Ours is mostly a hereditary mediocracy, where incompetence is not only rewarded but inherited.
Governor Zulum has been in the news for all the good reasons. But all this was made possible because his predecessor discovered, prepared and actively promoted him to succeed him as Borno governor.
Without the patronage of Gov. Kashim, Zulum won’t even make it past the APC primaries.
He may have his shortcomings like any other mortal, but Kashim Shettima’s discovery of Zulum is his single most important legacy to Borno State.
One can only hope that the new Borno governor continue on this path of genuine hardwork and uncommon zeal.
Succession planning is the hallmark of human leadership. Any leader with a legacy worth protecting or sustaining should be worried about the fate of such legacies when leaving office.
Unfortunately, a typical Nigerian politician’s instinct is to impose a stooge who could do his master’s bidding. Ours is mostly a hereditary mediocracy, where incompetence is not only rewarded but inherited.
That’s why I disagree with President Buhari’s insistence on not to identify or promote any successor.
In fact, given his political clout (especially in the north), President Buhari has the real opportunity to change the leadership trajectory of (even if) northern Nigeria where he can ‘install’ governors in at least 12 states. That didn’t happen (a topic for another day).
Every true leader must be able to develop and implement a vision for his people. And because a vision cannot be fully realized under a term or two or three or four, a leader must strive hard to ensure a successor who will at least preserve his achievements or even match and surpass it.
It is this incremental historical progress that bends the arc of a country’s destiny towards greatness.
By Ahmed Musa Hussaini
