While Oxford advanced learners dictionary defined “leadership as the ability if someone to lead”, the quest for sustainability and meeting demands seem to have digressed the essence and ideal regards of leadership. Kogi is not an exception of this decadence as a result of abysmal hunger, hardship, peer pressure and social competition among elites. Hence, the ideals of leadership got misplaced.
However, while misplacing leadership in Kogi State, followership was found and this justify why the average Igala, Yoruba and Ebira unemployed youth living in Kogi State has accustomed to “Omaede, Éfolanyi henwa and Adahi sa” respectively to cajole wealthy elites and the political class for instant peanuts. This sad acts which has become habitual seems to be turning into norms as even the innocent younger generation are involuntarily getting acquainted to this sad norm.
Thus, true leadership having interchanged with followership, it only requires some coloured notes in the pocket, closeness with powers that be or possession of money reservoir to be called a leader and this is not only unfortunate but is deteriorating ethics and standard among Kogites. The poor no longer regard people based on credibility and competence as the self acclaimed leaders too have lost focus because financial strength is a trustable guarantee of getting followers at any point in time.
As pathetic as the foregoing is, the new direction government of Kogi State has massacred the tendencies of idea Renaissance in government because it obviously rewards sycophancy than objectivity. The government has institutionalized begging via empowering of undeserving personalities in the name of appreciation or as a booty for loyalty.
It was the shock of my life sometimes last year listening to a serving public servant who have earlier stated he graduated from the prestigious state owned university Anyigba introducing himself as a representative of an individual whose literacy is seriously in doubt. That not enough, it us better said than imagined the length at which self acclaimed comrades whim are yet to come to terms with the purpose of their existence move from pillar to post taking photo shots around semi literate politicians who they regard as their leaders while their ages is ticking on.
No doubt, the quest for material possessions and meeting up with the demand of peer pressure can cause self diminishing but literates should atleast have some shame in seeking this fulfilment. Kogi State ought to be the confluence of opportunity rather than the confluence of eyes services but this supposed opportunities cannot surface in an atmosphere of youths who lack self value orientations. And as for the opportunistic self serving barons who think everything will continue to be as it is; congratulations to you! Whatever advantage has placed you at the top today is just like a morning dew, it only needs the rising sun to evaporate.
By and large, we need to all change our orientations. Government should think of ways through which unemployed graduates can be gainfully employed rather than hovering around people for survival, the elites should come up with ideas that will industrialise the state and by large extension create jobs, then; the follower crews should look beyond nose and develop ways of Independence sustainability without any recourse to begging or sycophancy. Only through this that we will all be proud to say Kogi is a confluence of opportunity.
God Bless Kogi State!
Comrade A. M. Nasir writes from Minna, Niger State
naadejohs@gmail.com
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