Transformational leadership theory is used in this article to explain the relationship between political achievement and leadership style of the Nigerian political class who’s actions and inactions in governance has direct bearings on our societal and environmental decadence. Bass and Alvolio’s transformational leadership model is used in this context to demonstrate the yet to be identified leadership potentials of Shehu Gabam ,a man who have written his name bold and penned it in the wall of all and sundry that comes across him.
Leadership in Nigeria today has become a parrot cry both to the government who failed to give what they promised and the governed who only read about the promises from a distance on the pages of newspapers.
Gabam exceptional transformational leadership styles has motivated others to achieve more than what is originally expected of them through creation of a political space conducive enough for Bauchi state citizens when he was Chief of staff government house .
His programs of youths and women empowerment have created thousands of employment to youths/women who were trained and empowered through numerous skills acquisition programs in Bauchi state.
The vacuum created since his exit from Bauchi state politics is yet to be filled despite numerous calls from the good citizens of the state for him to answer their call to contest the governorship seat.
He has consistently maintain a very cordial relationship with the people of Bauchi state since he left office and we can all testify the level of magnanimity and crowds that he always pull whenever he visits his home state of Bauchi for events be it political, condolences or weddings .
His unique attributes of saying little and achieving much made Senator Nazif Gamawa to named him as his running mate under the platform of All Nigeria people’s Party (ANPP) in 2011 though they lost the elections—but his attitudes towards the people and his wide acceptability has been on the increase.
Many have interacted with him both in the state and national levels but know nothing or little about the man many see as a politician this country has ever produced because of his Sardauna styles of giving without taking .Shehu Musa Gabam held from Tilden fulani in Toro local government Area of Bauchi state. A trained political scientist from University of Abuja, with a masters degree in international affairs and strategic studies from Nigerian defense academy Kaduna, a season administrator, a trained politician exhibiting leadership virtues of Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa through service to the people .
He belongs to late Abukakar Rimi school of thought whom he served as special assistant as well as deputy director of Presidential campaign at his tender age. His good morals, quality leadership and family values have made Gabam as an exceptional personality wearing his shoes.
A grass root politician, a community leader and friend to all,his respect for traditional institutions earned him “Makaman Tilde”, the traditional title of his community of Tilden Fulani bestowed on illustrious sons of the soil who worked and sacrifice so much for community development.
His advocacy and courageous stands on national issues as a renowned writer, political commentator and his humanitarian service is well documented for the generations yet unborn to read and learn from the well assembled leadership gestures of this noble personality that is so rare in our present day Nigeria.
He stood for equity, good governance and justice of all and sundry wherever he is, a strong indication of vibrant politician who has distinguished in breeding youths who will serve as assets for Nigeria.
Many sets of young generation leaders have committed themselves to Gabam project to take over as governor in his home state of Bauchi, in addition to the quest of becoming the de-jure political leader in the north east of the country.
His advocacy for one indivisible Nigeria is well documented in the mind of right thinking Nigerians who adhere to the Sardaunas , Tafawa Balewas ,J.S .Tsarka ,Kashim Ibrahim ,Ziks , Awolowos among other notable leaders of the first republic that spent their entire life time in service to humanity. He has been a pillar and symbol of hope to many less fortunate young generations and victims of our societal social vices, he has worked for the unity of this country as a detribalized Nigerian.
His vibrant conversations on national TV and Radio stations, national dailies is centered around bringing Nigerians together to eschew divisive tendencies of ethnic, tribal, religion, regional and political divides. His endowed nature of speaking extensively on a number of topical national issues in Nigeria has won him numerous awards of excellence from religious, regional, political, youths and students groups and associations in his home state of Bauchi and Nigeria as a whole.
One interesting and unique quality of the man in question is that his roles in nation building through his humanitarian services earned him an international respect to be awarded by the United Nations as youth ambassador as well as west African students award.
His leadership styles of service to the people made him rewarded back home with Inspirational Sardauna leadership award and late Abukakar Tafawa Balewa leadership award among many of its likes.
Gabam surfaced in the political limelight in Bauchi state in 2007 when he led a political revolution that brought the administration of former governor of Bauchi state Mallam Isa Yuguda. He is today seen by many as a revolutionary that changes the narrative of political climate in Bauchi of ” A kasa a sare a raka a jira” a somewhat populist political movement that restored power to the voters .
