Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu
By Isaac Asabor
Philosophy and leadership may seem like an odd combination. However, without a sound philosophy, leadership can be easily distracted. Leadership and philosophy go hand-in-hand, fitting perfectly together to strengthen a leader’s capabilities for the long term. Leadership philosophy, no doubt, has culminated in terms that cropped up in political history as isms were added to the names of leaders that were deemed to have demonstrated quality and exemplary leaderships. Names that can be said to have metamorphosed into political leadership jargons cut across Thatcherism, Thatchernomics, Reaganism, Reaganomics, Maoism, Marxism, Nkrumaism, Zikism among other nomenclatures in this context.
There is no denying the fact that the quality of leadership that Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu is committed to bring to bear in governance when he wins in his ongoing race to Osadebey Avenue will be identified with the political leadership jargons that would no doubt be known as Odubuism and Odubunomics having being measured on the scale of what is in this context referred to as Philosophical Yardstick.
At this juncture, it is germane to ask, “What is philosophy?” In providing an answer to this interrogation, it is expedient to say that Philosophy is “A theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior.”
One of the philosophical components which hinges on “Theory” has over the years been inadvertently being applied to measure the stuff Odubu is made of as a leader. For instance, as theories evolve so also is new information understood. Analyzed from the foregoing context, Odubu, as a leader has being tried as a lawmaker, tested as a deputy governor where he for the umpteenth times deputizes in the gubernatorial position he is now gunning for, and on that strength adapted to new information learnt. For the sake of clarity, it is germane to say at this juncture that “A deputy governor is a political leader who is elected to undertake the duties of a governor in his superior’s absence”. With the foregoing definition and understanding, it is clear that Odubu will not be going to Osadebey Avenue to govern the people of Edo State as a rookie or as a neophyte.
Philosophy in leadership is about attitude: Attitude is about mindset. Leaders embrace a mindset to keep focused, empathetic, positive, and growth-oriented. Leaders need to be aware of their mindset and how it impacts growth – self and team members. Against the foregoing backdrop, it would be recalled that in a brief panegyric about Odubu during his campaign in 2016 it was written that “As a political leader, Odubu has proven to be a good listener; somebody whose ego does not restrict from accepting corrections; a down to earth individual who identifies with the people; one who sees public office as a privilege, and not a right; a man with a large amount of humility, and one who is driven by a high sense of altruism – a selfless disposition to governance; a sacrificial demeanor in every sense of the word; a team player of the patriotic kind; one who believes that collaboration is more productive than strife; an individual who does not see the business of governance as a one man show; a man who functions more effectively from within a group; an individual who gives up self for the greater good of the larger group; a synergy-builder, whose words and actions are directed towards the interest of the larger society; one who understands group dynamics, and uses it for bettering the lot of others.”
Still the same nexus, guiding principles are in this context seen as the beliefs which the people hold closely, keeping them grounded and centered in how leadership should be demonstrated and behavior which philosophy also sees as people’s actions which come together to match words and actions. All the aforementioned virtues no doubt find expression in Odubu’s attitude. It goes to say that behavior is where a leader’s actions come together to match his words and his words in turn match his actions. It suffices to say from this philosophical perspective that behavior is where trust is gained or lost.
Against the foregoing backdrop, various background checks carried out by concerned groups in Edo State on the personality that is needed as a leader at this crucial political dispensation have come out with the Findings that Odubu has no skeletons in his closet.
It is therefore expedient to ask, “What does it mean to have skeletons in one’s closet? It aptly means embarrassing or incriminating secrets from someone’s past. In Nigeria today, merely discovering that a governorship aspirant or a governor has skeletons in his closet can lead to the nullification of an already won victory. Seen from this light, Odubu can categorically be said to have remained an asset to Edo’s All Peoples Congress (APC). To me, he qualifies in all ramifications to fly Edo APC’s flag come September 19, 2020 at the general election. It is convenient we learn from political history, particularly from what happened in the not distant past in Bayelsa where the Supreme Court sacked David Lyon of the APC as Governor elect, barely 24 hours to his inauguration.
At this juncture, it can be asked why is a leader, such as Odubu, that has inadvertently been tried and tested through the eyes of philosophical leadership be the leader of Edo State come next political dispensation?
The answer cannot be farfetched as Philosophy is a foundational element that thrives on the tripod of Character, Consistency, and Collaboration.
As we all know, character counts. What is Odubu’s character in this philosophical context? The answer to the foregoing question still remains that Odubu has been tried and tested with the proverbial wine brewed from the corridors of power and he has never gotten himself drunk to stupor. In his interaction with the people so far, he has maintained cool-headedness. He no doubt understands that the content of one’s character goes a long way in driving the content of his leadership. In philosophy as a body of knowledge, definition delivers a self-control element. If a leader does not have a clear of idea on what defines his character, then he may be more easily swayed by situations and temptations. There is no denying the fact that character will more likely keep someone’s behaviors centered.
Still from the same philosophical context, Consistency simply denotes leading consistently in the way people will notice. What a leader does consistently will define his leadership style.
While this is true, the other side of consistency is has it that when a leader is inconsistent or erratic in what he says and do, people will notice and question his character. Actions will no doubt define a leader more than his words. But, if a leader’s words are not aligned with his actions, he will be viewed as a flimsy leader.
On the aspect of collaboration, it is the way results are achieved, and it requires working with people in productive and meaningful ways. To make collaboration really work, leaders need to call on their best skills and capabilities to build relationships and move initiatives forward. Leading well influences others to exchange ideas and then act upon a selected direction. Without any iota of exaggeration, Odubu as leader has no doubt pass the test when his leadership qualities were measure on the yardstick of philosophy by this writer who no doubt gathered information from comments that were made by political observers that have no political, educational, tribal or religious link with him.
