ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Promoting National Unity in Nigeria through TUPOCRACY is important because it holds the leader accountable to the people being led. It also encourages the masses to ask if their leader has qualities worthy of emulation. For a sustainable National Unity, Tupocracy is equally important during elections as it helps the masses decide excellent leaders. Tupocracy as a system of Government promises to implement comprehensive reforms, designed to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of our National Unity irrespective of tribe and religion.

OBJECTIVES: To review the factors influencing the decision to pursue Tupocracy as a complementary concept of governance and summarize the evidence on the effects of not leading by example, in addition to the absence of Tupocracy as it affects our National Unity. This study recommends actions that could improve the quality of present-day leadership in Nigeria.

EVIDENCE: Analysis of publicly available data; newspapers and magazines. Data obtained from published research findings within the period of this article.

PROPOSAL: This article seeks to determine the role of National Unity in Nigeria through TUPOCRACY. The concept of National Unity and leadership by example is interwoven with each other. However, leadership by example produces a prosperous society that results in National Unity, more often than not. It is often said that no country can develop beyond the boundaries of its leadership. The predicament of Nigeria in terms of underdevelopment and corruption can be adduced to the problem of good leadership and National Unity. Nigeria needs committed leaders who will govern with integrity and doggedly influence its human and natural resources towards the actualization of sustainable National Development. This article descriptively looks at the place of leadership by example as a means of good governance in the actualization of collective national growth.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Policymakers should build on the progressive concept of Tupocracy, invented to strike a balance between the current system of government and the leader-follower relationship. Accepting leadership by example is a foolproof plan at taking actions to reduce abuse of public offices. Continued implementation of the novel concept guarantees a delivery system reform, increased national development and national unity to boot. Although Tupocracy and Democracy demonstrate a strong art of leadership, Tupocracy is not just a form of leadership of, for or by the people, but also a leading flame that directs the steps of the leaders and the led in the right path.



INTRODUCTION

Tupocracy, generated from the Greek word 'Tupos' means an example worth imitating. Godwin Akpan Amaowoh, a Nigerian, brought the concept to life as a doctoral student.
In his thesis, Tupocracy was defined as a system of government, which involves people who lead by positive example based on integrity, transparency, patriotism, altruism, and godly character worth emulating.
This system of governance is a socio-political doctrine, where leadership is characterized by example. This body of knowledge came into being, following the requirement preceding the award of Amaowoh's doctoral degree in 2007 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Amaowoh in his dissertation claimed that 'the beauty of Democracy as a world-acclaimed political doctrine lies in Tupocracy. He recommends that Tupocracy be adopted as the handmaid of Democracy, without which Democracy becomes “Dem all crazy”, meaning, “Governance by insane people".
The background of his research work drew inspiration from the biblical character, Paul the apostle, who called on the people in Corinth to imitate Him even as He imitates Christ. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (I Corinthians 11:1 New King James Version).
Compared with Democracy, Oligarchy, Bureaucracy, Monarchical system of governance, where the characters are often not the basis for governance and administration, Tupocracy exercises its power in an image reflection and imitation style of ruling.
Amaowoh established in his findings that actions and deeds are more influential to drive great responses from followers, most especially when such actions are good ones. In other words, convincing a set of people to do as you do won't be tedious.

The study will without bias, compare and contrast Democracy and Tupocracy, state the similarities, strength, and effects on the quality of present-day leadership in Nigeria. It will also suggest the form of leadership that Nigeria needs at this time and identify some painful lessons learned from not practising exemplary leadership with the case study of the current state of the nation involving the leader of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accused of money laundering. The case study mentioned above will aid the clarity of the value of Tupocracy and prove how urgent Nigeria needs it, especially at this perilous time of National disunity.


