The American leadership guru, Dr J.C Maxwell, rightly posits that everything rises and falls on leadership, to underscore the overriding importance of purposeful leadership in all strands of human organisations.
It implies that unless, and until those charged with leadership positions imbibe the nitty-gritty of leadership and rigorously apply same, the domains under their watch would be rudderless, or at best would deliver at less their potentials.
Regrettably, Nigerians have the singular ill luck of inhabiting a clime where the serious business of leadership as a veritable tool for social engineering has been so badly trivialized. Every leader defines and applies the concept of leadership to suit their whims and caprices.
This aberration has left us squelching in the mire of motion with marginal movement, in a geo-polity that unabashedly prides itself as a potential great nation in the midst of huge endowments. And ruefully, we are enmeshed in inexplicable age-long contradictory puzzles that are only emblematic of ruinous leadership ineptitude. Samplers: Nigeria is providentially located in a green belt of the global space, and richly endowed with virtually every desirable thing, human and material, yet she is poor and tearfully short in major indices of global competitiveness.
If, indeed, we are agreed, as is the case in saner climes, that leadership drives development, and can also make or mar any geo-polity, then the magic wand for resolving these contradictory puzzles lies in our correct re-definition and application of the true essence of leadership, away from the self-serving contraption as currently entrenched in our body-politic.
Happily, it is hope-inspiring that in spite of the pervading cesspool of leadership rot in the land, a few self-restrained and patriotic folks in the corridors of power are already towing the worthy path of the advocated leadership re-definition and paradigm shift.
East of the Niger, standing tall in the sparsely populated clan of altruistic leaders in Nigeria who strongly believe that leadership should necessarily be forged and deployed on the anvils of egalitarianism, is the Enugu West political gladiator, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu CFR, Deputy President of the Senate.
As if divinely cut out to effect a generational political leadership change, Ekweremadu has steadily grown into a political stature of reckoning with an enviable record of achievements that has dimmed his predecessors’, and that might remain too lofty for his successors to match or beat. Trained as a lawyer, Ekweremadu made a foray into public leadership in 1996, when he meritoriously served as the first executive chairman of Aninri Local Government Council for three years. 1999, he joined the less result-oriented but publicity-crazy Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani administration, first as chief of staff, and later redeployed as secretary to the state government.
Diligently performing his duties, and maintaining a self-effacing visage that concealed his self-assertiveness, grave leadership DNA and falsely portrayed him before his principal as a pawn that could be easily manipulated on the altar of surrogacy, and therefore a worthy candidate for planting in the Enugu State body-politic to help perpetuate the then fast burgeoning inglorious ebeano political dynasty, Ekweremadu tactfully entered Dr. Nnamani’s spirit, and gained an unprecedented quantum leap on the ladder of political visibility.
Basking in his master’s good graces, in 2003, the opportunity came for Ekeremadu (Ikeoha Ndigbo) to coast to the Senate, borne aloft on the dual wings of solid performance as chief of staff and SSG. Playing on the national political turf since 2003, with a lot more latitude that amply allows for a sharper self-definition, the Ikeoha has since progressively unleashed his pragmatic leadership DNA on the fatherland.
On the national and international scenes, Ekweremadu has brought his leadership and administrative acumen to bear on his handling of various challenging assignments entrusted to him, such as the chairmanship of various senate committees, including the 1999 constitution amendment committee, and speakership of the ECOWAS Parliament. As Speaker of the parliament, he repositioned the hitherto tepid West African sub-regional body to realize its vision and mission to the admiration and commendation of all member states.
As a stabilizing force in the ever slippery and intrigues-strewn NASS politics, he has shown unalloyed loyalty to the office of the President of the Senate, and endeared himself to his colleagues. But for legislators like him, his former principal David Mark, Ndoma-Egba and a few others, who have elevated crisis management and tension diffusion to an art, Nigeria would have had a sad story to tell in the wake of the tension generated by the then ever pugnacious opposition, especially during the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC. He was part of the 7th senate leadership that ingeniously resolved the leadership crisis that nearly tore the nation apart during the late President Yar’Adua’s long leave of medical absence, via the smart application of the now famous doctrine of necessity.
In his three-fold functions of lawmaking, oversight and representation, he has creditably done well, besides exercising himself in further scholarship, having recently bagged a Ph.D in Law, lending credence to the dictum that good leaders are readers. In constituency projects execution, the Ikeoha has posted an impressive performance as can be seen in the numerous projects spanning roads, schools, scholarships, healthcare, libraries, mass literacy, electricity, water supply, care for the poor and vulnerable and town halls. Using his influence, and working closely with his colleagues, he made the long overdue Enugu International Airport, the over 11 billion naira road construction linking Enugu and Ebonyi States, and the NOUN study centre in Awgu, designed to provide seamless tertiary educational opportunities for his people a reality. Testimonies also abound, that the senator has graciously been giving recommendations and endorsements that have attracted employments, political appointments and university admissions to qualified beneficiaries within and outside his constituency. He has also empowered many promising political leaders by successfully sponsoring them to gain a perch on elective positions as councilors, council chairmen, state and national assembly lawmakers.
A chip from the old untainted block of patriotism and statesmanship, he has in about two unbroken decades passed through the tempering crucible of political leadership from the local, state to the federal, holding and exercising critical positions that have gainfully impacted the system. His international exposure in the room of Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament has put a varnish on his pedigree. Hear the patriot in his recent address to the PDP National Assembly members-elect at a retreat in Port Harcourt: “being in opposition is an opportunity for soul-searching,… and responsible opposition critical to… good governance”, warning them to shun “market square propaganda and destructive criticism that turn truth upside-down or tend to incite the citizenry against the government in power”.
His re-election as the Deputy President of the 8th Senate on a bi-partisan basis even when his party, the PDP, is in opposition shows Ekweremadu as an irrepressible constant in the national political power grid equation, buoyed by his high social capital that cuts across the national socio-political divides. With his wealth of experience, innate temperance, loyalty and unfeigned patriotism, we can trust that PMB, Senate President Saraki, the NASS and indeed, the entire nation are in good change-conscious company.
As a committed leadership practitioner, he has demonstrated that, indeed, everything rises and falls on leadership by wisely applying the art of leadership to heed the John Wesley’s time-honoured counsel: Do all the good you can; by all the means you can; in all the ways you can; in all the places you can; at all the times you can; to all the people you can; as long as you can.
All considered, there are discernible prophetic signs in the national horizon that someday, when they shall look East for a truly great leader, the diverse political forces in the land might agreeably conspire to give the result-oriented Ekweremadu political peregrination the deserved push to ultimately gain a perch on the pinnacle of the nation’s leadership ladder. This is the only way Nigeria could harness, in full measure, the shining potentials inherent in the leadership DNA of this great national asset which the Ikeoha embodies.

