Character and integrity are core ingredients of leadership. As no real success can be attained without them; making them an indispensable variable in any leadership discourse.

What is discernable from this is the fact that a leader should be able to go before and get along with the people in a manner that breeds positivism and goodwill, societal equilibrium, and equitable distribution of wealth accrued based on core ethical values.

A leader should be able to plan adequately for the future based on current indices of development for challenges which are bound to occur occasionally. Our leaders have sometimes been unable to come to grasp with the important aspect of their duties many are unable to fashion out any long term plan for development.

Over the years our democratic project has been bereft of mature interaction and replaced with political tirades, rattling, graft, corruption, bigotry, bitterness, embezzlement, malice and social injustice.

In many developed countries, aspiring politicians/leaders take out time to fashion out a discernable philosophy or ideology for themselves and their political career but in Nigeria many lack political philosophy as what obtains is not politics of ideas but politics of self aggrandizement and self enrichment.
Political office is not seen as a means to an end but it is seen as an end itself and the ripple effect has been profound.

A visionary and competent leader have often time evaded Nigerians.

As Cicero puts it ‘those who govern a country should be the best and brightest citizens’. This brings to mind my own personal definition of a leader ‘a leader is a person who knows the path, and shows the path for others to follow.

Edo people and Nigerians alike deserves a leader who is visionary and innovative, one that can recreate, rebuild, redesign the state bringing it to the apex of good governance.

Truth must be reaffirmed that the old machiavellian principle that; politics and morality do not go together must be rebuffed. A leader with foresight, who is a think tank, who acts fast but with a bit of caution as well. He is not the type that acts carelessly not bothered about whose ox is gored.

A people friendly leader who can make a true masterpiece out of mere pieces. A leader who does not only tell but shows.

A receptive leader who embraces all and sundry irrespective of party divide, one that respects the dictates of the constitution to the latter, an upholder of the rule of law and equality. A leader who is fair in all his dealings, not biased in decision making. A leader who is not scared of criticisms but appreciates it when it is constructive.

A leader who will run an inclusive government, not one who sees his kinsmen, party leaders and faithfuls as first among equals. A leader who can stick to his guns just to better the lots of the citizens against the wishes of the few elites who tender frivolous criticisms.

A leader with a developmental plan and blue print doused with investors, people friendly and centered policies to aid infrastructural and economic drive. A prudent and selfless leader who is not a psychopath or a fanatic. A leader who will cry the cry of the people not a leader who will treat pressing issues with kid gloves.

In our present democratic dispensation, it is difficult to find a true visionary because on their way to power, they have been aided and this makes it difficult to act against the status-quo when one is tied to the whims and caprices of a political party and her leaders. This makes true development a mirage.

The citizens are given a prime of place during election cycle afterwards they return to the back seat and they live at the mercy of their leaders, they are often seen as distractions or a cog in the wheel of progress which often time is never the case. The citizens may not be right all the time but they seldom get their guesses wrong which makes a case as to the need to listen to their demands.

A report on state fragility put forward by Professors Paul Colher and Tim Besley identified three tools good leaders use to transform their countries, these are: narratives, actions and institutions.
Leaders should be first and foremost communicators, a good leader should be a good communicator; having the ability to inspire the people with well chosen narratives of a shared positive vision which should be matched with credible actions. Body language and actions must be in sync, always backed up with right institutions. Nigerian leaders often talk the talk but rarely walk the walk.

During campaigns, promises and reassurances are dolled out, but the people must hold the leaders accountable. Enough of storytelling and gimmicks.

Any leader who does not have the capacity to guarantee a better future and also an enabling environment is a bad omen and should not find his/her way into power. We can’t fold our arms, dish out blames and hurl insults at our leaders when we are also accomplices.

Leadership is a matter of sacred trust of stewardship and a need for radical positive change and progress. Morality must be rigidly enforced by politicians or technocrats alike so as to give a new breathe of life in our polity with practical commitment.

Conclusively, the lessons for Governor Obaseki should be that “politics of the end justify the means” is no longer feasible because morality and politics are indispensable. Same way character and integrity are critical for leadership survival.