NATIONAL UNITY THROUGH TUPOCRACY

National Unity in Nigeria is a task of unifying the various ethnic, religious, political, and socio-economic groups in Nigeria. This has been one of the greatest challenges of Nigeria ever since the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorate in 1914 over a hundred years ago. This is surprising considering the effort of government since independence in 1960.
Even though National Unity continues to take the centre stage in governance in Nigeria, attaining a satisfactory result has remained the subject of controversy. The establishment of important programs, policies, and mantras, including the institutionalization of the Federal Character Principle, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Unity Schools, National Symbols, Nigerian Books of Record (NBR), National Orientation Agency (NOA) show how determined the nation is to find a firm footing for National Unity. Yet the gap between the various groups seems wider as the nation is still plagued with ethnic rivalry, religious intolerance, political exclusion, the quest for self-determination, power-sharing, and violent agitations just to mention a few.
The current situation of the nation, which includes youth uprising and unrest, terrorism, general insecurity, and corruption need not be a burden saddled on the shoulders of the government alone but rather a duty that involves all hands being on deck. Ranging from the organized private sector, the non-governmental organizations, religious bodies, and individuals, commitments must be made to win the war to gain a satisfactory state of Unity in Nigeria.
On Thursday, September 8th, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari during the official launch of the National Reorientation Campaign at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, appealed to all Nigerians to support and be part of ‘Change Begins With Me Campaign’ of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. This is proof that everyone’s effort is important to the national development of our nation. We all have a role to play in national unity in Nigeria.
This is one of the reasons why Amaowoh’s innovation of Tupocracy is timely. If practised, the potential of National Unity would be sufficiently delivered.
Several global scholars have agreed with this theory since its invention. Leadership expert, Kevin Eikenberry in an online post stressed that proactive actions and accountability lead to greater engagement from followers. Michael Schrage in Harvard Business Review while explaining some cardinal elements attached to leading by example, stated that stories of how one lead by example, carries less weight, but some dominant elements like your content of leadership, influence and reciprocity go a long way to determine if you are leading to be followed.
The overwhelming acceptance of the concept of Tupocracy by all and sundry, including global experts and scholars in the leadership structure, provides the basis for this study. The study examines the major factors influencing the pursuit of Tupocracy as a complementary system of Government to attain National Unity in our country Nigeria. It also recommends a proven methodology that will promote National Unity in Nigeria.
Since the promotion of TUPOCRACY holds the leader accountable to the people being led and encourages the masses to ask if their leader has qualities worthy of emulation, attaining National Unity would be like a walk in the park. In the tedious effort in choosing a leader, exemplary records of the leader to be would be most appreciated, thereby leaving little or no room for a blind installation of an unwanted leader. Tupocracy as a system of government promises to implement comprehensive reforms, designed to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of the National Unity irrespective of tribe and religion. Leading by a positive example builds trust, sincerity and transparency. It reduces the vote of no confidence by the diverse ethnic, religious, political and economic groups.
According to Atiku (2017), unity is still a scarce resource among the Nigerian people due to the manner the country was created by the British colonial authorities and the failure of the Nigerian elites to create a true and viable nation out of these diversities.
The amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates led to the creation of a medley country with over 350 religious, economic, and ethnic groups that vie for space and attempt to coexist, despite obvious differences in culture, aptitudes and level of development. This, according to Ojo (2009), created unique problems not experienced by any state in the world past or present. This problem, for Onifde and Mhonopi (2013), is how to achieve solidarity in action and purpose in the midst of hundreds of ethnic nationalities each exerting both centrifugal and centripetal forces on the central issue of the nation, bound in freedom, peace and unity where justice reigns.
Osibanjo (2019) argues that diversity in and of itself is not a problem; it is what is done with it that matters. According to him, whether or not sociocultural variety results in strife or collective success entirely depend on how a society chooses to manage it. However, disagreements and controversies over the best political structure to be adopted, size and responsibility of government, the nature of the relationship between and among component units, the type and system of government, as well as how resources are acquired and shared among the people.
In 1960 when Nigeria gained its independence, it entered a period of rapid social and economic change, and many people were quite optimistic about its future. Few people imagined that the next fifteen years would be the uprising of political chaos succeeded by military coup d’état and a thirty-month long civil war. However, no one could deny the awakening slaps those experiences were.

