David Odey|16 December 2015|6:23am
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
At many times and in many discuss especially those presented on documentary films, the godlike character of George Washington the first elected President of America may have been engraved in the hearts of the Americans. He is remembered to be the only President to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral College for two consecutive terms. He is also remembered as the man who played the fundamental part in shaping the role and functions of the President of the United States. He is said to have established the tradition of a Cabinet of Advisors, what we now have in our clime as the Executive Council.
Though the existing Presidential Cabinet consist of sixteen members made up of fifteen heads of Executive agencies and the Vice President, Washington had just four; the Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of War and Attorney General.
For all of his exploits, it is reckoned that he would had be elected over and over again by Americans if he ever stood elections and if the Constitutional limit were more than two terms.
Of course relating this to the African political environment, a stark contrast is presented almost everywhere where the sit-tight syndrome is prevalent amongst our ruling political class who even after loosing popularity, seek to forcefully perpetrate themselves on the people. But then, George Washington though great in his right isn’t the focus here.
History presents a remarkable story of a man born to impoverished parents and whose childhood was characterised by poverty, farm chores, no formal education, ad hard work occasioned by the death of his mother and siblings at an early age of his life. But through sheer will and a desire to impact the world, he was able to transcend the circumstances surrounding his birth and childhood and rose to the highest office in the Land; the Office of the President of the United States of America. This man was Abraham Lincoln. A foremost human right activist and an emancipator.
It is obvious Lincoln was one of the most effective leaders in world history due to the extraordinary accomplishments he had wrought before and during his Presidency most notably abolishing the trade in Slaves and ending the American civil war, this twin event not only crystallized his Presidency, but confirmed his youthful ambition to be a positive change to the world around him.
Lincoln’s difficult childhood never took a toll on him nor made him bitter over life, but as Doris Kearns Goodwin would relate in her book; ‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’, “Lincoln neither romanticized nor sentimentalize the difficult circumstances of his Childhood.” Instead, they became a source of his empathy towards others so much so that even as a war time President, he never abused power.
His predisposition to rise above the intoxication of political power is impressively demonstrated in his Lyceum address of 1838, twenty two years before been elected as President. This speech was titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions,” and was centred on Citizenship in a democracy and the threats to American institutions. Lincoln warned of a destructive force within the political system (What we may refer to as the Cabal or Kitchen Cabinet) that could put to ruin the spirit of the founding fathers of the American independence- subsumed in the declaration of independence of the equality of all men.
To prevent this, Lincoln emphasized a form of “political religion “that gives premium to “reverence of the Constituted laws to check abuse of power by tyrants or ‘sovereign mob’.
The leadership genius of Abraham Lincoln is most suitably captured in an interview article by Count Stakelberg, titled Leo Tolstoy’s Love Letter to Lincoln. Tolstoy was quoted to have said:
The highest heroism is that which is based on humanity, truth, justice and pity; all other forms are doomed to forgetfulness…, the greatness of Napoleon, Caesar or Washington is only Moon-light by the Sun of Lincoln. His example is universal and will last thousands of years…, He was bigger than his country…, because he loved his enemies…, He was a universal individualist who wanted to see himself in the world- not the world in himself. He was great through his simplicity and was noble through his charity.
This is the example we as a people must emulate. An example of the rule of law, a heart of charity for the plight of others irrespective of creed, or origin.
However, as the dust settles on the controversial decision of H.E, Professor Ayade to constitute a rather large Executive Council of the State in spite of the prevailing economic crisis bedevilling the country let me seize this opportunity to congratulate his team of 28 men and women selected in an unusual manner. Whatever their past record or aptitude score to have been appointed to serve in the capacity and portfolios, that is left to be demonstrated.
What Cross Riverians need of them however is the efficient application of their experience and tact, if any, in oiling the smooth operation of the machinery of government, and practically responsible to the yearning of their constituent. Cross River State in the past had been referred to as a Civil Servant State, and apparently so due to the near absence of industries to boost the economic viability of the State.
Though steps are been taken in the ongoing phase of Ayade’s ‘Signature Project’, it is important for Cross Riverians to note that it is not just Ben Ayade nor members of his Cabinet who are on trial as it concerns good governance and the delivery of practical Socio-economic and political transformation, but the generality of the inhabitants of the State.
In this troubling economic times, our resolve as a people is been tested on how best we could tap into our potentials to create an economic viable society and an ethically developed political culture for our dear State and nation at large.
Even though team leadership makes all the difference in the success of a team, the success of this administration is based on the fair play or the lack of it thereof by all and sundry.
Those appointed as commissioners, the entire host of the Executive Council and just about everyone else has a stake in the Project Cross River and is responsible for how far this administration fare.
Notwithstanding, elected leaders of government must not allow themselves be stampede into taking decisions to benefit a group of elites (what made rounds during the electioneering as ‘family members’), or take their present position as an opportunity for self aggrandizement and the promotion of uncivil practices by silencing dissenting voices or disregarding the law they were meant to protect in the first place.
Paraphrasing Lincoln’s Lyceum address therefore, the consequence to the government who may continually despise and disregard the rights of the people to secure their person (life) and property, is the alienation of their affection from government which will come naturally.
David Odey
Is a Historian & Public Affairs Analyst