A master strategist and a road mapper that paved the way for political minds and Cultural Revolution that set Nigerians free from power blocks whose idea of installing successors died down—courtesy of Gabam.
The former Chief of staff Bauchi state government house has left many teaming Bauchians in tears of his good political will to change their fortunes through empowerment and employment creation that will make many to be employers of labour rather than being employees. Gabam experience in politics, integrity, good communication skills, transparency and accountability has made many power political gladiators in the Nigerian political space appoint him to lead their campaigns’ organizations.
He led the 2007 non violent revolution advocated by late Yusuf Maitama Sule( Dan masanin Kano) of great memory as master strategist to former governor of Bauchi state Mallam Isa Yuguda in an election that set standard for many states and the entire country to follow where he ensured that people’s votes count. Gabam became a national political asset immediately he left the state and the news of his appointment to deputies Atiku campaign team having served twice as director operations when former head of state IBB declared for presidency was greeted with joyful faces in Bauchi state.
Immediately after the 2015 general elections which forced the former Bauchi state governor Dr. Ahmed Mu’azu to quit as PDP national chairman, he was nominated unanimously by the state party executives as a replacement despite interest by the former minister of FCT and now presents Bauchi state governor Sen. Bala Mohammed.
That scenario created a serious political tussle within the PDP family when Ali Sheriff was smuggled in against the wishes and aspirations of the people of the North East particularly members of the People’s Democratic Party. He has consistently remained focus and resolute, defy detractors to short change him.
The social Democratic Party immediately discovered these talents, brought him on board to redefine and reposition the party for the next generation of leadership as the national secretary general. He was nominated by the then social Democratic Party candidate in the 2019 general elections, Donald Duke as his vice presidential running mate. Nigerians can attest to the fact that despite SDP been an oldest surviving political party in Nigeria, it has not been on the news for quite sometimes until when this strategist that many see as the future generation leader took over as national secretary.
The hope of young Nigerians was redefined when the party took the bold decision of allowing free contest at the party national convention that brought in Donald Duke as Presidential candidate and subsequently Gabam as his running mate . The youths were singing songs of praises, until court litigation dashed away their hopes but many are of the strong conviction that Gabam will surely lead the generational shift in leadership in Nigeria.
He has become the voice for the voiceless in the North on the failure of the regional leaders to seek for a panacea to the numerous problems of ethnicity, tribalism, banditry, kidnapping and religious extremism bedeviling the region for a long time despite the huge potentials that abounds.
The region has never been short of intellectuals and Gabam stood out among his contemporaries for his incessant calls for unity in diversity in recent times and his set down ideas and philosophy in clear, lucid terms in his leadership style, speeches and actions leaving us with an unmistakable impression that the man who has achieved this so much in his fifties is a future leader Nigeria is yearning for in the nearest future. He is an embodiment of total commitment, selflessness and self-sacrifice. He is focused and undaunted by popular cynicism; he is undeterred by adversity in his execution of developmental policies and programmes that brought the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people. His indomitable, can-do spirit and stubborn adherence to principles marked him out from among the leaders of this generation.
His stands like a colossus among men, an intellectual of uncommon sagacity, a truly outstanding mentor, a political activist of immeasurable influence, a human rights campaigner and a defender who carries out his activities almost to the point of self-abnegation, a freedom fighter and a nemesis of bad and dictatorial governments. His fair share of travails under successive governments, but he remained undaunted, principled standing like the rock of Gibraltar, immovable and outspoken in defence of human freedom and democracy, and unsparing in his criticism of bad governments. Throughout his life, Gabam has always stood with the people and marched side by side with them made many of our likes undoubtly see him as the future generation leader .
I therefore urge Nigerians to not just emulate this worthy son of Arewa and Nigeria but should join the wings of the plane of progressives Nigerians in adding their voices in calling on government of president Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to bring in this man on board who has given so much to his country. History will be kind to you and posterity will surely judge you well as been a man of reputes who spent for your lifetime in service to humanity and the nation believing that based on his reach political experience, humanitarian services and contributions to nation building he will add more value to the present government that comes on a mantra of change.
Long live the road mapper.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
