Assignment on Strategic Leadership and

Governance.

There are Laws that Govern Leadership, and Leaders

Bear Moral Burdens:
1. I would recommend that “Political Leaders in Nigeria”
should follow strictly the laws that govern Leadership. They
includes, but not limited to the following:
(a) The law of integrity:
Great Political Leadership is characterized by honesty,
truthfulness and straight dealing with every person, under
all circumstances.
(b) The law of empathy:
Political leaders should be sensitive to and aware
of the needs, feelings and things that motivates
their people.
(c) The law of independence:
Political leaders should know who they are, (like Socrates
puts it, “Man know thyself”) what they believe in and they
think for themselves. Political leaders must ensure
independence in certain areas of their doings.
(d) The Law of Timing:
Political leaders in Nigeria should embrace the law of timing
and learn from it.

According to John Maxwell in his Laws of Leadership, he made it

succinct that “when to lead is as important as what to do and where to
go”.
A good example of a Nigerian political leader who embraced and learnt
from the law of timing is Dr Goodluck Jonathan from Bayelsa State of
Nigeria.

History shows that he was once a science student who may or may-not
have envisaged becoming one of the political leaders in Nigeria today.
He grew up from a geographical area that is not really reckoned with,
when it comes to issues of politics. Right from the time Nigeria had
her independence from the colonial masters, no person or political
leader has occupied the present political position Dr Goodluck
Jonathan does today. The law of timing was a factor in the political
history of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

First he went to the University and studied Zoology, graduated and

became a lecturer in one of Nigeria’s Universities. He was wise to the
law of timing; somehow he developed interest in politics, and with the
law of timing by his side; he contested for deputy governorship
position in an election for the first time and won. So, Dr Goodluck
Jonathan became Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. However, with
good luck as his name goes, and good-timing, he became Bayelsa
State Governor as a result of circumstances that played out in his
favour. The law of timing placed him also in such a position that he
contested for the post of Vice President and he won. Today looking at
the present situation in our Country Nigeria, with regards to the health
of our President Umaru Musa Yar-dua, it seams to me that his name
GOODLUCK is coming to fore again as that circumstances that played
out in his favour few years back is very likely to play again but this
time as a President. (I hope this is not an over statement) Today the
then Zoologist has risen to a height politically made possible by the
law of timing.
In conclusion therefore, it is important to learn from the example here
that:
1. Great leaders should recognize that when to lead is as
important as what to do and where to go. Dr Goodluck
Jonathan joined the ruling party, this was essential in his
becoming the Vice President and possibly going to be President
of Nigeria. This gave him the opportunity to represent his
people who most Nigerians see and label as minority group.
2. When leaders take the right action at the right time, it results
to success. People, Principles, and Processes converge to
make an incredible impact, and the results touch not only the
leader, but also the followers and the whole nation or
organization. When the right leader and the right timing come
together, incredible things happen.

Economic and Financial Leaders In Nigeria:

I would recommend they practice the following virtues:
Integrity:
Great economic and financial leadership is explicated
by honesty, truthfulness and straight dealing with every
Person, at all times. The country’s financial status should
be made clear to any body, organization or seat that may
request to know.
Emotional Maturity:
Leaders that handle and/or manage the economic and
financial issues of Nigeria should be able to show a great
deal of calmness, coolness and should exhibit high level of
emotional maturity in the face of economic and financial
challenges and/or instability.
Foresightedness:
The economic and financial leaders should be able to predict and
anticipate the future. They should have a Vision that stretches far into
the future and a strategic long term plan that would drive the Vision.
LAW OF LEGACY:
There is a law that should guide economic and financial leaders in
Nigeria. It is the law of legacy. It states that a leader’s lasting value is
measured by succession. Roberto Goizueta former chairman and chief
executive officer of the Coca-Cola Company international once said:
“Leadership is one of the things you cannot delegate. You exercise it,
or you abdicate it”. I believe there is a third choice: “You pass it on to
your successor”. That is a choice exercised by leaders who practice
the law of legacy. These leaders are rare. But the ones who do leave a
legacy of succession for their organisation are by doing the following:
1. Lead the organisation with a “Long View”.
When Leaders like Professor Charles Soludo, a first class scholar
in economics from University of Nigeria, Nsuka, was appointed
the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he made his mark
and everybody saw and believed through his actions that he had
the future best interest of Nigeria and its Citizens in mind. The
banks consolidation programme is truly a legacy he left behind.
2. Create a leadership Culture.
Professor Charles Soludo made developing leaders a part of his
leadership culture. The banks consolidation programme he
carried out during his tenure is being built upon by his successor,
Sanusi lamido Sanusi.
Great economic and financial leaders always leave a legacy that the
up coming and developing leaders would want to emulate.
When all is said and done, your ability as a leader will not be judged by
what you achieved personally or even by what your team
accomplished during your tenure. You will be judged by how well your
people and Country did after you were gone. You will be gauged
according to the law of legacy; your lasting value will be measured by
succession.

The Civil Society Leader of my choice is Adams Oshomole, the

former labour leader in our country, Nigeria.
Resilience:
Civil society leaders should imbibe the spirit of resilience. They bounce
back from the inevitable setbacks, disappointments, and temporary
failures experienced in the attainment of any worthwhile goal.
Empathic:
Civil society leaders should be sensitive to and show awareness of the
needs, feelings and things that motivates their people.
Optimism:
Civil society leaders should be able to radiate the confidence and
prove that all difficulties can be overcome and all goals can be
attained.
Adams Oshomole is presently the Governor of Edo State, having
overcome all the initial setbacks, disappointments, and temporary
failures experienced in the attainment of his goal of being a Governor.

THE LAW OF SACRIFICE:

Leadership means sacrifice. This law demands that the greater the
leader, the more he must give up.
Example here is a great leader I tagged “All Time Leadership
Champion”. He is Martin Luther King who was also a Civil Society
Leader; he exercised the law of sacrifice. While pursuing his course
of leadership during the civil rights movement, King was arrested and
jailed on many occasions. He was stoned, stabbed, and physically
attacked. His house was bombed. Yet his vision as a leader and
influence continued to increase. Ultimately, he sacrificed everything
he had. But what he gave up, he parted with willingly. In his last
speech, delivered the night before his assassination in Memphis-USA,
he said: “I don’t know what will happen to me now. We have got some
difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter to me now. Because I have
been to the mountaintop; I won’t mind. Like anybody else, I would like
to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I am not concerned
about that now. I just want to do God’s Will. He has allowed me to go
up to the mountain. I have looked over and I have seen the Promised
Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight
that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I am happy
tonight……I am not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of
the coming of the Lord”.
The next day he paid the Ultimate price of Sacrifice. Martin Luther
King’s impact was profound. He influenced millions of people to
peacefully stand up against a system and society that fought to
exclude them.
There is no success without Sacrifice. The higher the level of
leadership you want to reach, the greater the Sacrifices you will have
to make.

In summary, all the recommendations for the three types of leaders

considered can be summarized as laws: Law of Integrity, law of
Courage, law of Realism, law of Power, law of Ambition, law of
Optimism, law of Empathy, law of Emotional Maturity, and law of
Sacrifice.