Source: http://leadership.ng/editor-pick/ekweremadu-the-making-of-a-leader-east-of-the-niger
By Emeka Nwokolo

Emeka Nwokolo is the Executive Director Admin. & HR, Institute of Policy Management Development (IPMD), Abuja.
Phone Number: 08035973308
Email: emeka.en59@gmail.com

Open to debate-

INTROVERT the battle life has been draw between us.

.

Saraki and Ekweremmadu should swap positions with the sleeping Buhari and Osibanjo to move this nation forward, if that can happen.

Lying liars his market?..

bobbiekrantz:
Lying liars how market?..

Anybody dat says Ndiigbo dont have leaders to occupy Aso Rock is a lie. They have far better qualified people than any other tribe in the country.

Is OBJ, Buhari a role model? Yet they have ruled Nigeria. The best post war President remains GEJ.


He is also the most qualified.

SOUTH WASTENERS will start trooping in!

Mprepz:
SOUTH WASTENERS will start trooping in!

iyanga dey sleep trouble go wake am up

You are looking for their trouble o!

lyntiffany:
iyanga dey sleep trouble go wake am up

You are looking for their trouble o!

Sorry sir

Mprepz:


Sorry sir

am no sir, sire, am a lady.

He has held the deputy senate president position for over 8 years please tell me
1) what was his major contribution to his people in the years of being deputy senate preaident
2) why didnt ndigbo fill him in as a presidential candidate,
3) it is obvious that the writer is a paid hack by putting his phone number and email address is he courting favours....

Enough with tribalisim

Mprepz:
SOUTH WASTENERS will start trooping in!

The accursed people of the erosion ravaged sad beast of the nation. You all love throwing the first punch. Smh

banki:
He has held the deputy senate president position for over 8 years please tell me
1) what was his major contribution to his people in the years of being deputy senate preaident
2) why didnt ndigbo fill him in as a presidential candidate,
3) it is obvious that the writer is a paid hack by putting his phone number and email address is he courting favours....

