George Ekpungu and the theory of visionary leadership

By Joseph Edgar….

I was recently on a radio programme aimed at the usual, which was to dissect and analyze the current political malady in our country. As usual, the callers came in very fierce. They had nothing good to say about our country and its hapless leaders. I wasn’t going to join this bandwagon of the hopeless which seems to be our national pastime- the continuous and collective railing of the people against boorish leadership.

On getting the opportunity, I threw in my concept of visionary followership which is a very simple concept. It simply just teaches the doctrine of self-help. Nobody was born to rule, that democracy has ensured. What we have are strong fighters who, by their passion and determination, have perfectly positioned themselves to remain recurring decimal in our political landscape. The rest of us who never throw ourselves out continually subject ourselves to the malfasceance of this class of dummies and then sit back and wail and cry seeking for a messiah who will not come.

The ‘sitting duck’ tendency of our people who although have the power to cause an immediate change, but seldom use same, continue to be the real tragedy in our land and not the unwanted carnage unleashed on us by those who, though imbecilic in their approach to governance, have nevertheless thrown themselves up to be counted.

It is in the midst of this that I feel that rather than seek visionary leadership which may not happen in our lifetimes, the energy should be shifted into throwing up visionary followership, people who with their depth and track can really upturn the system of inefficient distribution of common wealth and then enthrone the very strong tenets of democracy with its twin wealth creation benefits.

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As I spoke on the need for the led to arise on that radio station, my mind began to wonder to some very strong Nigerians who have eventually thrown themselves up for leadership…powerful technocrats imbued with integrity, transparency and who have created value in the private sector and who understand very clearly the dictum of separation of powers and the importance of debate in decision taking in a democracy.

As I spoke, Ekpungu readily comes to mind. I have had the rare privilege of working very closely as an Investment Banker with this person. His clarity of thought, his strength in policy formulation and his major track especially in law and regulation stands him out. In our dealings which took us the whole gamut of enforcement, operation and formulation taking him though very key public institutions like the EFCC and the SEC you will see a bold follower who, through dint of hard work, is ready for the arduous task of arrow-heading the very slow but inevitable revolution of the visionary follower within the Nigerian leadership context.

After serving very meritoriously the Cross River people in his capacity as the immediate past Commissioner of New Cities Development, he is now vying to represent the Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representative.

Yes, this is a full blown endorsement as I am of the firm believe that those of us who have a voice should make it available to visionary voices like that of Ekpungu as we commence the journey of revalidation in our ation. If we cannot for now seize the epochal mantle of leadership at the center, we can as well surround it with capacity not only to serve as check but also to provide it with depth and support the kind, people like Dr Ekpungu would be bringing to the house.

So my clarion call to the people of Ikom/Boki is to realize the huge burden history is throwing at them in its bid to build an intellectual foundation for the rebirth of our country by coming out in their numbers to throw Ekpungu into the House as first step in glory. Lets do this not only for Ekpungu but also for his ilk nationwide. Enough of the Mongols in power.

 

 

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