Commentary: Qualities Of A Leader With A Vision

^{WRITTEN BY TIMOTHY IFEDIORANMA}
Nineteen years after the return of democracy, there are subtle types and shadows that suggest that Nigeria may finally get it right with some crop of leaders.

There are little oases of excellence that lend weight to this belief. There are some states in Nigeria that have governors that have transformed their states from grass to grace. One of such is Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra State. These outstanding governors are joined by a common thread of excellence – they have vision, they have cold resolve and they have faith. These three qualities, no doubt, are some of the attributes that make for great leadership – a leader with a vision.
A good leader should have a clear vision. Like his two contemporaries before him, Governor Obiano paradoxically came with new eyes to survey Anambra’s old challenges and hewed out a vision, which mirrored the innate capacities of his people. In Anambra today, Governor Obiano is deeply immersed in the business of creating the future. Ebubedike started with a vision and hoisted himself firmly on the leadership saddle with a mission statement as well. He also took the same trajectory of mirroring the essence of his people in his vision which is to make Anambra the first choice investment destination and a hub for industrialization and commercial activities.
There is a common thread that runs through the reflexes of the leaders with vision. Great minds, they say, work alike. However, history may be kinder to Obiano on account of the fact that he assumed first tenure in office in a period of great recession while other similar performing governors had enough economic freedom to bring their dreams to fruition with abundant funds.
However, Obiano did not sit back to complain that oil prices had fallen. He proved that he is a leader. He sensed the imminent crash of oil price in the international market and quickly retooled his processes; sealed all leakages, adjusted his revenue generation mechanism and rolled out the mantra – “doing more with less”. This is leadership! Governor Obiano picked up the challenge of security and cleansed the state of criminal elements and established an agency that sped up the process of investing in the state. Today, Obiano has attracted billions of dollars investments into the state; most of them from wealthy friends.
Again, he sought adroitly to rev up the pride of Ndi Anambra, most of who could no longer tolerate the ceremonial emptiness of Awka, the state capital. So, he rolled out an ambitious plan for a new capital city, set up the Awka Capital Development Authority and carried out a comprehensive aerial mapping of the entire state. He also sent a team of architects to study model city designs in Dubai, Seoul and Kigali with the plan of building a 21st Century city with harmonious undertones of African architectural motif. He moved quickly, built three iconic flyovers that altered the landscape of Awka.
Again, Obiano’s agricultural revolution has put Anambra on the agricultural map. In specific terms, Anambra has become Nigeria’s leading exporter of vegetables. Anambra Rice, a brand of rice created by Obiano’s influence on the sector, was recently adjudged the best rice brand in Africa, beating major brands from South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Cameroun, Namibia and Ghana. Large industrial farms have sprung up in the state and such exotic crops as wheat and sorghum are currently being produced in commercial quantity.
The truth is that Governor Obiano’s greatest impact in Anambra State does not consist of bridges and monuments alone, but in his masterful administration of the software of governance; the little touches that humanize a leader. No doubt, true greatness does not consist of performing acts of greatness but in carrying out every day acts with a touch of greatness! And this may well be the dividing line between Obiano and others.
Obiano’s philosophy of ana alu olu, ana alu mmadu, offers a rare window into his empathy as a leader with a vision. All things considered, it is indeed fascinating that in four years, Obiano is like a charismatic leader with an invisible halo above his head. There is no doubt that slowly but steadily, a new philosophy of governance is on its way to be born in his second term!