Chapter 2: UNDERSTANDING THE CORE ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE: CITIZENS AND LEADERS

This chapter delves into two critical components of effective governance: the citizens and the leaders. It is often said that these two groups are at constant loggerheads, each blaming the other for the dire state of the nation. Citizens point fingers at corrupt leaders, while leaders decry the uncooperative nature of the populace. The truth, however, is that both sides are responsible for the current situation. Citizens and leaders are like the two sides of a coin; if one side is defaced, the value of the entire coin is compromised. In the same way, no matter how good one side of the coin may be, the nation’s potential is lost if the other side is marred. Therefore, to build a great nation, we must undertake a comprehensive overhaul of our values, both as citizens and as leaders. Bad leadership inevitably damages the nation, just as bad citizens inevitably raise a poor crop of future leaders.

Leaders and Citizens Share Similar Traits

One of the most troubling aspects of our national predicament is the striking similarity in character between the leaders and the citizens. In my years of research into the problems plaguing our country, I have discovered that the same mindset that pervades among the citizens is often magnified in our leaders. This is not surprising; after all, our leaders are drawn from the same pool as our citizens.

Take, for example, the governance of grassroots organisations such as landlord associations, cooperatives, and religious bodies. Many of these groups are run with the same level of corruption and mismanagement that we see at the national and state levels. How often have we witnessed the assets of an association being squandered by its executives, or funds being misappropriated for personal gain? If such a local leader were to rise to a national position, it is almost certain that they would continue their pattern of looting and mismanagement on a larger scale.

The saying, “As a leader, so the people,” rings true. A populace that values justice and integrity will naturally expel bad leadership because the environment will not tolerate it. Conversely, when citizens are complicit or apathetic, leaders feel emboldened to act with impunity.

The Importance of Citizen Responsibility

One cannot help but notice that most of those who criticise the government often do so because they have not yet had the opportunity to partake in the same corrupt practices. The fundamental pathway to national transformation lies not in reckless protests, as we have often seen, but in the cultivation of a virtuous lifestyle among citizens. In many advanced nations, transparency, trust, and responsibility are common denominators, even among the general populace. These values serve as a watchdog for leaders, who know they will be held accountable by an informed and engaged citizenry.

On the other hand, when a leader knows that citizens are merely pretending to care about integrity, they will brazenly commit acts of corruption, confident that they will find allies among the people who will protect them. The character of the citizenry, therefore, plays a crucial role in determining whether leaders will control their appetites or indulge their greed. When leaders know they can get away with poor performance, they will relax. But when they know they are under constant scrutiny, they will be compelled to perform.

The Corporate Experience: A Microcosm of National Governance

Many years ago, while working in a corporate organisation, I encountered a similar scenario. My subordinates frequently gave excuses for why we could not achieve the desired results. Being new to the system, I initially accepted these excuses, and as a result, our performance continued to decline. However, when the higher-ups began to focus on my department, I realised that I needed to scrutinise and demand better results. Within a year, we moved from the bottom of the performance chart to become one of the best-performing plants in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lesson here is that virtually everyone can perform at an exceptional level when challenged. Yet, we often see African leaders, educated in some of the best universities in the world, returning home to deliver subpar results. This is because no one challenges them to perform. When they relax, everything around them relaxes, and the entire nation reflects their weaknesses.

The Root of the Problem: A Cultural and Mindset Deficiency

The problems we face as a nation are not solely the fault of our leaders or citizens. Instead, they stem from a cultural deficiency and mindset that stifle progress and keep us mired in mediocrity. Until we begin to challenge not just our leaders, but also one another, to aspire to excellence and high performance, our output will continue to be an embarrassment. Changing the leaders without addressing the root causes will only result in the same cycle repeating itself. New leaders, raised from among the same citizens, will soon fall into the same patterns of corruption and inefficiency.

My dream is that excellence becomes the new normal, inspiring individuals and communities to strive for the highest standards in every endeavour. I envision a world where dedication, integrity, and innovation are not just aspirations but everyday practices, driving us to achieve extraordinary results. This shift would cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone is empowered to contribute their best, fostering an environment that celebrates success and uplifts those around us. In this reality, excellence would not only be expected but embraced as a shared value, paving the way for a brighter future for all.

A Case Study: The Perils of Unchecked Authority

Years ago, there was a deputy director in a government office who was widely regarded as a good and approachable person. Together with her junior colleagues, she would criticise the director, believing that the director was not accommodating enough towards subordinates. However, when the director retired and the deputy director took over, she quickly became worse than her predecessor. This is a common occurrence: individuals who once railed against the vices of their leaders often fall into the same behaviours once they assume power.

The Real Focus: Values, Structures, and Laws

Before we protest or seek to uproot bad leaders, we must ask ourselves some crucial questions: Are our problems really caused by our leaders, or are they a result of the values, structures, and laws that underpin our governance? If we do not understand what we are fighting against, the same loopholes that allowed the rise of our current leaders will overwhelm any new leaders we put in place. The perpetual cycle of bad leadership is rooted in fundamental issues that we must address before we can hope to bring about real change. If we fail to do this, even the best-intentioned leaders will soon fall into the same patterns, and we will find ourselves back where we started.

The path to effective governance requires a transformation not just of our leaders, but of our citizens as well. It demands a reevaluation of our values, the implementation of robust structures, and the enforcement of laws that promote accountability at all levels. Only then can we hope to break free from the cycle of mediocrity and build a nation that truly reflects our highest aspirations.

A Lesson from the Olympics

The Olympic Games in Paris 2024 have provided us with a striking lesson on the impact of environment, leadership, and governance on success. Of the 88 Nigerian athletes (representing more than two hundred million Nigerians) who travelled to compete, not a single medal was won. In stark contrast, a handful of Nigerians competing on behalf of other countries were able to secure four medals. This disparity is not merely coincidental but is indicative of a deeper, systemic issue.

It is hard to ignore the influence of poor governance and leadership on the performance of the citizens and by extension the athletes. The preparations that should have been made over the past two, three, or even four years were evidently lacking. This neglect manifested itself clearly in the results at the Olympics. When athletes are not provided with the necessary resources, training, and support, their performance inevitably suffers.

The failures at the Olympics are a microcosm of the broader challenges facing our nation. Poor leadership and ineffective governance do not just affect politics; they permeate every aspect of society, including sports. This is why we must re-evaluate and reposition our national narrative. To foster excellence and productivity, we must cultivate an environment that nurtures hard work, talent and potential.

The lesson from the Olympics is clear. The few Nigerians in the diaspora who managed to win medals did so not because they possess superior genes, but because they were nurtured in environments that supported their growth and excellence. Conversely, the performance of those at home highlights how a stifling, under-resourced environment can suppress even the greatest potential. The environment that nurtures a man will hugely determine who he becomes.

To move forward, we must address these systemic issues. It is not enough to merely participate in global competitions; we must create conditions where our citizens can excel, both at home and abroad. This requires a collective effort to improve governance, invest in infrastructure, and create a society where excellence is not the exception, but the norm. Only then can we hope to see the true potential of our nation realised on the global stage.