The concept of leadership has always been of tremendous interest
to classical thinkers as well as contemporary political and management
scholars as our world continues on the path of progressive evolution. On the other hand, visionary leadership theory
rose to prominence in 1980-90s, and can be traced back to the political
sociology writings of Max Weber and James Macgregor Burns.
* Lateef Jakande |
Visionary leadership molds have a twin focal
point on who a leader is as well as what a leader does, merging both the trait
and behavioural theories of leadership. Visionary leaders are exceptional because they possess a deep
sense of personal purpose coupled with an unshakable self-confidence in the
ability to realise this purpose.
They also have a willingness to take personal
risks and make sacrifices in order to realise their vision.
They anticipate change and are proactive,
rather than reactive to events.
They focus on opportunities, not on
problems. They have a winning mentality and will never rationalise
failure.
A real visionary leader accomplishes great
feats by drawing on innate inner strength and as such is not often moved by
external obstacles.
In Nigeria ,
Lagos State
is commonly regarded as the nation’s Center
of Excellence .
Truly, in terms of its socio-economic
uniqueness, Lagos remains a trendsetter in Nigeria .
It accounts for over 60% of Nigeria’s
industrial and commercial activities; 70% of national maritime cargo freight,
over 80% of international aviation traffic and over 50% of Nigeria’s energy
consumption. The two seaports in Lagos
account for 70% of the sea trade in the country.
However, in as much as Lagos socio-economic indices are plausibly
mind-blowing, it is actually the quality of its political leadership that has
really defined the state of aquatic splendour.
Since its creation in 1967, Lagos State
has been blessed with visionary leaders whose vision and thoughts have molded
the state to the path of sustained greatness.
One of such leaders is Alhaji Lateef Kayode
Jakande, popularly referred to as LKJ, the state’s first democratically elected
governor.
One of the golden eras in the socio-political
evolution of Lagos
State was, without a
doubt, between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983 when LKJ held sway as
governor.
From the outset, he had clearly promised to
give Lagos a
purposeful leadership.
Upon inauguration, LKJ pledged to model his
government after that of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, from 1952 to
1959, headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He said: That government was the most
efficient, the most dynamic, and the most responsive of all the governments of
the federation. That government was the country’s pacesetter- the first to do all good things
that others later copied. There has never been a government like it in Africa before or since.
True to his words, LKJ assiduously went to work to realise his vision.
There is hardly any sector that the magical
hands of this visionary leader did not transform. LKJ simply took governance to
an un-imaginable height in Lagos
State .
Till date, many of his populist policies and
programmes, especially in the housing, public transportation and education
sectors, still endear him to all and sundry.
His passion for the development ofLagos
State knows no bound.
His passion for the development of
The ambitious Lagos metro line project, which, if it had
seen the light of the day, would have revolutionised public transportation in
the state, was conceived by his administration.
Till date, some of the Housing Estates he
established across various locations such as Iba, Isolo, Iponri, Ejigbo etc,
are still serving the housing needs of Lagosians.
It was under his administration that movement into state’s current Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, began. LKJ reportedly attached so much urgency to the construction of the present government secretariat that he was so bent on the relocation plan that he virtually caught everyone unawares when it finally happened.
It was under his administration that movement into state’s current Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, began. LKJ reportedly attached so much urgency to the construction of the present government secretariat that he was so bent on the relocation plan that he virtually caught everyone unawares when it finally happened.
According to him, if it was not done when it
took place, there would be no appropriate time to do so.
So, the State holds the present secretariat’s
vision to him.
Being a consummate journalist, and following the trend of his political mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who established the first television station in Africa, the defunct Western Nigeria Television Station (now Nigeria Television Authority), LKJ also established Lagos Television, LTV, which happens to be the first state owned television in the country.
Being a consummate journalist, and following the trend of his political mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who established the first television station in Africa, the defunct Western Nigeria Television Station (now Nigeria Television Authority), LKJ also established Lagos Television, LTV, which happens to be the first state owned television in the country.
Aside this, LKJ also established the Lagos State University in 1983 for the advancement of learning
and establishment of academic excellence in Lagos State .
His administration also constructed water
works at Shasha, Agege, Somolu, Apapa, Badagry, Aguda etc to improve water
supply and avoid outbreak of water borne epidemics.
A workaholic and tireless leader, LKJ worked round the clock in his bid to fast track the development ofLagos
State .
A workaholic and tireless leader, LKJ worked round the clock in his bid to fast track the development of
Reports had it that on December 31st, 1983,
when the Shehu Shagari civilian administration was toppled, in a military coup
d’tat, soldiers who came to arrest LKJ met him at his office working deep in
the night, on a New Year eve. Such was his legendary dedication to duty and
passion for hard work.
*Ogunbiyi wrote from Lagos State Ministry of Information and
Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.
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