Leading Nigeria Nowhere

In organisational psychology there are a range of characteristics that are associated with being a leader. They include being knowledgeable, formal authority, commanding conformity, good communication skills, respect, create change; and so forth. In Nigeria it would appear leadership requires that you be older, wealthy, hold redundant titles, and amoral.

The leading two people currently vying for the leadership of Nigeria appear to have no real affinity for leading people or projects. One is a former leader who was most underwhelming during his tenure; and the other is the current leader who has been spectacularly uninspiring during his current term. And yet they both passionately believe they should be given the mandate to lead Nigeria for the next four years. However, true to type the campaigning from both parties has comprised of squabbling over educational certificates, empty promises about defeating Boko Haram and distributing rice and mobile phone credits. This is despite the fact that there are enormous problems plaguing the country. These include widespread poverty, stagnant rural development, growing unemployment, high cost of living, a broken bureaucracy; you name it. Strangely enough our wannabe leaders are foremost in overlooking these issues. 

What Nigeria needs are leaders who are able to elevate the sacrifice of service above the subversion of mindless corruption and thirst for power. Sadly, such leaders appear nowhere on the horizon.