GOOD LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY: A TRIPARTITE REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE EXPECTED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATORS

Dear Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello

Your excellency, the executive governor of kogi state, let me once again use this opportunity to celebrate your fantabulous leadership style as a young man who God has called to serve his people in the most unexpected providential manner. It is obvious to all that your ascension to the driver seat of Kogi State affairs is to rescue it from it's deplitating state and set it on high for rapid growth and development. My prayer for you is that He who called you for service will guide you through in Jesus name.

Time will not permit me to highlight your achievements within the short time in the office in apposition with the previous administrations which were characterised by gloss incompetence and marginalization of many sorts. I am however delighted by your courageous and unwavering step to constitute a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the past administration in order to set the record straight in kogi State.

Your excellency sir, I cannot be quiet when certain things are not adding up in order to make a difference as rightly stated in your campaign manifesto and operational blueprint with the caption "New Direction". The Change we all preach can only become reality when the elects and the electorates rub minds together in a dual communication channel. This article therefore is one of the feedback opinions.

Good governance is a relatively new concept,  having entered the political lexicon in the 1970s and 1980s when a vast number of undeveloped countries were struggling to deal with theit political and economic problems which poor political leadership had generated for their countries. it refers to a system of government based on good leadership, respect for the rule of law and due processes, the accountability of the political leadership to the electorate as well as transparency in the operations of government. 

From our definition of Good Governance which is the hallmark of the present leadership, three key ingredients were mentioned. 

Good leadership. 

Accountability 

Transparency

The reason the nation is gasping for life today is as a result of bad leadership. Many of those who were previledged to occupy political position both at the federal, state and local government have succeeded in injecting us with the deadly virus. We no longer think pursuing the virtues of good governance is worth our stress.

Your excellency, to accomplish your vision for New Direction before the expiration of your tenure, below is my contribution and way forward. Your vision for a New Kogi State may end up in white paper and ink binded together and thrown in the cabinet in Lugard House if drastic measures are not taken the checkmate government activities.

It is time that you re-evaluate your appointees and Local Government administrators with their achievements so far. Good and quality leadership delivery is highly expected in this administration especially those with closed proximity to the grassroots. Local government through which the state can reach the people must not be committed to people who do not understand what democracy and good governance are all about. 

Recently, the house of Assembly in a unanimous decision suspended some Local government Administrators on issues bothering on misapropriation of public fund and abuse of office. Such alligations should not be swept under the carpet, the government should follow the principle of good governance and let the three ingredients come to play. We demand nothing from our local government administrators save for good leadership,  accountability and transparency. If this cannot be seen in their activities let them get out of the kitchen before they 'smoke' everyone to death. Of what use is good governance when the govern are being 'smoked' by the people appointed to take care of their needs.

According to a document prepared by the Administrative  Staff College of Nigeria ASCON (1992), Leadership is "an art of influencing the behaviour of a group of people in oder to achieve specific objectives and goals." In our local governments and kogi at large the need for leadership cannot be disputed, for it is only with the aid of effective leadership that a society or group of individuals can indeed attain their political, economic and social objectives. 

If its true that leadership is the art of motivating people to work together, to attain some agreed objectives, our political leaders, especially the administrators must understand that public resources are intended to achieve public goals; be political, economic or social in lieu of personal goals.

Your excellency, the era where millions of Naira are alloted by local government leaders to paint building to serve the purpose of executing a project is over. You must demand for accountability to ascertain their claims in both quality and quantity. No government can make a friend with good governance without inputs from the Local Governments. If your dream for a NEW KOGI STATE is going to have effect on reality, then checkmate the activities in the Local Government.

It is Abraham Lincoln who said, Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. The Savior of the state from the corrupt and selfish leadership should be the Savior of our local governments from the hand of greedy and visionless leaders. At the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Alh. Abubakar Ohere has been doing an impressive job, but he needs likeminded individuals like him to succeed. His good work will amount to futility if they are not consolidated by the administrators in the local government.

Rumours are been peddled in some quarters that some of us who are very critical about what happen at the grassroots are forming a coup against the government. It's a figment of imagination from those that detest truth. Well, we stand on the assurance that the righteousness of the righteous will speak for him and the wickedness of the wicked will pour on his head. He who has no grains spread outside has less concern of the weather. I am a friend of this government but I cannot call black white for whatsoever reason. Time for politics of propaganda and distortion of facts is over.

We demand for good leadership, accountability and transparency in all the local government across the state. 

Once again I salute your excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello's intervention on infrastructural development as evident in your decision to rehabitate road networks across the state. My prayer is that you will finish strong. In our life time we will have a state that work. 

Our local governments will live up to their standard in Jesus name. 

Kogi Will Never Be The Same Again 

 

God Bless GYB

God Bless Kogi state

God Bless Nigeria.

OGO'OGU MD Can be reached via:

Email: dgreatdon2015@yahoo.com
Tel: 08035187340