By Abu Shekara
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined that we uphold the truth, whosoever speaks it and listen to “people of knowledge” in all matters.
Imam Shafi’i admonished his students to in all disagreements, “criticise speech but respect the speaker.” The cleric’s counsel might also be to respect the speech, if not the speaker.
It follows then, that when personalities like former President Ibrahim Babangida tell Nigeria what’s good for the country, the educated and enlightened would listen; especially when they speak about leadership.
Recently, the former Nigerian leader prescribed qualifications for Nigeria’s next president. Cynics will still indulge, preferring to heed the words of inexperienced, untested ideologues but such counsel is more reliable, coming from a man, who have had a shot at running the affairs of a nation, however badly we adjudge him to have performed. After all, he’s schooled by both success and failure, which are part of experience and experience is the best teacher.
Unpacking IBB’s rationale, Nigeria should look for a person with a national outlook to inspire consensus and unite the country. They should be young, vibrant, energetic but mature enough to have acquired a composed temperament from experience and participation. Also, our leader from 2023 should possess the knowledge and skill to navigate our nation through its current economic storm.
Babangida’s indices for eligibility emphasise capability, rather than entitlement. Even the specification on age, which can be met by the coincidence of birth, rather than personal achievement, actually demands physical and mental qualities that are not automatically conferred by youthfulness.
The former Military President hinted at a list in his mind of Nigerians, who like the fairy tale Cinderella, would fit into the proverbial presidential shoe. But against his template, identifying who and who will fit IBB’s bill isn’t all that complex. A cursory look at prominent players in the political arena and their roles in the current dispensation would unravel the puzzle rather easily.
The antecedents of those who seek to be President in 2023 are not unknown to Nigerians. In this motley, we know those whose belief in Nigeria is very recent and a conversation of convenience, those with election time patriotism and twelfth hour concern about the stability of the system and others for whom, Nigeria can subsist only if power is conceded to them.
As 2023 approaches, the nation’s political scene is marked by intense posturing. As individual actors and groups scramble for dominance, politics is fast being employed more for its most basic function, which is the actualisation of personal and group agenda, than a vehicle for nation building, instituting inclusiveness, fairness, justice and service to the citizenry.
It is pertinent to note, however, that under all systems, democracies or dictatorships, no individual or group can secure exactly the deal they seek. Even in the most homogeneous societies, where aspirations and interests seem to be common, the state is a corporation that can be successfully run only through conciliation and compromise.
A diverse country like Nigeria needs to embrace the spirit of conciliation and partnership among its various and divergent identities and interests, perhaps more than ever before. Certainly, Nigeria has to exist for it to be ruled, while leadership is only worth its name both to the leader and the led, if it caters for the lot of the majority and diversity of the people.
Babangida’s position is gaining more subscription among Nigerians, as we realise the validity of his rationale and speakers on the political scene begin to re-echoe his words. Prominent among adherents to IBB’s view is Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Tambuwal, in a recent lecture to mark the birthday of the foremost journalist, Richard Akinnola on “Security Challenges in Nigeria and Their Implications for Sustainable Development”, said Nigeria needs a nationalistic leader “with a broad world view and not a parochial and provincial politician.”
“Nigeria needs a leader that is versatile”, he opined, “one that has friends and associates across the length and breadth of this country.
A leader with a broad world view and not a parochial and provincial politician.
“Yes, Nigeria needs a bridge builder. A compassionate leader, sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the poor and needy. A leader whose words count and can be counted on. Indeed, a leader with courage.
“We need an incorruptible leader,” Tambuwal posited, “who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal examples and also by the building of strong institutions that can withstand shocks and manipulations.
“Nigeria needs a leader in tune with the times. Who is reasonably aware of the modern demands of technology in solving societal problems”, who’s accountable and “can be trusted to face the challenges of nationhood squarely without sentiments or pandering to interests that are inconsistent with national goals,” the Sokoto State Governor prescribed.
Top on the agenda of Nigeria’s very next President should be the safety of life and property of the citizens and to guarantee this, Tambuwal advised the people to choose a provider of visionary leadership, imbued with a sense of patriotism that will go a long way in changing the narrative of insecurity in Nigeria.
