Challenges with Misunderstanding the Concept of Governance, Part. 2

Mike Ihezuo

In Part 1, I concluded that politicians are badly challenged and discomfited by POOR understanding of the PURPOSE (i.e. original intention) OF GOVERNMENT*.

*Why so?*

Politicians (far majority of them) rarely understand the difference between what they did to get the job and what they should be doing on the job. They compromise the two.

They, instead of dumping politics [as employees or unionists do] and focus on governance (development of infrastructure and superstructure) they run the entire tenure on politicking. What a waste: in time, human resources, capacity, materials and money?

Governance just like Management, Ministry and Activism is a platform for services (called dispensing leadership), not leadership itself. If you fail to use the platform productively, even with the “title” you parade yourself, you’re not a leader. QED. “Loyalists” can massage your ego by calling you “our leader, we are loyal”, you’re not their leader & they’re not loyal to you. They know it more than you know it. It’s your money they’re calling leader. It’s your money they’re loyal. Please you & your money are infinitely world apart. What the ‘loyalist’ do is called sycophancy. That’s true. You’re an imposter to the designate ‘leader’. You’re at most a politician, not even a manager, governor, administrator, legislator, chairman, or president. Parading yourself to be a person doesn’t make you the person. Ask lawyers!

*”Governance is delivering public goods and services in the most productive and effective way to help the populace enjoy dividends accruing from having government in place”* – Mike Ihezuo (2016). Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines governance as *”the way that a city, company, etc., is controlled by the people who run it”*, and *”a lawful control over the affairs of a political unit.”*

Absolutely most politicians can be said not to know the purpose of government. Visit their homes/offices – every meeting, get together, lunch, super, breakfast with them is on *how to secure all grassroots, not people, lives and properties, but “grass” for winning next election*.

*”Government is organizing people in the most effective way for economic, social and political growth”* – Mike Ihezuo. *”It is a group of people who control and make decision for people”*, says M-W Dictionary.

The PURPOSE Government is *to create an arrangement to enable citizens/employees naturally have voice and good lives in the society/organization they belong*. (Please note government and governance apply equally in societies and organizations. I’m using both here. Don’t think it’s for societies only). Most politicians do less than 10% of these stated duties, roles and purpose. The rest (90+%) is politicking:

– House members fighting on none economic or development issues, but on politics (recruitment exercise).

– Speaker (3rd citizen) impeached because he has a different view with the governor (1st citizen) on just one issue (as if they must always agree).

– Speaker impeached because he attended a call from another politician termed not governor’s person.

– House members defecting to another party on hearing a Supreme Court ruling from radio/tv turning election of incumbent governor.

– Politicians defecting from party they won elections on excuse they want to be in same party with president, governor or chairman in charge there (why?).

– Appointees in Federal, State & LG all belonging to same party with president, governor or chairman as the case maybe (where is pluralism?).

– Powerful politicians holding the governor and government to ransom because individuals here become more powerful than governments and institutions.

– Entire LG wards’ councilors/LGs’ chairmen belonging to governor’s party.

– They can fight as brutal as throwing chairs, hitting selves, jumping fences/gates, running with mace, de-roofing their chambers.

– Etc.

No time for governance, for making good objectives laws, allowing brainstorming, diverging views and diversity.
+ Why won’t economy collapse?
+ Why won’t leadership fail?
+ Why won’t future be wasted?
+ Why won’t system be in comatose?
+ Why won’t all sectors crumble?
+ Why won’t policies infinitely somersaulting?

Everything in life follows principle. When you push away the principle (rules) with LIES, any day you’re tired of lying or pushing aside the principle, you return to where you kept it or can find the truth.

I go from companies, organizations to government offices, councils, legislative houses trying to correct these views, i believe one day, some will change.

Demand governance from your managers, chairmen, EXCOs, legislators, governors and presidents. Ask them to listen to Leader Mike. But leadership, I say, is a gift. In our case, who gave us this gift?
– Ourselves?
– God?
– Someone?

Leader Mike
Mike Ihezuo of #LeadershipXcellence, #LeadershipIsEverything is a quintessential one-of-kind Leadership Developer, Management Pundit, Entrepreneurial Sage, TeamXpert, Conflict Maestro, SuccessMotivational, a Consultant, Researcher, Author, Writer and Speaker. He can be reached on leadermikeo@gmail.com / newsdotafrica@gmail.com