More often than not, the lack of good governance and ethical leadership is seen to manifest in a number of ways such as inability to provide basic necessities for the people, including prompt payment of salaries and embarking on development projects that will make life more meaningful to the teeming populace
By Tolu Odebiyi
It gives me great pleasure to deliver this keynote address. Before I proceed, let me thank the Director General/Convener, the Board of Trustee, the Patrons, and the entire membership of the Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, for inviting me as Keynote speaker of this epoch making event. I also congratulate you for conceptualising the idea of setting up this movement. Let me equally commend all those who have contributed in one way or another towards the success of today’s event.
2. We are gathered here today for the inauguration of the Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership. This is considered a birth of a new era, and it could not have been more appropriate than this present moment when politicians and political activities are beginning to take a centre stage in our nation in preparations for the 2023 general elections, and Nigerians are looking in the direction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) and Senator Kashim Shettima (SKS) to take over the reins of power through the ballot box.
3. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me to observe that the choice of the theme of today’s event, “BAT/SKS: SUSTAINING GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH ETHICAL LEADERSHIP”, is both apt and contemporaneous in relevance. It is important at this point to note that the challenge of the Nigeria’s political experience since the return of democracy in 1999 bothers on good governance and ethical leadership. The grassroots remain a critical segment of the Nigerian society. And, if the resources of the country are well-harnessed in such a way that even the grassroots receive the needed attention in terms of the distribution of infrastructure, only then can we talk about equitable spread of development. For every passing second, people would gather to express concern about the state of things. However, this open expression of need for comfort could be misinterpreted as criticism or wailing, yet it is an inalienable right of the citizen to demand for a better life.
4. According to the Office of the Human Right Commission of United Nations, “Good governance is the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law. The true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights”.
5. Ethical leadership on the other hand, is the type of leadership that is directed by respect for ethical beliefs, values and for the dignity and rights of others. What this simply means is that ethical leadership involves putting people into management and leadership positions who will promote and be an example of appropriate, ethical conduct in their actions and relationships in the workplace. For someone to be adjudged for possessing ethical leadership, such a person must have the four main principles of: Honesty, Justice, Respect, Community and Integrity.
6. From the above definitions, one can deduce the following as the hallmarks of good governance and ethical leadership:
• participation,
• rule of law,
• effectiveness,
• efficiency,
• accountability,
• transparency,
• Responsiveness,
• Equity, and
• Inclusiveness.
7. Have you for once wondered why corruption has been so endemic in our nation. The reason for this is not far-fetched; most of the people at the helms of affairs have failed the integrity test, good governance and ethical leadership has eloped them. Government or those at the helms of affairs cannot continue to operate a centralised, trickle down approach that is not based on consultation.
8. Consequently, all strategies must be employed to engage with the people, to provide and participate in a platform that brings together the different stakeholders involved, not as ruler to subject but as public servants to the citizens that we serve.
9. For me as a person, I know the importance of providing good governance and ethical leadership to the people. I have demonstrated this in the trajectory of my career, culminating in my election to the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District. Upon my election to the red chamber, I made ethical leadership the hallmark of my leadership style, by providing good representation, good governance, youth empowerment and accountability. This, I believe is the dividends I can provide for my constituents in recognition of the mandate given to me to represent them at the National Assembly.
10. Presently, I have sponsored no fewer than ten (10) Bills at the Senate, which include:
i. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Vocational and Skill Acquisition College, Ota, Ogun State
ii. A Bill for an Act to establish the National Institute of Border Studies, Imeko, Ogun State and other related matters
iii. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Vocational and Skills Acquisition College, Iboro.
iv. A Bill for an Act to establish the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Aiyetoro, Ogun State, and
v. A Bill for an Act to amend the National Youth Service Corps Act and other related matters
11. In the same vein, I have also embarked on several other constituency interventions projects across the Ogun West Senatorial district, including: construction of classroom blocks at Egbado College, Ilaro; Alamuwa Grammar School, Ado-Odo Ota; and Community High School, Agada, amongst others.
12. This is in addition to the over 100 beneficiaries of my scholarship scheme tagged the Tolu Odebiyi Undergraduate Scholarship Award scheme, which is meant for students of the senatorial district who attain a minimum class of grade of 2.5 GPA in their academic programmes. The scholarship is aimed at encouraging the students to be unwavering in their quest to attain full potentials in their academic pursuit, so that they can remain worthy ambassadors of the Ogun West Senatorial District and indeed Ogun State who will constantly champion courses that will further engender the desired growth to Ogun State and Nigeria. Apart from monetary reward, each beneficiary of the scholarship scheme goes home with a brand new high grade HP Laptop to enhance their knowledge of Information Technology.
13. At this juncture let me reiterate that every responsive and responsible government needs to run its administration in such a way that good governance, ethical leadership and accountability is made visible. In doing this, the government must be people-friendly and make democracy truly a government of the people. Also, the government must carry its citizens along in its policy making process and develop an efficient and effective feedback mechanism.
14. This is the critical missing link among most leaders. More often than not, the lack of good governance and ethical leadership is seen to manifest in a number of ways such as inability to provide basic necessities for the people, including prompt payment of salaries and embarking on development projects that will make life more meaningful to the teeming populace, maladministration, corruption and poor execution of jobs, amongst others.
15. Most times, people heap blames on leadership for failure to deliver on the dividends of democracy, but pretend as if they did not contribute to the failure of the ‘ inept leadership’. In summary, people should brace up for our quest for good governance and development by getting more concerned and involved in the election process. That is, as a people, we must be active partakers in the process that produces the leaders, and must also continue to participate in the activities and programmes of such leaders. The era of “Sidon Look” is over, we must constantly engage those at the helms of affairs, calling their attention to what areas they need to improve upon, and also commending them whenever they perform beyond expectations.
16. Furthermore, like the saying goes, “the society deteriorates when the wise sits doing nothing”. It then becomes both the civic and moral duty of all stakeholders, including our youths, to contribute their respective quota to the development of our communities, State and the nation. Please don’t leave job of providing good governance to the leaders alone, we all must see ourselves as partners in progress towards the continued development of the entity called Nigeria. By so doing, we can then put our minds to rest, being assured that our future, not only as a State, but also as a people, is guaranteed.
17. You will recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, declared open, political campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. That of the Governorship and House of Assembly is expected to commence in the next few weeks. Bearing all this in mind, I wish to encourage members of the newly inaugurated Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to map out strategies to engage candidates vying for political offices with a view to determining their capability and preparedness for the task ahead.
18. The time for decision making is now, we cannot as a people afford to gamble with the future of this country. We must be involved in identifying and electing the right candidates that will engender good governance and ethical leadership. I expect this movement to organise debates for political parties and their candidates in order to enable Nigerians make informed decisions about whom they will entrust with our commonwealth. However, one name stands out among the Presidential candidates. This is a man that has been tested and trusted; he is a bridge-builder with enormous understanding of the mirage of challenges confronting our nation. This candidate is no other person than our own Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 election.
19. We are at the penultimate phase of choosing the President of Nigeria. The charge is for us to be fully involved in ensuring that victory is secured for the joint ticket of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima in the 2023 Presidential Election. These two men perfectly fit in the mould of leaders who would ensure that Nigeria works perfectly as a nation which would be a leading light to other nations. They have proved to all and sundry while they held sway as governors in both Lagos and Borno States as good managers of human and natural resources.
20. Once again, I commend the organisers and everyone who has contributed to the success of this event.
21. I thank you all for listening and God bless.
(Being the text of an address delivered by the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, at the inauguration ceremony and press conference of the Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership held on Friday, 30th September, 2022.)