In Nigeria’s current political landscape, the prevalence of mediocre leaders poses an undeniable threat to the country’s overall success.
Nigeria, who has gone through four stints of democratic eras has seen no meaningful contribution to its development because of the impact it has had from mediocre leadership. From the first republic which was from 1960-1965, the second republic from 1979-1983, the third republic from 1992-1993, and finally, the fourth republic, from 1999 to the present day, nothing has changed for the better in Nigeria. If the word retrogression exists, then Nigeria has been retrogressing since 1960 and this can only be attributed to bad leadership and mediocrity. We have consistently elected and have been ruled by people who have absolutely no business being in politics, much less being leaders.
Leadership is a burden, a weight of responsibility and expectation that comes when a person attains a certain position in life; it is not just for everybody. This is why Plato, the Greek philosopher thought a great deal about leadership. In The Republic, Plato outlined his view on leadership through a discussion on civic and political life in the Polis, the Grecian city state. He also developed a framework on the nature of leadership in an ideal state. Plato was dissatisfied with rulers who lacked knowledge and moral strength to act according to the common good – in other words, rulers motivated by self-interest were not strong leaders. What Plato believed was that only philosophers were morally and intellectually suited to govern and lead. Morally because they are interested in and have a passion for truth, while showing no interest in the temptations of gaining power for the sake of power. Intellectually because they are able to attain knowledge on the ideal forms of virtue and the good.
Although, no society has been able to claim the monopoly of good leadership, some societies have demonstrated, beyond reasonable doubt, a capacity to uplift the lives of their people and overall, make their countries better. Countries in Southeast Asia and those in the Middle East could be cited as examples. They by no means have perfect societies, but they have societies working to a reasonable degree. This is not the case in Nigeria. If dysfunction could define a country, it will be Nigeria because we have frequently elected people who are neither philosophers as Plato called them, nor suited to even govern a street let alone a local government, a state, or a nation in general.
It is only in Nigeria that leaders have adopted a thought process alien to mankind, considering the deplorable situation we have found ourselves in. it is unimaginable that a country that is grappling with poverty and a record inflation is creating new ministries and having a record number of ministers which further strains government finances. Nigeria is already using a huge chunk of her budget to service debt, but instead of fine-tuning what is remaining of our finances for use towards the common good, our government is spending it on itself, leaving almost nothing for the common man.
Take for instance, Zamfara state government’s recently announced decision on how it intends to spend a whopping N64B to construct a benefitting airport for the state, ostensibly to attract investment. In a working society, this is an amazing concept, but for a state bedeviled with insecurity, illiteracy, lack of potable water and lack of decent healthcare facilities, an airport is not the priority. Recently, the vice president was in Bauchi with much fanfare and ado to commission the reconstruction of the Bauchi state government house which cost N6.1B because the previous structure was “embarrassing” for the government and its people. This is a state besieged by high unemployment, poor healthcare facilities and a large number of out-of-school children, but instead of that being the priority, the priority was a new edifice for the governor. Projects like these litter Nigeria from the top, down to local levels. Projects that have absolutely zero impact on the common man are being celebrated by our leaders and sycophants as achievements while the Nigerian common man continues to wallow in abject poverty and illiteracy.
If one were to examine the current trajectory of our current crop of leaders, one would realize that we have never had it so bad as a nation. We are reminded daily that our leaders prioritize phantom mediocre projects that either serves their self-interests, or their ego. Whereas the common man, the man whose mandate they have sought after and gotten, doesn’t feature in their plans. And this makes one wonder where we are headed as a nation because as it is, the system has failed. It has failed by producing people who barely know the faintest idea of leadership nor who care about the wellbeing of their people. The system has only produced occupiers who believe they are lording over a kingdom, like the feudal lords of medieval Europe backed by the state and religious power to do as they please.
Our politicians have too often chosen the easy route of promising solutions on which they cannot deliver, thereafter turn around and blame the people for the current woos plaguing our country instead of doing the actual work they were elected to do. The people are losing trust in government because mediocrity from political leaders has caused leaders to not only make promises they cannot keep but neglect the people they are constitutionally elected to represent and serve. Whether the people would continue to accept this less-than-bare-minimum effort from our leaders remains to be seen. But what is clear is that if Nigeria continues this current trajectory, the people may decide enough is enough, and how they react is better imagined.
Aminu Adamu