admission to read Engineering Business Management for one academic year to which I objected. I was not on the same page with the admission officer as the education standard in Singapore was perceived higher than that of Nigeria. The official refused to oblige my request to extend it to 2 years! Samuel invariably made the Coventry University first degree with a 2nd Class Upper earning a direct admission to pursue his master’s degree in Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He completed this within eleven months and was enrolled for his PhD research in New Zealand. Actually, he was initially dreaming of carrying out his PhD research in York University, Canada. However, when asked about his educational trajectory, the university in Canada could not comprehend his mysterious or miraculous track, and consequently, denied him admission.

Second: this involves my personal encounter in my sojourn in Malaysia, South East Asia. This columnist was conducting his PhD research at the same time with his son’s in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite several efforts to secure employment in Malaysia even though armed with a master’s degree, the incommodious immigration policy of Malaysia towards Africans voided all efforts. It was frustrating, but this columnist did not discard his dream of attaining PhD. There was a time my son called me on the phone from New Zealand to drop my dream threatening he would drop his if I refused! Pointedly, I told him neither of us would drop his dream which angered him more. This resulted in not communicating with me for days! Notably, in my sojourn in Malaysia, there was a day that a family friend came calling and in the midst of our discussion, paused and probed: “Pastor John, which scholarship are you studying with Malaysia?” Extempore, this columnist retorted: “divine scholarship!” At this time, my university has changed my status from “inactive” to “missing” as I failed to pay my tuition fees for two consecutive semesters! Is it criminal to be poor? Apparently, it can be in certain scenarios. Alas, divine help came as the Lagos State Government through the gracious disposition of erstwhile Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, granted this columnist a scholarship to complete his PhD with additional offer to serve Lagos State for one year. In a jiffy, my status changed as all outstanding fees owed were fully paid whilst the quality of life of I and my family was enhanced in our stay in Malaysia. It was indeed divinely orchestrated beyond human description.

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Why share these stories? The unseen hand of God can actually make certain aspects of one’s life seemingly unexplainable or enigmatic! These two stories could be analogous to the apparently baffling or bewildering educational trajectory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu cum his unfathomable wealth. Reno Omokri, former aide of erstwhile President Jonathan Goodluck and ardent supporter of PDP flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, via his Twitter handle, simply and squarely stated: “Soludo was right about them. They are a mob. They have no head, and as such, can’t reason. And that Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University is an obvious lie. I should know. I believed the lie and wasted $4000 plus flying to Chicago to investigate in person!” This expedition of Omokri vindicated Tinubu’s educational background that was apparently mysterious or mystical to many. Same goes for his financial wizardry in personal, corporate and public dealings resulting in tangible outputs, outcomes and impacts. Any wonder his political opponents, oblivious of his sagacious strategic steps, are always crying wolf where there is none!

Perspectives: People and Parties

The big question to ask is: how many followers (voters) will vote along party lines in the February 2023 presidential election? Put differently: what is the percentage of followers that will decide to vote based on choices of the parties they preferred? The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has come under intense pressure and pillory by the duo of the Labour Party (LP) and People Democratic Party (PDP). This is understandable as uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. In fact, one of my mentors driving it home put it saliently and succinctly thus: “the bigger the head, the bigger the headache!” Tinkering along this line of thought, American journalist and scholar, H. L. Mencken pointedly posited: “Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule — and both commonly succeed, and are right.” Will the pendulum swing majorly due to party or platform preference at the polls? It must be borne in mind that certain nooks and crannies of Nigeria traditionally have sympathy for the two major parties: APC and PDP. The Labour Party (LP) with apparent incognito and inconsequential structure and spread should not expect much from this perspective. Conversely, APC and PDP, with party membership in virtually all the states, cities, towns and villages are better positioned to garner votes based on the platforms the parties provided.

For the umpteenth time, the intractable impasse leading to political interregnum among the five Governors (G5) is portending palpable pulverizing at the polls for PDP. According to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, the group who now wish to be referred to as the “Integrity Group”, has failed to see eye-to-eye with the PDP presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In fact, in just 90 days to the presidential poll of 25th February 2023, the group is seemingly attracting more states’ helmsmen to its fold! What a tragic trajectory to the throne for the main opposition party? On the other hand, the APC Governors are holding to their states and taking sagacious strategic steps for their flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the throne. Presently, on the basis of platform or party to choose at the polls, APC, seems to hold the ace if majority of the followers would vote along party’s line. One vital point to take cognizance of in this context is the attracting polling power of personalities per town or city or state. Before going further, this columnist will want readers to ponder on the tinkering of American social commentator, Gary Millington, who once poignantly posited: “Political parties are corporations, much like General Motors, for example. GM makes cars, political parties make political candidates. The leadership of GM makes decisions about which cars to make; political parties make decisions about which candidates to make. They do not ask rank-and-file “members” what they want. Both are trying to come up with what they think will win the game.” In essence, the parties give birth to candidates. Dissecting it further, there are some towns, cities and states that follow their political principalities to the polls: hook, line and sinker! This has been the common feature virtually in all the presidential or premiership or gubernatorial polls where such political principalities like Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Olusola Saraki, Lamidi Adedibu, Joseph Tarka, Aminu Kano, etc. were forces to be reckoned with. For instance, no other political party has ever been able to defeat that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 1999 to date in Lagos. Will Wike, Ortom, Ugwuanyi, Makinde, and Ikpeazu wield such inimitable and intimidating influence in the February and March 2023 elections in Rivers, Benue, Enugu, Oyo and Abia States that would be tantamount to dignifying them as principalities in their domains? Time will tell! In the next edition, attention will be shifting to the flag bearers’ probable solutions to the country’s nagging problems. Thank you for your interest and genuine feedback.

• Ekundayo, Ph.D. –can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com