LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: REFLECTIONS ON GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Former President Goodluck Jonathan did his best for Nigeria. He did his very best. He was a nationalist. He focused on Nigeria rather than his region within it. He is the first Nigerian leader to have that orientation and disposition.

In truth, that's the only disposition that can promote prosperity, peace and enterprise within Nigeria.

Of course, some Niger deltans express dissatisfaction with that orientation and disposition to service, given the long years of abandonment under successive governments and the entrenched system of exclusive and selective governance by previous leaders. But the fact that such an error had been entrenched neither makes it right nor justifies the norm.

Goodluck Jonathan embarked on a transformation agenda that sought to unite Nigerians and advance her course, and he succeeded. Organised blackmail didn't suffice in discrediting the value he brought to bear. At the peak of the gang up against him, he made that profound statement as a visionary that he was, that Nigerians would appreciate him when he was out of office. It has become a proverbial fact.

Today, Dr. Jonathan is gone but remains the most celebrated Nigerian leader living or transited. Posterity has already taken shape to his credit.

What are the lessons for the rest of us?

We need to go beneath prevailing rhetoric to examine things for ourselves. The loudest voices do not necessarily put out the truest facts. We must examine our leaders by the character and impact of their conducts rather than be consumed and drifted by orchestrated narratives against them. When a leader does well, it is not out of place to offer commendation. Vilification doesn't inspire progress.

We must treat our leaders right, to inspire them to produce superior results except the case is completely irredeemable and the conduct, inconclusively patriotic. That is the only exception.

Rivers people must be commended for standing out and solidly behind their leader and Governor as he does his utmost best to crest the landscape and economy of the State with superior performance.

It's actually a work in progress but one that is bound to get things around and leave our people happier and better for it. This is the solemn agenda of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, and together we must remain determined to defy the odds and brazen gang up against our prosperity, unity and development, and make that solemn agenda our vital reality.

May God bless our President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the people of Nigeria, especially our Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, and the good and determined people of Rivers State.

People called him cluelessly incompetent, but a rebuttal to that effect tags him as just "inexperienced". Either way, even though he has some credit to himself especially the particular one exhibited in the twilight of his reign, nothing and repeat nothing will diminish the poignant & audacious fact that GEJ was never cut out to lead a complex entity like Nigeria. He was completely out of his depths on this one. We should call a spade a spade!

I only lasted a few lines of this article.
Jonathan had no vision not to talk of focus.
With bad belle alone, he sabotaged Brass and Olokola LNG.