An enduring attribute of great economies and democracies in the world is the enthronement of a stable and credible political structure and its guidance by credible people. A closer look at such economies and democracies also project men of enduring legacies whose ideas and milestones are regarded as religion. Easily, exemplary political institutions like the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Party of the USA and its Republican counterpart, Labour Party and its Conservative neighbours in the UK point the way. These institutions have been preserved by men as alter ego through which the icons of democracy and political development have hatched enduring intentions that keep nations always moving forward. In different countries, the various segments within the polity are given some special names and these names convey a lot of trust and reputation on which the hopes and values of nations reside. In Nigeria, the most prominent of such political preserve is the one instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as the Board of Trustees (BoT). This uppermost stratum of the party has been believed to have conferred integrity on the party. The emerging consensus is that folks who are fit to occupy its topmost position, should have all the attributes of great passion for total nationalism. They are not people whose presence would elicit rancor and acrimony, but those whose features would always urge Nigerians to leverage their presence based on their records both in the past and the foreseeable future.
It is on this premise that many observers of political development in Nigeria have tracked with keen interest, the unfolding scenarios that would embellish the on-coming election of a BoT chairman of PDP. It may not be easy to elect one outstanding person out of over 100 supposedly outstanding party bigwigs. Only the application of a dignified consideration which uses records and acceptable philosophies of life (loyalty, excellence, patriotism etc) would make this election easier than has been imagined, if we will take the understanding that history has always explained how every noble person lived and served.
This seriousness in adopting a respectable consideration is hinged on the fact that Nigerians need strategist whose legacies transcend mere politics to offer the revered advise that would aid the establishment in making a difference, especially in today’s Nigeria where many intervening variables are trying to polarise the people.
A look at the key figures that are visible choices for the post of the PDP BoT chairman tends to offer some considerations to party stalwarts such as Senator Amadu Ali, Chief Tony Anenih and Senator Ken Nnamani. The line-up is obviously very long but a matter of thorough consideration, these three could form the first point of consideration based on certain criteria which the Nigerian polity has been at home with. One of such criteria is popularity and nuisance factors, the other is craftmanship and another is technocracy. Among the three very popular candidates, each of them has one specific quality but it is only one that has two most critical qualities imbedded in him since the past 50 years.
These criteria may have become very necessary in view of the fact that Nigerians rarely think deep when it comes to the stage of strategic choices that will keep memories for history to record. Rather, we have always been swayed by niceties and flashes of exuberance, grandstanding and showmanship
Watching this unfolding development from the sidelines of politics, one would be inclined to look more commitedly to the records of Ahmadu Ali, whose glowing records in his Edinburgh medical school years, the Nigerian Army, executive ministerial days and political landmarks have become some of the obvious milestones that could guarantee him easy passage to the position and the service required. This also becomes very important when it is obvious that nobody gives what he does not have and those that have, spend more time searching for more to offer.
Because the BoT is generally seen as the conscience of the party, the bigwigs must begin to look for their own member who really possesses the conscience and whose conscience has been tested through the crucibles of national challenges. This test is not just a matter of the opportunities one had acquired while mounting the soapbox to ask for votes, but those that formed the basis to consolidated plans in moulding new characters for national development. This is because, the BoT is considered an assemblage of topmost nationalists who feel that all the good things that must make the country great must be products of superior thinking. There is the dearth of such characters in Nigeria today, unless you have the privilege of looking into the depth of the minds of many top Nigerian politicians and the records they leave behind, one would be disappointed with the choice he makes.
By offering such a position to someone like Ahmadu Ali, many must obviously come to the conclusion that Nigerians have found a way of rewarding excellence, a factor that has been trampled upon by the majority who are scared by the superiority of a few like Ali. The fact still remains that Nigerians are getting close to a point where very responsible positions and considerations like the BoT chairman of a ruling party can no longer become a preserve of bystanders but committed Nigerians whose services for a long time have been genuinely consistent and in line with the desires of national aspirations. Looking at Ahmadu Ali years, one gets the disarming loyalty to advise politicians on the way forward so that gallery dwellers will be chased out of the centre circle of top decisions and issues that have to potency of influencing our collective will.
In his declaration of the intent to square up for this service, he has to his advantage the status of founding member of the PDP since 1998 and has remained a loyalist and a record holder on key national party assignments. As a coordinator for the Obasanjo-Atiku presidential candidate in 2003 he delivered the entire North Central states. He became a National Chairman of the party in 2005 and made a resounding political party success by retaining the presidency and winning 28 of the gubernatorial positions.
As a member of the presidential campaign committee, he was active in all the strategic plans to offer the party a strong victory. Because the issue of financial management is key here, Ali’s records as a financial gatekeeper became even more glaring as he met an empty party treasury but left the office very rich with some N1.4 billion. He went forward to build a home for the party in a structure that will soon be seen as one of the landmarks in the nation’s capital. During his time, the National Working Committee of the party was strong and rich, and the party did a lot with ease.
Much as his roles and contributions in politics are laden with a lot of records, his mark in service to his father land as a student, civil servant, soldier, administrator, community leader and national icon is far greater. It is the consolidation of all these factors that keeps him head and shoulders above the rank and file of his PDP counterparts who are bent on taking a shot at that elevated position.
Leadership
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