In the intense desire for independence, Nigerian leaders reached compromises without realistically facing their differences. Like the minority problems, issues of equal opportunity and proper sharing of the nation’s wealth, the issue of disunity constantly pricked the nation in the side until everyone could nothing but groan from the pain. After independence, the New Country tried to restructure the nation, taking cognisances of the gnawing reality of disunity which was enhanced by ethnicity, tribe, religion and many other differences. This eventually led Nigeria into a civil war that drained the country of its human and natural resources, further leading to pronounce the differences that weigh down the young country. Nigeria, a country richly endowed with natural resources and high-quality human capital, is yet to find its rightful place among the nations of the world.
The major culprit of this socioeconomic stagnation is the phenomenon ugliness of corruption. It is an incontrovertible fact that corruption remains the bane of Nigeria’s development. Thus, without mincing words, the slow poison has ravaged the country and destroyed most of what the country holds dear.
Unfortunately, the political class saddled with the responsibility of directing the affairs of the country has been the major perpetrator of this unseemly act. Regrettably, since independence, a notable surviving legacy of the successive political leadership, both civilian and military that have managed the affairs of the country at different times, has been the mastermind of corruption in all agencies of the public service, and like the workings of a deadly virus, has subsequently spread to the private sector of the country.
Indeed, it is paradoxical that Nigeria, the world's eighth-largest exporter of crude oil, a country endowed with many resources, still has more than 70% of its population living below the poverty line as a result of corruption and economic mismanagement.
Pathetically, the logic of the Nigerian political leadership class has been that of self-service as some of the leaders are mired in the web of selfishness and personal interests at the expense of broader national pursuits. Consequently, the emphasis has been on personal aggrandizement and self-glorification with the result that corruption has become a euphemism for explaining political leadership in Nigeria in relation to the management of national wealth. History has shown that no nation of the world grows and enjoys steady development in virtually all spheres of its national life without experiencing good and selfless political leadership. This is due to the undeniable truth because qualitative growth and development have always been an outcome of good governance. The current situation in the country naturally re-emphasizes the rightness of TUPOCRACY in governance.

Amaowoh in his thesis, defined Tupocracy as a system of government involving people who lead by positive example based on characteristics of a good leader, thereby showcasing a true and selfless leader. Tupocracy in its own right breeds a new people that have been connected to the sun to reflect light.
Democracy, Oligarchy, Bureaucracy, Monarchical and many others have been part of the human race for a while now. As familiar as they may seem, they are each unique in their own way in the execution of governance. To picture the differences and similarities of the above system of governance to Tupocracy, clear definitions are stated below.

DEMOCRACY
It is a government by the people, for the people and of the people. The supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. This system of government leaves room for the people to choose their governing bodies.
It is a system, which allows the elected enrich themselves over time, as they make laws that favour them, manipulate financial markets to their advantage, and create or exploit economic monopolies that put more wealth into their already fat envelopes.

OLIGARCHY
Oligarchy means the government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their benefit. It comes from the Greek word oligarkhes, meaning “few to rule or command.” Even a democratic system can become oligarchic if power is concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy people.
An oligarchy is a power structure made up of a few elite individuals, families, or corporations that are allowed to control a country or organization.

BUREAUCRACY
Bureaucracy is a way of administratively organizing large numbers of people who need to work together. Organizations in the public and private sector, including universities and governments, rely on this system to function. The term bureaucracy literally means “rule by desks or offices,” a definition that highlights the often impersonal character of bureaucracies. Even though bureaucracy sometimes seems inefficient or wasteful, setting up a bureaucracy helps ensure that thousands of people work together in compatible ways by defining everyone’s roles within a hierarchy.

MONARCHICAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE
Monarchy is a form of government in which total sovereignty is invested in one person; a head of state called a monarch, who holds the position until death or abdication. Monarchs usually hold and achieve their position through the right of hereditary succession (e.g. the relation of the previous monarch), although there have been elective monarchies, where the monarch holds the position after being elected: the papacy is sometimes called an elective monarchy.
There have also been hereditary rulers who weren’t considered monarchs. Many monarchs have invoked religious reasons, such as being chosen by God, as justification for their rule.
Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom. The British Monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while the Sovereignty lies in the Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.
To fix the term “democracy,” which for the purpose of clarity, involves a group of people making decision to install a leader who they believe has the required qualifications for making decisions that would be favourable to the entirety of a nation; exemplary attributes most not be set aside. Some aspects of this definition should be noted.
Firstly, democracy concerns collective decision making, by which decisions are made for groups and are binding on all the members of the group. Secondly, this definition means to cover lots of different groups that fall under the jurisdiction of such decision-makers. For Nigerian democracy to practically deliver diffidence and guarantee national unity, democracy alongside Tupocracy is recommended.
For every democratic system to completely become truly democratic, leaders should practice what they preach. It is completely hypocritical for the boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to be accused of the same crime which the commission fights against – Fraud/Money Laundering.
To successfully win the war against corruption, a quick re-examination of the concept of Tupocracy would reveal the vast and hollow lands that has not been cultivated: a system in which you lead by example, a system in which you lead by what you preach, a system in which the society totally depends on your actions and inactions, a socio-political doctrine where leadership is characterized by example.
The major factor threatening the pursuit of Tupocracy as a complementary system of government to attain National Unity in Nigeria is corruption. What Is Corruption? Corruption is a dishonest behaviour of siphoning public wealth and advancing one’s interests above that of the public. This dishonest act can be practised by those in positions of power, such as managers or government officials. Corruption can include giving or accepting bribes or inappropriate gifts, double-dealing, under-the-table transactions, manipulating elections, diverting funds, laundering money, and defrauding investors.
Unfortunately, corruption has eaten deep into the heart of the Nigerian society. This troubling issue needs to be addressed. Corruption is a disfiguring element in government, private organizations and other areas of national life. Children are exposed to corruption in school, family circle and even in religious places. Overcoming corruption requires a total change of outlook to life and what is considered important. The need of Tupocracy cannot be overemphasised. For a change of reasoning to attain and sustain what national unity that is desired, there is need to start practicing an exemplary lifestyle. There must be an appreciable and a corresponding change in the way of life of every leader and follower.
When parents begin to lead their children by example, religious leaders lead their members by example, heads of governments and other leaders begin to lead by their own examples, corruption, disunity and other vices would become a thing of the past that no longer has the power to plague leaders and followers alike. Nation Unity, which brings about growth and an all round development would be realized. The above changes are not exhaustive.
Having descriptively looked at the place of leadership by example; Tupocracy as a means of good governance in the actualization of collective National Unity, policymakers should build on the progress made by the invention and introduction of Tupocracy as additional system of government, by continuous to implementation of the concept of leadership by example.


