By AMEN OBASUYI
It is conventional wisdom that the major bane that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its very foundation was the party’s ranking members’ disregard for internal democracy, especially in its choice of candidates from the presidential to the councillorship levels. The events of the elections held in 2015, have graphically brought it home to the rank and file of the party, nationwide, that victory at future elections will only be possible and feasible if internal democracy, due process and respect for dissenting views, become entrenched in the workings and operations of the party at all levels.
It is also common knowledge that in many instances, the basic requirements and standards of good pedigree; merit; responsibility; saleability; accountability and due diligence; sound education and good credentials etc. were sacrificed or dispensed with at the altar of negative reasonings that are antithetical to the aforementioned parameters of good representation and positive and result-oriented performance index in politics and good governance.
With the benefit of hindsight (especially the twin-loss of power and governance at both the state and federal platforms) and foresight (especially the dream of accessing that power and governance at the state level on November 12, 2016), the PDP in Edo State has attracted a new crop of members to drive the process of getting that power modem back under the protective umbrella of the party. This infusion of fresh and committed party men and women who imbued with new ideas that will steer the PDP towards its hitherto winning ways and prominence built on optimum performance.
The new crop of servant-leaders will assist the party to exorcise the odious wraith of crass insensitivity; internal despotism; hardsell candidates; unproductive political appointees; institutionalised complacency and rise like the mythical phoenix, from the ashes of defeat and despondency to the pinnacle of power and good governance.
Governance, in all its ramifications, is a serious affair. Though there is no archetypal approach to governing and governance, the people–friendly leader strives to satisfy the larger mass of the people, not a conclave of selfish interests that will further pauperise the people he leads.
Good governance must have a regular interface with the people’s day-to-day existence, through the provision of, a least, one service, programme or project that will catalyse their living for good. A good leader should embody, exhibit, exude and execute service to his people with undiluted courage, implicit self-confidence, thespian wisdom, positive vision, unwavering impartiality and absolute fear of God.
Selfless idealism (not of the “Iconoclastic” dimension!) in leadership, enables the leader to conceptualise the best approach to take in solving the most pressing needs of the people he leads.
The good leader should possess pristine panache, which is the most personal attribute that encapsulates the style, class, suaveness and infectious confidence that will, ultimately, drive positive decisions and generate good results. The quintessential leader is not loud. He allows his works and achievements to speak for him.
A leader with foresight should have the Third Eye intuition of recognising talent; assembling diverse quality human and material resources and tapping and adapting same for the common good of his people. He recognises the yawning gap between leading by example and leading by precepts.
The emergence of a good leader with High Performance Indices, entails the possession of an abundant reservoir of tenacity of purpose and the will to dispense it equitably. He must not be seen or heard as a local champion representing ethnic or senatorial ideas and ideals.
The result-oriented leader is expected to be a symbol of doggedness and unrelenting determination that will serve as a tonic or elixir for conscientisation, motivation and mobilisation of his people for sustainable progress and development.
Currently, the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State brims with a phalanx of committed party men who have indicated their readiness to bear the ensign of the party at the September 10, 2016 governorship election.
At the vanguard of the new crop of focused party faithful, is Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri who has, for many decades, been a key player in the private sector of the Nigerian economy. He embodies the leadership qualities outlined above and more.
The massive following he enjoys at all levels in the 192 wards of the three senatorial districts of Edo State, is indicative of his world view, strong attachment to and identification with their overall hope and aspirations for a Greater Edo.
Chief Edebiri has continued to receive support, solidarity and critical acclaim from respected citizens of the state who represent diverse ethnic, social, economic and political groupings in the state.
With the unalloyed seal of approval, wise counsel and blessing that all strata of the Edo society has continued to display in the weeks before the party primary, Chief Edebiri is set to consolidate on these indices and match vision with commitment, mission and action for the general good of the people of Edo State post – November 12, 2016.
•Obasuyi writes from Benin City, Edo State.