The world today revolves around powers. These powers are controlled by leaders, some successful and some unsuccessful. Both leaders leave their foot prints on the sands of time. While the successful leaders leave positive prints, the unsuccessful leaders leave negative prints. Leaders are not born; they are made through hard work and dedication. Though some appear to possess some qualities innately, hence the term “born leaders”. Thus, leaders are distinguished by their peculiar attributes and characters which determine their success or failure. The successful ones are called great leaders.
A great leader is someone who demonstrates the possible. He does not believe in the word impossible because he believes all things are possible. He does not use force but leads with example except when he has to apply the motivational approach of carrot and stick. He inspires and influences others with confidence in him and also inspires them with confidence in themselves. He is a pacesetter. No wonder Albert Schweitzer, the French – German theologian, writer, philosopher, and physician said: “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
A great leader has a listening ear, a good and big heart to accommodate people because human beings are emotional creatures at heart and react to emotional appeals and influences. He does not discriminate no matter the class, position, tribe or religion he treats everyone equally. He shows fatherly love and care for his people. He keeps his family in good shape and directs the affairs of his home accordingly. For a man who cannot manage his home is not fit to lead the people.
A great leader must possess some attributes that sets him apart or better still distinguish him from the rest. This means he must be intelligent, hardworking, knowledgeable, confident, passionate, diligent, visionary, competent, smart, trustworthy, innovative, courageous, honest, impartial, flexible, credible, a good listener, God fearing, appreciative, responsive and also responsible. He must have a good sense of communication and also show empathy. All of the greatest leaders have had one characteristic in common; it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else is the essence of leadership.
From all perspectives, who then deserves to be called a great leader other than our Distinguished Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. A great leader who is blessed with the above mentioned qualities and attributes. A leader whose self-confidence was perceived as stubbornness by many. A well-organized person who always plan before executing. A leader who is more concerned about the wellbeing of his people and puts their interest first before his. The man who uplifted the face of Kano state and made it the envy of most states. A pace setter, a goal getter and a role model to many state governors. I call him the bulldozer. This action fetched him the slogan, Kwankwasiyya-Amana.
His administration did not only give his people fish but thought them how to fish. This he did by giving scholarships to about 3500 undergraduates to study both home and abroad. He also visited them to make sure all was well with them when the present administration terminated their studies. His administration established a state University of Technology, Wudil. His passion for education made him introduce the free feeding scheme for primary school pupils in the state which led the United Nations to recognize his efforts in that direction. He constructed more roads and built the first underground bypass in Kano to ease the plight of motorists.
Sincerely speaking, Kwankwaso is a leading light in the social and political life of Kano and Nigeria in general. He is high in spirit and very formidable as a rallying point for the political determinism of this country. He is not an arm-chair critic for the woes of this nations but he sought for solution and instituted various platforms for re-directing the course of this nation.
Indeed, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has proven to be a great leader who will do more if given the opportunity to do it again. He excelled as governor of Kano State and as a defence minister. That leadership prowess demonstrated by him gave him the mantle to govern Kano State for a second time. That is why he was chosen to represent his people at the senate. He is a leader we can trust to change the affairs of Nigeria and take us to the Promised Land.
. Msughter, of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, is a yyndicated writer and political analyst. Aondover7@gmail.com.
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