Stand Point

Iseya: Need for Gov Abdulrazaq to walk the talk

 

With Joke Adeniyi-Jackson

Leadership is no doubt Herculean task. It takes the one who is on the hot seat to feel the heat. Like the popular cliché, if you can’t stand  the heat, get out of the kitchen, it takes brave heart to rule (successfully); courage is an essential ingredient of leadership. Three weeks ago, the mantle of  leadership of my organisation was thrust on me albeit in the interim, owing to absence of my bosses. As the number three on the organisation’s organogram, the onus to administer the office automatically fell on my shoulder; a daunting task that I didn’t envisage at a time (such as this). It came unexpectedly and accepted reluctantly. I have, however, come to realise that leadership at any level isn’t a tea party at all; it’s an effort with its errors and shortcomings. The responsibility of managing human and material resources is  arduous to say the least. It has now dawn on me that it is easy to criticise leaders while we sit on the sideline. It is easy to say we can do it better than the ‘man on the arena’.
My experience, I strongly believe,  is microcosmic of leadership at greater level.
Yesterday, the baton of administration of Kwara State was passed onto His Excellency Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. Recall that the crux of his election  campaigns was that things can be done better by him. He also promised to make a big difference in leadership. And, these Kwarans are holding unto. He has a dream of a better themed: ‘Kwara for All’. So, the time has now come for him to redeem his pledges, which won him the trust of the electorate. For one who voluntarily gave himself   up for the service of the people (leadership), much is expected of him.
No doubt, the new Governor has inherited a state which has its fair of challenges including infrastructural deficit occasioned by consistent dwindling  allocations and low level of industrialisation. Therefore, the task ahead is onerous, as such, he has to hit the ground running in his quest for the desired change. Conscious of what is on ground, it behooves the man at the helms of affairs in the state,  to take the bull by the horn. This is not the time to brood over what the erstwhile administration should have done right or dwell on how bad the situation may be. The governor should not play the blame game. Since Governor Abdulrazaq willingly took up the role of leader,  he needs to accept whatever challenges exist. Great leaders accept responsibility for the current situation and focus on solution. He started writing his part of history for Kwara State since yesterday; the time started counting for him with his inauguration on May 29. He does not have to wait till the dime minute to create legacy, the kind that will last years after he must have left office. To, however,  achieve this outcome, he must never point at or dwell on  shortcomings of his predecessor(s). Time is now to face his responsibilites squarely because Kwarans deserve better and they want to see result. They want to see  the governor lead, without blame, and excuses, in order to create positive change. He should be seen to walk the talk and give the mantra ‘Iseya’ a leap to life.
Since good governance is people-oriented, he must be ready to chart a course for better welfare of Kwarans irrespective of their social class/status in the society. It is pertinent that  the new government set out to ensure institutional and policy  reforms  to better the lot of  the good people of Kwara State.  One major step that the Abdulrazaq government must ensure to change the face of Kwara is industrialisation of the state. It is common knowledge that industrialisation is vital to economic development of any place, and consequently raise standard of living of people in the area. And, with this comes job opportunities. Since agriculture is pivotal to economic progress process, the state government should also focus  on this sector for accelerated development of the state. Financial leakages must be blocked and there is need for new avenues  of revenue generation to be explored for economic prosperity. The security of the state is germane and the new government must strive to engage youths meaningfully. Crime rate will reduce when youths are gainfully employed. Since government is a continuum, it is advised that the Governor Abdulrazaq administration should consolidate on the achievements of the outgone government; complete abandoned projects that can add value to governance among others.  No doubt, there is a lot to be done to set the state on the path of prosperity, which the people are longing for.
It is instructive for the new Governor to note that leadership comes with scrutiny, praise, critics, and attacks. But, leaders are so called because they are expected to rise above certain sentiments. The governor  needs critics to keep him  on his toes. He must  learn to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to criticisms. Take criticisms in his stride, identify the useful part and discard that which cannot be used. The new government should not perceive critics as enemies.
It is important that the new administration make Kwara work for all. It is also crucial that Kwarans irrespective of party affiliation, creed, ethnicity must  play their part in complementing the new government’s effort at taking the state to higher pedestal.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button