By Usman Ahmadu
The story of Gov Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto state as it relates to his humanity seems a fairytale until one sees the evidence by oneself. I have not been keen in knowing what state governors in Nigeria are doing in their various states. What is the need of knowing what they do when their stereotype leadership styles are already familiar to any child who can read and write. But my trip to Sokoto in this Ramadan has changed my view of public officeholders in my country. Not all leaders in Nigeria are bad. There are honest and God-fearing ones among them. I saw it in Sokoto with Gov Ahmad Aliyu.
When I travelled to Sokoto this Ramadan, my inquisitiveness took me to ask about three persons regarding Gov Aliyu’s leadership style. I was inquisitive because many good things had been said about the young governor. The responses I got was inspiring, more so that I got them from the elderly and responsible men.
Before now I heard stories of Gov Aliyu’s people-centred policies and programmes in the state. I have heard how he resumed the monthly payment of stipends to people living with disabilities (PLWDs). Now I have seen how the governor stooped low to break fast with almajiri children in the town. For me, to feed people during Ramadan is already an act of kindness by a God-fearing leader. But how about breaking the fast with the people at the lowest rung of the ladder; the downtrodden who have nobody to speak for them as they wallow in poverty? Indeed, Gov Aliyu is paddling his canoe along an uncharted waterways.
Then the question comes: what is the leadership style that Gov Aliyu is adopting that is a far cry from the self-serving and flamboyant life styles of Nigerian public officeholders? To me, I say it is the fear God. Gov Aliyu, a devout Muslim knew that he is answerable to all his actions as leader on the Day of Accountability when he stands with his Lord. For this, he is preparing himself to meet his God unafraid.
Gov Aliyu’s well of benevolence will never dry because he recognizes the great need for honest and authentic leadership in today’s Nigeria. He is dedicated to helping scholars at any level
differentiate themselves as true leaders in order to achieve greater leadership success over the span of their professions.
Being a good leader requires, first and foremost, a personal motivation, which is genuinely centred on the success of those he leads, with very little room for self-interest in official duties.
A number of leaders in Nigeria aspire to leadership positions because they want to advance their own personal agenda, or weild tremendous power.
This class invariably view their followers
as obstacles, or worse, as tools to advance their own ambitions.
This is the antithesis of true leadership, unfortunately more of this exists all around us.
The core of leadership is helping others. Those who give themselves over to the sincere desire to support the development, accomplishments, and well-being of others are ultimately the ones who find success in their life.
It is tears-inspiring to see Gov Aliyu sitting alongside some Almajiri children on a mat exchanging a spoon of rice with one of them, and drinking a satchet of “pure water” with a boy to wash down the food.
For this current Ramadan the state government distributed assorted food items, and fruits to beneficiaries and also shared cash gifts and prayer mats for the Muslims in the state.
This is a state governor who has approved the payment of half salary as Ramadan gift to all civil servants from primary school teachers to local government staff and even pensioners in the state.
This is Gov Aliyu’s efforts to ensure that Muslims in the state start this year’s Ramadan fast comfortably as never before.
The Governor has assisted the state workers to observe this year’s Ramadan with relative ease.
Knowing the full import of kindness in the Holy Month, he called on traders and wealthy individuals in the state to complement him by showing love and mercy to the have-not for them to earn Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. To me, Gov Aliyu’s kindness has already earned the mercy of Allah.
Usman Ahmadu writes from Wuse Zone 4 Abuja
