I watched with keen interest the no-holds-bared interview of the former President Ibrahim Banbagida, with Ngozi Akaegbu of the Arise News recently, it strikes the right chord in me. When the former head of state was probed on the leader Nigeria deserves in 2023, he was quick to hold the bull by its horns.
A great leader, he said enpassant, is not only determined by his geographical location but his abilities to cast vision, provide structure, have required competence to solve problems and believe in the continuity of Nigeria among others. The General however added a caveat that we should not be a non-viable society that drives its members to a desperate solution.
My agreement to this summation is total. It brings to mind the traits theory of people-oriented leaders and shed lights on the basic requirements we should focus in selecting a leader. Choosing the right leader is actually, no walk in the park.
At this point, I think of the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan whom I love to liken to the Morning Sun which when it finishes its course and sets below the horizon, leaves behind a brilliant and memorable afterglow such that its return is always desired.
His character excellence and moral uppity of handling over to the Opposition without any ado serves as a spark note of an honour filled man in a continent renowned for sit-tight leadership. Albeit, it might bring a disquiet in the soul for throwing up the towel at that material time but it was what the nation needed to swim out of troubled waters.
It bears no emphasis that great leaders arise when the need for them is great. If former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is allowed to run for president to complete his second term, it would not only solve the riddle of the Southerner’s agitation but it will give ammunition to fulfill and complete the noble task he has already commenced. History is cyclical.
With the requisite skills and wealth of experience he has honed overtime and his innate traits, returning the country to its balmy days will not be a hard nut to crack.
No doubt, the friends and admirers of GEJ transcends political party affiliation, and cut across party lines and that will make it easy to form a de-facto Government of National Unity, if he is eventually returned.
Success, in the words of Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker who wrote “The Psychology of Winning” is almost totally dependent on “drive and persistence”. If we truly want a leader who is an influencer, a leader with immediate fixes who sets high standards for himself, we don’t need to look afar, former President GEJ is the answer.
It is sure as shooting that the incumbent President Buhari will not hesitate to return power back to GEJ, and thereby earn his place in history as a unifying factor and a true democrat.
Therefore, if the PDP will not provide its umbrella to cover GEJ to return him to the seat of power, APC can be a good alternative. We must just return this man with moral authority. As Americans will say, “this is how to affirm the promise of our democracy”.
Isiaka Kehinde is the principal partner at the Initiative for Ethics and Values Orientation based in Ibadan, Oyo state. editorethics@gmail.com.
