Dora Akunyili: The kind of leader Nigeria needs

Today would have been Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili’s 68th birthday. As we celebrate the 68th posthumous birthday of this great amazon, who passed on in June 2014, it is important we reflect on the legacies she left. The examples Akunyili left for us to reflect on reminds us of the kind of leadership Nigeria badly needs.

As another election cycle draws near, many Nigerians yearn for a selfless leader who would put country before self. Nigerians look forward to seeing the kind of leadership exhibited by Akunyili during her days at the helm of affairs at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC). Apparently, some young and frustrated Nigerians believe that the nearest example of this kind of leadership can be seen in the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. Little wonder his followership is growing exponentially on social media.

Obi’s supporters have been advised by some experienced politicians not to waste their votes on Obi. These experienced politicians claim to understand Nigeria’s politics more than these newbies jostling for Obi. But these young and frustrated Nigerians are not discouraged – they do not mind wasting their votes on Obi.  Some politicians argue that Obi might make an impact in the South East, but would not go far in the general elections. This analysis has not deterred Obi’s supporters. Nigerian elections are not won on social media and Obi’s Labour Party might not have the resources to campaign effectively in the 774 local governments and six area councils in Nigeria, Obi’s opponents argue. They say Labour Party does not even have a sitting governor! (Governors and elected officers at the State level are supposed to be a presidential aspirant’s foot soldiers in the campaigns). Former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso – the NNPP presidential flagbearer – even argued that Obi’s chances of getting votes in the north were slim. All these analyses have not deterred new entrants into the OBIdient movement. Even the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Afenifere, has declared support for Obi.

The presidential campaigns have not started. Time will tell if Obi and his running mate, Mr. Yussuf Baba-Ahmed, will be able to galvanize the political support to wrestle power from the two main established political parties – the APC and the PDP.

Obi’s popularity can only mean one thing: Nigerians are frustrated with the current crop of leaders in the country. Frustrated Nigerians yearn for a leader that would be able to fight corruption head on – a leader like Dora Akunyili. These traits they see in Obi, who comes across as a prudent and honest administrator (Obi has done a marvelous job branding himself).  As at June 2006, Akunyili had secured convictions for 45 counterfeiters with 56 cases pending in courts. She was fighting rich and powerful drug counterfeiters who had the resources to offer generous bribes in order to get their way. But she put the interest of Nigerians first. Her principles and values influenced all her decisions while in office. Today, many Nigerians struggle to find these traits among a large section of leaders piloting the affairs of this country.

Because she watched her younger sister die of fake drug, Akunyili was inspired to fight counterfeiters head-on. She almost lost her life in the process. Many Nigerians yearn for this kind of leadership. Obviously, anyone trying to dislodge the current order should not be afraid to pay the supreme price!

Nigeria is at cross roads. Oil revenues are dwindling. National and subnational debts are at an all-time high. Unemployment and underemployment are rife. The nation’s macroeconomic indexes are nothing to write home about. Nigeria needs a leader who is ready to put his or her life on the line in order to combat all the vested interests holding the country down. Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili reminds us of that kind of leader.