The first pitfall most Cross River North leaders fall into is the “lack of ability to balance fame and power, with the realities of a humble background society they hail from.”
Power and fame is like fuel poured into burning fire. It scares those standing by and even the one igniting it is careful not to be consumed by the inferno. Most of our leaders pour fuel into the fire of Power and Fame not minding the resultant consequences even to themselves.
At the immediate, they see the glamours of Power, surrounding them with praises, slogans, applause and the command of men and women all ready to do their bids. To them, they have conquered. They forget so soon that the very area they hail from and the people will not change automatically with the glamour they see themselves as new individuals in power.
They refuse to realize this gap and lost sight of consultative powers. They become Kings owning kingdoms instead of leaders elected by the people to serve the people.
Without a proper Needs Assessment, they come taking down thatch houses of ages with promises to rebuild new modern homes. They speak with Power and gather praises to boost their egos momentarily. Keeping expectations high, building hopes and expanding desires.
Later they return forgetting the people Thatch Houses pulled down and start building a Road that will not be completed before their tenures expiration. And when those whose Thatch Houses were pulled down starts agitations and complains, they are quickly branded enemies of progress, haters of Brothers, bad eggs of the society and haters of growth.
How then is Sen. Jarigbe Agom approaching His leadership tactics differently?
1. Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe is not scared of the future because to him He have the future to make today, through His relationship with the people. Those who know him will tell that, he is not one who seek validation from outsiders, He creates validation from within himself, his circles, society and his immediate environment based on cherished values benefiting all involve.
2. He operates an open Consultative budgeting Policy, whereby, every year during the budgeting preparation periods, He interfaces with the people and request for a proper Need Assessment and possible selection of a pressing Need to be included in the year’s budget and allow the people to participate in the project execution process when approved and funds released.
3. He is not a Lover of Money, Wealth and Material accomodations. He is so satisfy with his relationship with his people and understand that, to keep them close is the Future, and that too requires him to be large enough to care, knowing that will reduce his ability to acquire much wealth, and material possessions. He is satisfied with the many having a meal than for one to have too much and throwing away.
4. Sen. Jarigbe is not insecure, not low in self-esteem thereby, seeking validation through Material possessions and wanting the people to attach his importance to the number of Houses, Big Hotels, Estates and grabbing of large properties. He is not a leader who lost touch with his youth and wishes to reclaim it through extravagance lifestyles.
5. Sen. Jarigbe Agom will not Promise to do or accept to do what is beyond His Capacity as a Senator just to make himself feel large and gain praises. He is sincere, Trustworthy, dependable, confident and fearlessly open.
He is not the best but yet, He possess qualities that requires strategic study.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Solomon Inok, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.