[OPINION] Morality in Leadership, By Tobenna Obiano

Leadership goes with morality. Morality encompasses love, forgiveness, justice, fairness, equity, self discipline and accountability. It sums up for transparency in all human dealings.


In one of the Asian countries, the Prime Minister had sacked his cabinet minister who was found in a hotel with another woman. In his explanation for relieving the Casanova Minister of his post, the Prime Minsiter said: "a man who cannot be faithful to his family, cannot be faithful to the state".

The sack of the Asian cabinet Minister is not normally considered a scandal in our country. Nigerian public servants and particularly powerful politicians actually wax stronger in office even when they are caught red-handed, pants down in brothels during the daytime, and even with someone else's wife or daughter. There are litanies of testimonies to support the above assertion.

While the grossly corrupt-stricken Nigerian Caesar, Olusegun Obasanjo held sway, as Nigeria Senators were debating on chasing commercial sex hawkers off the streets of FCT, Abuja, a former Governor and then, a serving Senator broke bounds, rose to say, "those girls from our universities whom we are debating on chasing off the streets of the FCT are there, and are been maintained by some of us. Some of us are the ones who patronize them, and if we stop patronizing them, they would certainly leave the streets".


The morality of the average Nigerian politician and all those in public service is mostly a joke, a huge percentage.

If they are insincere to their spouse and families, they can't give a damn while dealing with what concerns the nation. If one cannot be trusted with little things, they shouldn't be gifted with higher responsibilities. Anyone who fail to succeed with one, doesn't deserve a second.

Morality, discipline and integrity are pointers which may never be equaled, sadly, many of our political leaders don't bloody care and they don't give a damn!