The punch-up, scuffle that occurred between two public figures, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, and Former Anambra State First Lady, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, is a sad reflection of our society, a true picture of the characters of those who occupy our corridors of power. This underscores the need to zero in on the character of our next President, come 2023.
We need a man of integrity, a man of principles, because men of principles are men of character. Principles are laws, they never change. For instance, people with principles don’t live by what is popular, they live by principles. This explains why it is difficult for politicians to have character. Politics is based on popularity, which means you literarily or ordinarily sacrifice your principles to protect your popularity, and that automatically means you can’t be trusted.
There are leaders who sell their principles for a pot of soup, they have got no character. So character is therefore that which is unchanging. Who are you, are you the same person all the time, are you consistent, are you predictable?
Leaders must of necessity have character. People will not follow a leader who can’t be trusted. From history, our leaders can’t be trusted, hence they lack good followers. A good follower is not really the one that praise-sing, not the one that pretends, not hypocrites. But really, what more does a leader who can’t be trusted deserve?
Character attracts loyalty. Character is commitment to a set of values without compromise. Values are the things you value. For instance, if you value your marriage vows, you will never commit adultery. Character is the dedication to a set of standards. So what should be the standard of the life style of our next President? Who amongst the presidential aspirants today that can be trusted? Your guess is as good as mine.
Character is self imposed discipline. A person of character does not need the police to lock himself up in the prison of his own condition. Most leaders try to live by their talents, by their gifts, and some by their charisma. But the truth is that your talent, or your gift, or your charisma can’t make you a trusted leader, except your character. Character is a constant effort to integrate your words, your deeds, and your actions as one. So character is when your words, your deeds, and your actions are one.We don’t need a man like BUHARI who would reel out enticing manifestoes but turn round to do the opposite as soon as he captures the power. Character is simply Integrity. It means you are one with yourself.
A true leader must lead with his life because his life is the weight of his words.
A person of character does not need to talk. Some people think they can carpet their lack of character just by being loquacious. No, he only needs to show up, and the people will give it to him. Nelson Madela stood out as a man of character because in spite of the scores of years he spent in the prison, he never changed. He was still the same person that went to prison 27 years earlier.
One thing I would like Nigerians to pay attention to, whilest choosing the next president is the character of the candidate, his level of integrity. My organization, NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN JOURNALISTS, we promote only INTEGRITY, because it defines and breeds your character. Integrity is everything, for no nation can ever attain meaning development with warped minded leaders. This hinges on the fact that national developmental progress is intrinsically connected to the level of the integrity of her leaders.
Dr Charles Okhai
President, Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).
