By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Over time, I’ve been deeply moved by the speech and
comments of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili which had served as inspiration and hope for a
new Nigeria. Given the political wilderness that our nation has been trapped
for years, the sense of hope and inspiration generated by Ezekwesili speech at
the recent APC Road Map Summit, is even more profound today.
Public service and politics in Nigeria are
dominated by professional politicians who are in the business for their own
personal gain and power. The time has come to recognize that someone has a
special ability to ignite or reignite faith and belief in ourselves, to capture
our vision, imagination, and our highest ideals that Nigeria could be a great
country.
At a time when our nation is bankrupt of patriotic
leaders, when a person with such a rare patriotism comes along, we need to put
aside our ethnic and partisan politics and embrace such a person. We have that
kind of person in Ezekwesili. In my opinion, none of the aspiring presidential
candidates possess the knowledge, experience, strength, passion, patriotism,
character, and judgment needed for a change in the leadership of our nation
like Ezekwesili. She is perfect to be Nigeria’s first woman president.
Ezekwesili is the Senior Economic Advisor for
Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative Open Society Foundation. In this
capacity, she is the senior advisor to a number of economy reforming Presidents
of African countries and their cabinets on their economic development strategy,
policies, and implementation. A former Vice-President of the World Bank,
Ezekwesili had served in various capacities in Obasanjo administration as
Minister of Education, Minister of Minerals, and Presidential Aide in charge of
Public Procurement Reforms.
As expected, Ezekwesili’s address at the APC summit
was an inconvenient truth. She couldn’t have chosen a more perfect place to
deliver a stirring message. She has been a dignified and honest critic of the
government and our political system. She has spoken eloquently about the
problems of our country and proffered solutions.
Nigeria needs a president who understands that her
responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve same,
a president who holds herself and those around her to the highest ethical
standards, a president who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that
our country needs every one of us to get involved, and a president who appeals
to the hopes of those who still believe in Nigeria, and those around the world
who still believe that Nigeria is the giant of Africa.
Like all history, the history of our political
enterprise will be defined by change. Change has become imperceptible. At other
times, change has been bold and dramatic. Great triumphs and historic firsts
highlight pioneer’s foray into any endeavor. Ezekwesili as Nigeria’s first
woman president would provide experience and impetus for a new group of
reformers.
Ezekwesili is not just a Nigerian, she’s a special
talent, well-educated with experience rooted in reform backgrounds with
specialized training, lengthy resumes and increasingly elective experience.
Concerning the issues that faced our nation, Ezekwesili has become a
spokesperson or a “surrogate representative” if you will, for all Nigerians.
Her belief in the social, political, and economic equality shaped her thoughts
and speeches.
She has taken on a special burden to speak for all
because we have very few people who could express our concerns and fears
adequately and boldly like she does. By honing her messages and by cultivating
political action network to support her campaign for political reforms, she has
become powerful and a force to be reckoned with.
The best single word to describe Ezekwesili’s
address to the APC chieftains might be the word “passion.” Every pioneer needs
a passion. Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have
nothing yet to maintain. They create from nothing. The common people often view
them as eccentrics – but their passion attracts other pioneers.
Ezekwesili boils with passion and this is evidenced
in all her speeches, and could hardly stay quiet. She has been a catalyst of
fiery controversial speeches on our economy, political arrangement, the ruling
elite class, government’s malfeasance and profligacy. She feels consumed with
her mission. She possess a magnetic temperament and wiring. Like a magnet, she
repels some but attracts a huge following. She possess a strong sense of
justice. This hunger of justice drives her – and it shows in her speeches. She
feels dissatisfied with anything but action. As a doer, she doesn’t want people
to merely talk but act.
Her speech to the APC could be summarized as
follows: Leadership means discomfort. If you’re going to be an effective
leader, you must live outside your comfort zone. Leadership means
dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction is a tool that moves us to greater things and
higher ground. Leadership means disruption. The status quo is never the goal of
a leader. Disruption is our constant companion.
Our country is full of needy people, overflowing
with men and women who know they’re missing out on something, bursting with
hurting individuals who come to us with hands outstretched. Our hard-working,
innovative, and imaginative youth have become hopeless, deflated, and
disengaged.
A leader owes it as a solemn duty to protect and
provide for the needy and the vulnerable in our society. First time ever in
this season of a major dollop of alienation and anomie, I have found someone
who inspired me and a new generation of Nigerians in Ezekwesili.
In Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, “A great prophet has risen
up among us,” and God has visited his people.”
source:sahara reporters
No comments:
Post a Comment