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Written by:
Paul thomas
Ireland

Nigeria: Object of Caricature
The recent hasty decision by Mr. Jonathan to ban Nigeria from all international football competitions due largely to the lugubrious performance of the Super Canneries in the ongoing world cup competition in South Africa; has once again brought Nigeria into the front burner of International scrutiny. Nigeria’s already battered image took another bashing this previous week cum early part of this week from FIFA, the football governing body when it issued out a warning cum ultimatum to Nigeria to lift the ban placed on football teams from competing in all international competitions or face the risk of being expelled as a member country of the football governing body.

FIFA’s threat to expel Nigeria was not only a direct impudence to Nigeria but also a pointer to leadership failure. If there is any lesson to be learnt from this entire episode it is that Nigeria is still in dire need of qualitative leadership. Mr. Jonathan’s faltering and hasty decision and ludicrous rescinding of his earlier decision shows clearly that Nigeria is a country in jeopardy.

Leadership carries certain characteristics and qualities and the ability of a leader to adhere to these qualities and characteristics will be the ultimate decider in determining the effectiveness of a leader. Mr. Jonathan’s hurried decision to ban Nigeria from international competitions without adequate and well thought out implication of such decision sends very wrong signal to the international community that Nigeria cannot be taken too seriously.

Leadership is about making decisive choices based on carefully thought out and thoroughly pondered processes; so that once a decision is made there is little or no room for that decision to be subjected to mockery. Mr. Jonathan’s decision was clearly based on his emotional instability at the time of making his decision. Although the presidential task force presented him with a report, which perhaps was the basis of his earlier decision; but that should not have been enough to hastily decide to ban Nigeria from international outings, especially when he now had to swallow his pride and rescind his earlier decision when faced with the possibility of expulsion from FIFA. The presidential task force presented a report upon which Mr. Jonathan hinged his decision; the same task force should have been mandated to include in its report the implications of taking such decisions both locally and internationally. Nigeria would have avoided this whole embarrassment if proper leadership pr
ocedures have been thoroughly adhered to.

Leadership effectiveness in Nigeria plunges by the day. The somnolence state of Nigeria makes you wonder if there is anyone at the helm of affairs. Leadership in Nigeria is nothing but a charade. How can we claim to have leaders when Nigeria has become anarchical and jejune? So called leaders in the ‘harrowing’ chambers of dishonorable men and women; maim, disgrace and shamefacedly engage themselves in the full glare of the public, all because of stolen booties. These men and women ought to hide their faces in shame for descending so low to worship the god of mammon. These people should never be referred to as leaders but as ‘area boys and area fathers’.

Mr. Jonathan’s leadership has not made any concrete move towards ameliorating the deplorable state of the citizenry since he became president. No decisive actions have been taken to move Nigeria towards true and genuine prosperity. The Nigerian state has not made any appreciable progress towards changing the despicable and derelict state of the nation. The nation is gradually grinding to a halt and the so called leaders are not perturbed. Unemployment is on the rise, despair and despondency is perhaps the best way to describe the state of the people. Everyone is learning to survive by any means possible. Kidnappers are on the prowl stalking their undiscerning victims; robbers have become more brazen than ever before in unleashing terror in the land.

Effective leadership is about taking charge and correcting the anomaly that exist. How long a leader is in charge is of no relevance, effective leaders take action as soon as they mount the stage. They immediately send out strong signals that they are in charge. Effective leaders are enthusiastic about establishing a connection with the people that they lead so as to garner their support for effective change process.

Napoleon Bonaparte said “leaders are dealers in hope” Mr. Jonathan is yet to dispense hope to his people. The people are frayed and strained from perpetual leadership neglect and apathy. Nigeria has no specific direction in which she is travelling. The people are petrified because the future looks bleak and uncertain. The hopelessness that pervades the land is palpable and scary. There is massive leadership failure all across the nation. Mr. Jonathan is yet to grapple with the enormous cataclysm that has ravaged this nation.

Intellectual and leadership atrophy are some of the many plagues that have blighted the prospect of this nation from moving or making any relevant impact in the world. Fifty years on and Nigeria is yet to make any tangible contribution or significance in the global arena. Perpetual plundering and mismanagement of resources has trailed every single person that has ruled Nigeria since she emerged as a nation. Nigeria has suffered immeasurably from leadership incompetence these many years and that is why Nigeria has become the butt of international pastime.

Mr. Jonathan must realize that leadership plays a very formidable role in the success or failure of any enterprise. The spontaneous approach to matters of grave concern as was witnessed recently calls to question his preparedness and sagacity to take Nigeria to the next level of meaningful development. All his predecessors treaded in the same path of ignoble disparage in the eyes of the world. Fifty years on and the nation is in complete disarray as to how government should run its affairs. Nigerian leaders past and present should cover their faces in shame for sucking this nation dry. The prime of this nation should have been used to garner her resources efficiently and these resources should have been effectively expended. Nigeria at fifty and no meaningful infrastructure can be pointed to as proof of being a wealthy nation. The fiftieth independence ceremony is around the corner and the nation is still in the woods; how pathetic.

Effective leadership requires skill, professionalism and versatility; the very same ingredients missing in the administration of modern Nigeria. The nebulous and incongruous method of leadership style accounts for the massive underdevelopment that has plagued the Nigerian nation right from independence. Leaders worth their salt map out strategies and plans they intend to implement in order to arrive at a desired end; they set goals and follow them, they make promises and keep them, they empower followers and not impoverish them; they dream of a better tomorrow and instil hope in their people. Effective leaders are good communicators; they coherently and clearly convey what they mean without ambiguity. Effective leaders are selfless and tireless; they are visionaries and initiators of change. They anticipate the future and orchestrate actions that will make them and their enterprise meaningful and ready to face whatever challenges the future brings.

The Nigerian concept of leadership is anaemic and fetid. A typical Nigerian leader knows nothing about providing qualitative leadership. All that fascinates him/her is the ability to accumulate and filch with reckless abandon. Profligacy has become the order of the day; from the local council to the presidency everyone is playing politics with peoples’ lives. A country is only as successful as those at the helm of affairs make it to be.

Mr. Jonathan must realize that he represents a 150 million people and every decision he makes directly or indirectly affects all of us. Spontaneity has its place in leadership but with matters of international relevance deeper analysis and thoughts must be given prominence. Let us hope that future decisions will no longer expose our inadequacies and disconnection with reality.

Shalom.


Paul Thomas
Ireland

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