REFERENCES

Amaowoh, Godwin (2018). Tupocracy: Leadership by example for church and civil society. Digital Kings Media International. P.14
Maxwell, John (2023-12-22) Leading others requires personal integrity - BIZ Journals.

Schrage, Micheal (2016-10-05) Like It or Not, You Are Always Leading by Example. Harvard Business Review

ARTICLES
Editors, History Apartheid from apartheid fighter to President and unifier
Reuters 2013-12-05
Mother Teresa: Epitome of Compassion- Matters India 2017-09-05
Newsjaunt, History and origin of Tupocracy
Post Holy Mother Teresa’s Life of Selfless devotion National Post (2010-08-23)

Proceedings of INTCESS 2020- 7th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences 20-22 January 2020 - DUBAI (UAE)
Tupos meaning in the Bible - New testament Greek Lexicon - New American standard - Bible study tools.
What Leading By Example Really Means - Kelvin Eikenberry on Leadership and Learning 2015-03-02

WEBSITES
GODWIN AMAOWOH INDUCTED INTO THE NIGERIAN BOOKS OF RECORD. www.nigerianbooksofrecord.com

How to Lead a Team Honestly and Authentically. www.mindtools.com

Mother Teresa- Learning to Give- www.learningtogive.org.

The importance of Leading by Example. Chrisnewton/www.linkedin.com

The importance of Leading by Example. Smallbusiness.com




PROFILE

Dr David David is the Director General (DG) of Nigerian Books of Record Research Centre, Abuja, the sole researcher of NIGERIAN BOOKS OF RECORD, NBR, conceived to promote, project and drive 'Change Begins With Me Campaign' of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja.
The centre also researches and compiles excellent records of the thirty-six states of Nigeria. Nigerian Books of Record is updated every five years and is used as reference material for students and lecturers in all the Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. In 2018, NBR Research Centre inspired a movement to end child labour through the READS Campaign Africa.
David was born 26 December 1984 in his hometown, Akai Ubium in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. He attended Salvation Army Schools, Akai Ubuim for his primary and secondary education respectively, before sailing out of his little community for further studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the prestigious Shield of Faith University in the United States of America.
He was the Editor of Education Excellence Newspaper, Record Breakers Intl. Magazine and Record Breakers Newspaper. He was also the Editor of a Charity Journal, Healing Word and the former Editor of the Priceless Jewel, a journal that addresses social responsibility in Africa.
David is in summary a Poet, Playwright, Editor, Essayist and Novelist (PEN). A writer who wears three different writing hats; theatrical Arts, Radio and Television and has won many awards in these regards. As a poet, his poems pave ways through the minds and sub-conscious of the 21st century people, seeking redress against injustice and other social maladies that trouble the common person.
As a prolific novelist, some of David David's short stories and novels are currently in use in schools with over fifteen titles in circulation in West African States.
He is the Convener of the Nigerian Image Revolution (NIR); a coalition of pro-democracy group and individuals with a clear mandate to launder the poor international image of Nigeria through celebration of Nigeria's best, promotion of political knowledge and participation of the Nigerian citizens in governance. He is one of the few championing the cause for a new Nigeria and the reformation of the black image as a whole.