Very lofty ideals, being postulated by Tambuwal; principles rarely found in any individual, especially in the Nigeria of these times, when virtue is not so much a currency in state affairs. Still, the reality of our situation bears mentioning and the solutions to the problems that hold us back socioeconomically do need to be identified.
Knowledge of the desired attributes of our would-be leader is the easy part of our quest, the more complex issue being to identify who should pick up the gauntlet from the plethora of those who covet the chance. Even so, our task is eased, if we identify those Nigerians, who not only by words but more importantly, by conduct and action, are seen to have worked towards upholding those ideals.
The most recent speaker on the issue, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, if not more, is certainly no less eligible than anyone to extol the qualities of a would be leader of Nigeria and demand them of all those who now jostle for the high responsibility. This assertion is factual, rather than mere opinion.
Tambuwal’s resume portrays a considerable period of active participation in politics and positive impact on the leadership of the nation. He’s proved by deeds, not merely by words, to be one of the most progressive elements in Nigeria of the moment.
From his entry into the Federal Legislature as a Member, his emergence as Speaker of the House of Representatives, his role in the change of government in 2015 and two terms tenure as Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri has exhibited a detribalised and nationalistic posture and has at critical times, facilitated unity and cohesion in the face of division and dispute, in a way not seen in many Nigerian political actors.
Tambuwal’s Seventh House of Representatives was the most unified in history in both character and purpose. As Speaker, he successfully superintended over matters of national importance that would ordinarily cause pandemonium and tear the Chamber apart. But then, his emergence in 2011 was a display of the solidarity of equals, unseen at any time in Nigeria.
Tambuwal’s courage in the pursuit of ideals and the nation’s best interest is unambiguous. As Number Four Citizen in 2015, he forsook the pecks and privileges of the comfort zone and openly stood against the improprieties of his own ruling party in support of justice and democratic ideals.
His current tenure as Governor of Sokoto State is characterised by unity of purpose across partisan divides and arms of government. He midwifed a closing of ranks by leaders of the state that is leading to the improvement of the delivery of service and dividends of democracy to the people.
Aminu Waziri is a proven bridge builder. His prominent conciliatory role within his own political party has enabled the PDP to survive divisive crises and emerge stronger at every turn. A current example is the recent leadership dispute, from which the party has come out even more focused and united.
Tambuwal’s management of the finances of Sokoto State is a model. Against the current economic and financial straits being experienced by governments, his globally acknowledged prudence and accountability enables Tambuwal to deliver on all the indices of development.
Regardless of the prevailing economic crunch, Sokoto State is witnessing unprecedented infrastructural transformation in the economic and social sectors, with new roads, bridges, schools hospitals, water supply and sports facilities springing up across the state.
Workers salaries are prompt with the occasional provision of loans and advances, while batches of additional teachers and medical workers are being employed into the service.
Meanwhile, Sokoto State is among the four least indebted states in Nigeria. The funds secured through these relatively very low borrowings are ploughed into capital projects in the economic sector, with a budget profile of higher percentage of capital spending than recurrent expenditure.
Tambuwal’s tenure is launching Sokoto into the ICT world, with the ongoing conversion of service from paper based to digital. This transformation is catching on in all operations and process of governance from the budget, the significantly improved IGR, financial procedure to healthcare and teaching and learning in classrooms, earning Tambuwal the 2020 Digital Governor of the Year Award by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).
Confidence and trust in the quality of governance and commitment to genuine transformation has attracted development partners to Sokoto State. Global donor agencies and private sector interests are setting up shop, intervening and investing in all sectors.
Prime examples of development partners activities in Sokoto State are the multi-billion Naira Mabera Storm Water flood control project in partnership with New Map, and the proposed BUA Group two and a half billion Naira construction of the State College of Health Sciences. Private investors concerns include the Dangote Rice Mill and OCP Morocco Phosphate Plant.
Tambuwal’s approach to the state of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State, is proactive. While discharging his responsibilities within constitutional limits and not giving in to political or sentimental grandstanding, he’s opted for inter-governmental, cross partisan and all-stakeholder action against banditry and other crimes in his state and the rest of the country.
Ibrahim Babangida has identified “one or two” Nigerians who possess the qualities for the nation’s leadership from 2023. If we unpack his faultless template and juxtapose it with the scorecards of those who aspire, the nation may not have to look far to recognise the eligible contender.
• Dr. Shekara wrote from Sokoto.