YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR BAD LEADERSHIP - LOOK AT SINGAPORE

By Eastern Reporters




When we talk about General Yakubu Gowon and how he mismanaged Nigeria's resources after the civil war, especially during the oil boom of the 1970s, some Nigerians will quickly rush to defend him. They say "he was young, it was youthful exuberance."


Really? So youthful exuberance can only lead to bad leadership and misbehavior? Is that what youth means?


Let me tell you about another young man who led his nation at a youthful age, and led it to greatness.


SINGAPORE AND LEE KUAN YEW - A LEADER WITH NO OIL, BUT WITH VISION


Singapore was expelled from Malaysia on August 9, 1965. It was a small, poor island with NO natural resources. No oil, no gold, no fertile land. Nothing. It was surrounded by hostile neighbours, with unemployment, corruption and communal riots.


The man who stood up to lead them was Lee Kuan Yew.


He became Prime Minister of self-governing Singapore in 1959 at just 35 years old.

At the time of independence from Malaysia in 1965, he was 41 years old, the same youthful age as Gowon who took power in Nigeria at 31.

 He led Singapore from 1959 to 1990.


What did this young man do with NO resources?


1.  He built Singapore from a Third World slum to a First World nation in one generation.

2.  He made it one of the least corrupt countries in the world.

3.  He turned it into a global financial hub, with one of the strongest passports, best airports, best schools, and highest GDP per capita in the world today - over $84,000, while Nigeria with crude oil is still struggling with $1,600.

4.  He invested in PEOPLE, not in stealing. Education, housing, discipline.


Singapore has no oil. Nigeria had everything during Gowon's time - oil boom money that could have built 10 Singapores. What did we get? Mismanagement, abandonment of the 3Rs (Reconciliation, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation), and an economy that was destroyed.


So tell me, will you also call Lee Kuan Yew's success "youthful exuberance"? 


Youth is not an excuse. At 35 and 41, Lee Kuan Yew showed that a young leader can be disciplined, visionary and selfless.


NIGERIANS DEFEND BAD LEADERS, WHILE OTHERS CELEBRATE GOOD ONES


This is the problem. Nigerians will always find a way to defend their failed leaders while other countries are celebrating theirs. You defend failure, then complain that the country is not working.


Since you don't want good leadership, we Igbos have said we love it and that's why we want to develop by ourselves and be independent.


Look at what Alex Otti is doing in Abia State today in less than two years. Abia that was written off is now being rebuilt. Roads, salaries being paid, investors coming. That is what leadership looks like.


But when he comes out to contest for President tomorrow, you will remember he is Igbo and he cannot rule. You will bring tribe and religion and reject the very thing you need.


We are not asking to rule over you anymore. We are asking to leave and build our own Singapore out of the East. With our own young, competent leaders.


Enough of defending the indefensible.


What do you think? Is youthful exuberance an excuse for destroying a nation's future? Drop your comment and share.


Follow Eastern Reporters for uncensored truth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 Most Important Things You Never Knew Exist in Igbo Land

By Eastern Reporters
Image
When people hear Igbo Land , they often think of bustling markets, rich food, traditional festivals, masquerades, and a people known for enterprise and resilience. But beyond the things everyone knows, there are remarkable places, traditions, and cultural institutions that many people including some Igbo people themselves may never have encountered. Here are three fascinating things you may not know exist in Igbo Land. 1. Ancient Sacred Forests and Groves Long before modern environmental conservation became a global conversation, many Igbo communities had places that were deliberately protected because of their spiritual and cultural importance. These sacred groves and forests were not simply ordinary pieces of land. Some were associated with deities, ancestors, traditional institutions, or important community rituals. Certain areas were traditionally restricted, meaning people could not simply enter, cut trees, hunt animals, or use the land however they wished. Beyond their spiritual ...
Read more

Would Igbos Support Peter Obi If He Were From Ebonyi?

By Eastern Reporters
Image
Recent comments by Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi have sparked another conversation about Peter Obi, Igbo politics and the role of state of origin in determining political support. Umahi recently argued that Peter Obi is not the only presidential aspirant from the South-East ahead of the 2027 election and questioned the idea that Obi should be regarded as uniquely positioned to represent the region. In another recent remark, Umahi said that it was not yet the turn of the Igbo to produce Nigeria's president. That has prompted a question now being circulated in some discussions: If Peter Obi were from Ebonyi State instead of Anambra State, would Igbos still support him? Our answer is yes and history provides strong reasons for saying so. The argument that Igbo political support is determined primarily by state of origin does not adequately explain the history of political leadership in the South-East. Igbo Leadership Has Never Belonged to One State The ...
Read more

Abia Students Make Nigeria Proud, Win International Schools Debate Championship in Qatar

By Eastern Reporters
Image
Igbo to the world. Our children are flying high! Abia State students have made Nigeria proud after emerging as champions at the International Schools Debate Championship held in Qatar.   The students, who are from public schools in Abia State, represented Nigeria at the prestigious global competition and defeated top debaters from other countries to clinch the overall trophy.   In a viral photo, the six brilliant students are seen dressed in corporate suits with bow ties and hats, proudly holding the Nigerian and Abia State flags.   Their victory is a strong statement that Nigerian public school students can compete and win on the world stage when given quality education and the right support.   Many Nigerians have taken to social media to celebrate the students, commending the Abia State Government and their coaches for the feat.   The team’s performance has once again put Abia State and the entire South East on the global map for ac...
Read more