Efio-Ita Nyok|17 June 2017
International development consultant, political scientist, social entrepreneur and public affairs analyst, Mr Princewill Odidi, Friday, advocated strong leadership for Africa's most populous country irrespective of the fact that it's most likely to result into abuse of power and violations of constitutional provisions NegroidHaven has learnt.
Odidi bared his mind yesterday while responding to reservations made below one of his numerous social media threads by his friends notable among which was Canadian based lecturer and politician, Mr Obasesam Okoi, who noted categorically that 'I don't think Nigeria need strong leaders who will abuse constitutional powers. The United States for instance has strong leaders, yet their strong institutions have been resistant to the arbitrary use of executive power. What Nigeria and indeed, Africa needs are visionary and transformational leaders who are forward thinking'.
Odidi who disagreed that Nigeria's developmental challenges is traceable to the dearth of reformers and visionaries rather opined that weak leadership lacking in power to implement policies was our bane. Odidi further said that Nigerians being less patriotic and wanting in integrity are now poor followers; thus, a strong leader likely an authoritarian would suffice for her social development despite anticipated abuse of power and constitutional breaches.
Albeit, Odidi, who differentiated between being authoritarian and dictatorial, highlighted a democratic authoritarian rule. He explained how Nigeria was designed originally to fail especially noting our weak institutions.
Odidi's words, '… yes, reform minded leaders is what we need, but the question to ask: Do we have problems in Nigeria today because of lack of reformers and visionary minds? The answer is no.
'For the past five years I have engaged Nigerian government on different projects, one thing I can tell you is that we have very very smart people in government. The problem is there are no rooms to execute their reforms because of weak leadership at the top. Our entire system is designed to fail. I know how I was humbled when I engaged Osita Chidoka and later Ayo Adesina both ministers under Jonathan.
'We came with some wonderful concepts then, in an attempt to fix Nigeria once and for all. When Osita opened his laptop, I was amazed at what ideas they had in place already in government. They couldn't execute it because the entire system is just designed to fail.
'The country is too big to manage from the center. For those of you who have traveled and seen the rest of the world, you will agree with me that Nigeria is not a normal society. Nigeria is intentionally designed not to work properly.
'No amount of visionary ideas can transform Nigeria if it is not enforced by a strong leader. The very lieutenants to help you succeed are the same that will kill the vision. Everybody lies to everybody, from the gate-man in a ministry to the Hon Minister, they say things that in their minds they know is not true and have no plans to do it. Most important, it is normal to them.
'Talking of visions and ideas, Jonathan had an excellent brilliant team, with wonderful ideas, but they all failed because he was weak. Things can only work in Nigeria if it is forced on peoples throats. Take for example, Sure-P and YOU-WIN entrepreneurial schemes. These are schemes that where successfully executed in India and Pakistan, even they succeeded in Tanzania and Rwanda, but experimented in Nigeria it failed.
'A good leader cannot succeed except he has a willing and disciplined follower-ship. We supported Buhari because we thought he will reintroduce the war against indiscipline and bring back sanity into our national consciousness. But how can he enforce sanity in a free for all democracy where everyone claims rights? only a strong authoritarian leader can instill discipline again in Nigeria.
'Authoritarianism does not equate dictatorship. You can have a democratic authoritarian rule, in the short term, thats what will work in Nigeria. If the follower-ship are too difficult and exhibit non civil mannerisms, the best form of compliance at that point in time is force. Whether the force is employed democratically or nondemocratic remains a matter for another day. A man who does the right thing when no one is watching him is a man that has integrity.
'How many people in Nigeria today will obey common traffic light in Nigeria if police men are not standing right there? listen my friends, we all know what the problem is, Our institutions will continue to be weak and ineffective because as a people we have lost all form of integrity, it has to be forced on us as people to achieve compliance. I still maintain, we need a leadership that will enforce law and order, and in the process of doing so, if human rights are violated, so long as it is for our common good and the good of our unborn children, it is welcome'.
Do you agree with Odidi that a measure of authoritarianism will bail Nigeria from her current socio-economic and socio-political doldrums?
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
