Leadership: Better late than never, by Ahmad Sajoh
“It is only where there are no elders that the she-goat delivers in teeters” – African proverb.
I started this write-up with a powerful African proverb because I believe no matter how we try to copy modern means of defining ourselves, our inherited values have been better. Our rudderless situation today is a direct consequence of our neglect of those positive values we inherited from our forefathers.
The situation in our party would not have escalated to a point where we face uncertainty if our leaders behaved more responsibly in addressing party affairs.
Leadership is beyond wearing a badge of authority. Leadership is a burden to be discharged with honour and dignity. Agreed that leaders are also human, but they are human with different expectations.
READ ALSO: Parable of the angry father, by Ahmad Sajoh
While ordinary citizens take decisions for themselves, leaders take decisions for everyone including themselves. Life is all about choices, but the choices leaders make affect not only them but the leaders as well.
This now brings me to the situation we find ourselves in at APC Adamawa State. For once since the party came to be in our state, we are now facing multiple litigations.
If we must face the facts as they are, all the crises stem from the actions and inactions of leadership. In some cases it’s because they take the wrong side, in others, it’s because they fear taking sides with the truth. And as the litigations come one after the other, the leaders continue to dig in by doing those things that led to litigation over and over again.
Now that we have come to this sorry pass, it’s wrong to begin to trade blame. But one thing is very clear, the aspirants and members of the party are the real victims of the judgment of the Federal High Court in Yola. Yet, the indictment rests squarely on the party leadership.
It was the process that nullified the outcome, not the participants. Not even the litigants as some people would like to claim. None of the Aspirants was responsible for organising the process. They were simply participants in the process. To pretend that the victims are the guilty party is to blame the pot for the poor taste of the rotten meal.
Both Senator Binani and Malam Nuhu Ribadu are victims of the actions and inactions of party officials that failed the most elementary definition of leadership responsibility.
The responsibility to be fair, just, and equitable. A responsibility that the courts are now taking over most bluntly and brutally. When justice reigns in a household, the judge is always kept at bay.
We need to reconcile ourselves with the reality of our situation. But it would have been far better if we reconciled within ourselves as well. But the basis of reconciliation is truth. Can we, therefore, look at ourselves in the face and tell ourselves the truth?
Right from day one when the process of establishing new structures for the party at all levels started, certain individuals became obsessed with just control of the party structures. For them, the desire to control the structures was so important that every other consideration became irrelevant. Any attempt to make them see reason was rebuffed. For them the mission of control was paramount. No plugs to contain leakage, no brakes to stop over speed, and certainly no caution to avoid breaching the law. Control was the only commodity.
The power equation was the only currency in use. I recall that such levels of impunity and high-handedness were visited on our twin local government areas of Mubi North and South. We resisted, but it continued till today. Power-mongering knows no law or legality. Unfortunately, as our democracy matures we are equally learning to enact laws that provide safeguards for democratic ideals.
Those who are either bereft of knowledge, or live in the past or worst of all are blinded by self-interest and do not seem to realise this. The new electoral act in particular had several safeguards protecting the system from impunity and illegal power-mongering. No matter how much we wish to promote our self-interests, if the process does not follow the due process of law, the courts will nullify it. That’s the bottom line. I wish we all accept this basic fact.
It is my appeal and prayer that our party leaders should know that some of these laws are so strong that they can always check the excesses of party leaders and operators. This is particularly so for the new electoral act. The act voids any outcome of a process that does not follow laid-down democratic norms and standards.
Perhaps it is now necessary to advise our leaders to work the path of caution in determining the affairs of the party to avoid further pitfalls. Such pitfalls are many but most are avoidable.
The case of dual leadership in Mubi North and South should be addressed urgently. And in doing so, it should be done within the ambit of law and legality so it does not require the court to either tell us what is right or for the court to again nullify processes built on that anomaly.
Coming home to specifics now I wish to pointedly address individuals whose interventions at this point will make a whole lot of difference. Note that I am not attacking these people as many may want to conclude.
I am also aware that our person-centric political system makes any truth involving a leader an offence. I do not intend to offend anyone, but if the truth hurts it’s because our people say “Zakiya rigar kaya.”
With due respect to my dear brother and our leader, the National Vice Chairman North East, Comrade Salihu Mustapha, as the highest ranking official of the party, please take up the gauntlet, throw away whatever personal interests you may have in the crisis afflicting the party and think of the legacy you want to establish. Take full charge and address all lingering issues expeditiously.
As the third person to hold that position from Adamawa State, consider the records of those who held the office before you. Dr Umar Duhu made sure Governor Nyako was the first APC governor in the state. Babachir Lawal led us to win an election and enthroned Governor Bindow.
My dear brother, friend, and leader, in your first tenure, we lost the Government House Yola. Now in your second tenure, we have no candidate. No matter how you look at it, that’s not a good legacy. Leadership is not a title. Leadership is not a trophy. It is a responsibility. Purposeful leadership works towards leaving a legacy of service.
Please my leader, the highest-ranking leader of the party from my state take action and change the narrative. Do not believe those who claim to defend you, eulogise you and attack anyone telling you the truth. They are not your friends but your enemies.
My experience in life has taught me that the first set of people to vilify and insult a leader when he or she falls from grace are those who vociferously claim to defend such a leader while in power. Do not get carried away. Do the right thing and it will not be taken away from you for life.
In the case of the acting chairman, Mr Tadawus and his Executive Council, never allow a situation where we have no candidate for governor. The disaster is beyond just the governorship.
The difficulty of selling other candidates especially at the State House of Assembly level without a governorship candidate is better imagined than witnessed. Even our Presidential Candidate and National Assembly candidates will face difficulties in selling their candidature.
We cannot afford to, do not allow it. But if it so happens, then the job in your hands will be monumental. Wake up to the reality of it. Find a solution to this setback.
Leadership should take responsibility for what is happening. Rise to the challenge and be the catalyst for a new dawn in Adamawa APC.
All lingering cases must be addressed urgently and dispassionately. The Lamurde scenario should be avoided at all costs.
Unfortunately, new ones are emerging in Mubi North and South. Currently, we have two chairmen of the party in each of the Local Government Areas. This is already a ground for litigation.
Given the current judgment, it will not be out of place to caution that any further legal loophole should be avoided. Take cognisance of the wise saying that “it is not a mistake to make a mistake, but it is a mistake to repeat a mistake.” No one follows the same road twice if it leads to nowhere.
Post-script: Can we plead with our respected National Chairman and the NWC to consider refunding the money due to aspirants who stepped down during the special convention that brought the current leadership to power? There is a subsisting promise made by no less a person than Mr President himself.
Please, sir, take it up and do the needful. We are hopeful even though the refund has lingered for too long. But like they say “better late than never”.
As always, I come in peace.
Sajoh, a political analyst, was a commissioner of information in Adamawa State.
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