Enough with tribalisim

As regards to his contribution to his people,don't go there.That guy has awarded hundreds of scholarship through his Ikeoha foundation than any senator I can think of.What of his adult education program that is giving hope to the uneducated ones in his constituency,the free ICT training to any youth from his constituency and other enugu indigenes.So,when it comes to building of human capacity and giving back to the society,his generosity is next to none.

1after:


The accursed people of the erosion ravaged sad beast of the nation. You all love throwing the first punch. Smh

WHAT IS TAlKING!

obuksjr:
As regards to his contribution to his people,don't go there.That guy has awarded hundreds of scholarship through his Ikeoha foundation than any senator I can think of.What of his adult education program that is giving hope to the uneducated ones in his constituency,the free ICT training to any youth from his constituency and other enugu indigenes.So,when it comes to building of human capacity and giving back to the society,his generosity is next to none.

lol, almost every senator does that to keep an eye on their consitutency, its not a big deal and the money is their money, he cant be doing more than what sentor magnus abe was doing for his people....

oga...if I were deputy senate president from the east for 8 years

1)compared to all states of the federation, the federal roads in the whole of the south east are the worst...I would attract federal presence
2) I will ensure that at least cargo airport is built by the federal government in either aba or Onitsha
3)I will ensure that a bill is passed to create a refinery in the south east
4) I will ensure that the second niger bridge is not a political staunt peformed by the pdp for the past 16 years...
5) I will make sure more federal institutions are located in the south east...
6)I will ensure that instead of dashing people peanuts I will call on billionaire's from eastern extraction to donate to a fund that will ensure scholarships are given to indigenous students

.....I have not even started

*LAND BANKING INVESTMENT PROJECT 3.0*
---------------------------
If you're like most real estate investors, you're probably pursuing the real estate business with one or two primary goals in mind;

1. To buy a property and flip it for a profit as soon as possible.

2.To buy a property and create a dependable source of passive income.

Both strategies are completely legitimate, time-tested methods that have created a lot of wealth for a lot real estate investors.

In lieu of this, *We At thy FGR - Forbes Global Realtors* creates the platform for our esteemed clients to invest and get good ROI within the shortest maturity term with our partners who are 2 of the most growing and innovative licensed real estate investment companies in Nigeria that offer real estate investment options.

Interested in such real estate project investment? Reach Us DIRECTLY HERE�
*www./2348155539270*

*THE LAND-BANKING INVESTMENT CONCEPT*
It involves buying properties in an underdeveloped area for a future sales with high return.

We invest in acquiring estate lands, buildings structure, Estate Development and sell at higher prices to generate good returns on investment.

*RETURN ON INVESTMENT*
Land Banking Investment Project offers 30% for One(1) year, 25% for 9months and 15% for 6months of the amount you invested.

*HOW SECURED IS MY INVESTMENT*
Your investment is 100% secured with an *INSURANCE* coverage with our partner insurance company and backed up with *LAND* worth the value of your investment which makes the investment tangible and worthwhile. Also you will be given a *POSTDATED CHEQUE* covering the amount invested and the returns on investment.

*INVESTMENT PACKAGES*
FLEX - N100K - N999K
PRO - N1M - N50M
PREMIUM - N51M & ABOVE

*SIMPLE STEP TO GET STARTED*

STEP 1. Request for our Land Banking Investment form.

STEP 2. Fill the form and select an Investment plan ( Premium, Pro or Flex and fill in your investment amount).

STEP 3. Proceed to payment.

STEP 4. Receive a payment confirmation email and receipt.

STEP 5. Receive your e-investment certificate within 72 hours of payment confirmation.

*Please Share/Forward This Information To Your Contacts (Friends, Colleagues & Relatives). They'll Surely Need This Vital Info.*

*Contact: (+234) 08027390046, 08155539270.*
Chat With Us HERE /2348155539270

Ekweremadu is the only South East politican that has followers across the country and it was wrong to pick Peter Obi has VP over, Ekweremadu had the opportunity to decamp to APC but refused Can Obi go through such pressure and remain in PDP
Obi that can't win his state for PDP was given the VP slot, Without APGA Obi would've never become governor.