OBA'S LEADERSHIP STYLE WILL HERALD THE GLORIOUS ERA

OBA'S LEADERSHIP STYLE WILL HERALD THE GLORIOUS ERA.

By Imo Ben

Leadership style is what makes the difference in the character of politicians. It is what defines the personality of a leader, to tell whether he or she is in tune with what is demanded  by the led. 

In Akwa Ibom State, some leaders are unpopular because they are mean, anti-people and snubbish. They do not consider the masses good enough to romance with to understand their plights. Rather, they cocoon themselves among the elite, and treat the ordinary people as inconsequential.

However, a few others are the opposite in leadership style. One of such rare ones is the charismatic, sociable and youth-friendly Obong  Bassey Albert (OBA), the senator representing Uyo Senatorial District. Around him,  people usually experience the atmosphere of acceptance and self-worth because he warmly embraces all and sundry, especially the youths.

Under the present  leadership, the economic and political atmosphere are not warm for the young people.  It is a very difficult time because the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP has taken power away from the people. It is no more power to the people, but power stolen from the electorate.

The situation is such that for citizens to beat the tough tides to advance remarkably to become successful or self-sufficient is like a camel being forced through the eyes of a needle. This is as a result of unfriendly leadership attitude and poor responsiveness of government to their plights. The ordinary ones have no support from the elitist leadership to start up something. The leadership  just wants the youths to stand up and roam around in the civil service-dependent state. But OBA will approach it differently.

In a state where industrialization is phony the “Dakkada” slogan which urges youths to get involved in enterprises under this administration has turned a mockery. Unlike what obtains currently, OBA will boost the economy to provide support for people expected to find what to do. He will provide robust start-up initiatives to spring up citizens to establish themselves. He will show serious commitment to assist citizens, especially the youths to arise and be enterprising, instead of merely chorusing the jingles of “Dakkada”. 

When OBA assumes office as governor in 2023, the state will be returned to the era when young people weren't deceived with bogus empowerment claims, especially as it is done during election periods by this regime. Surely, the people will be returned to when there was emotional attachment to the youths and consequently they were treated without disdain or called derogatory names for seeking explanations on their rights.

OBA is the only one to take us back to when the spirit of giving and assisting by government was part of the leadership character. Today, selfishness is the officially adopted leadership style of the governmentin the state.

Shockingly, the gap between the leader(ruler is better) and the ordinary people is uncomfortably becoming too wide, daily. Yet,  what makes a government popular in an economy like ours is generousity of the leaders in government towards the ordinary class, who are in need for start-ups. Sadly, a majority of those affected is in the voting class. 

In fact, before now, channels for the youths to access the former leaders  to present issues bordering them for solutions were varied. And most times, it was not too necessary to see the governor because commissioners, special assistants and other aides selflessly addressed some complaints from the people. 

Right from when Sen. Bassey Albert served as a commissioner, his benevolent lifestyle and prompt interventions to issues affecting citizens were such that people flooded his office to get support. This was his leadership style then and even now. He has even promised not to change as governor. Those are the things that make him popular.

In social gatherings, OBA effortlessly solves some problems from his teeming supporters, without frowning like most personalities in his class. Unlike them, he signs documents at the airport and other places outside his cosy office in order to accelerate the process of getting a problem solved for young people. 

Unfortunately, we now witness a regrettable story in leadership in our state. Since, it is not in the current govenor’s  character to treat the electorate benevolently as expected of a political leader in our clime, those working with him also try not to be different from his selfish style. This is not suppose to be the character of any responsive political leaders, especially a governor. 

That is why there is serious clamour for OBA's unique brand of benevolent leadership. Under his leadership example, government functionaries will respond benevolently to demands of citizens, especially the youths. That will positively cause many to rise from boys to men. So many youths in top positions today in politics and business are products of the previous government’s  benevolence, charitable and responsive lifestyle. 

OBA, who has empowered so many people to establish businesses, facilitated  employment for many across the nation, is a dependable ladder many have climbed out of poverty and when he is voted into power as the next governor through any platform, the citizens will enjoy a glorious era.