The Leader We Want

PVCd and pleased.

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I finally got my Permanent Voters Card and feel very accomplished.

Now I can continue to talk about the Leader I want because the struggle to get that card? It was real.

It began at a Secondary School in Zone 2 Abuja in January. The school security guard told me they were yet to see any INEC official there. I was directed to the Central Business District- AMAC- to be precise. After I queued 2 times and didn’t get to the ‘ promised land’ I took a break from the PVC hunt.

I went back in February and was told to go back to Wuse- a secondary school in Zone three , this time. Letme be honest. I took one look at the crowd and didn’t bother. I just left.

Still, you know what they say: Fifth time is the Charm. And now I have my PVC, voting Centre, Candidate and everything all lined up.

Okay that isn’t quite true. I’m still shopping for Candidates.

I’ve just one vote but worth a lot.

Have you registered to vote?

5 Martin Luther King quotes that bring a mental shift

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Today is Dr Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday.

As you must know, he was an African American human rights leader, known especially for his ‘ I have a dream’ speech. A speech which has gradually come to fruition and is depicted in the shared amenities between blacks and whites- swimming pools, classrooms, public transportation, homes even. One of the greatest manifestations of his ‘dream’ is the election of Barack Obama, the son of an African immigrant as President of the United States. Dr King must have smiled in his grave on that fateful day in 2008. He had a dream, he spoke the dream and suffered for it but there’s a reason why he kept on:

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Here are more Dr King quotes to make you rethink:

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.

We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Happy birthday, Dr Martin Luther King! You’re without a doubt the sort of leader we want.Thanks for so much inspiration.

Five quotes that explain why leaders prefer blue and red ties

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In high-stakes politics and business, there are only two colors of ties: red and blue-Robert Roy Brit

Dark blue makes us feel like the person wearing it is smart, together, and trustworthy. It’s also the number one color to wear to a job interview and the applicants for president know that. – Kristen Palana

There’s something about red that always comes back to strength and passion.”- Mark Woodman, Trend Analyst

Darker reds, such as a burgundy, can help build trust, while lighter red and pink ties can be more of a statement about your personal style and be associated with creativity. In the last decade, a pink tie can sometimes signal “solidarity with women,” added Woodman.- Alina Dizik

Conveying trust, stability and confidence a blue tie is perfect for client facing or public speaking.  That being said, it’s no coincidence that politicians and salesmen are frequently seen in blue ties. – Sonny Balani

The Leader Austria wants. You?

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Photo Credit: CNN

The winds of change in the world of 21st Century politics bring with it a younger vibe into the system.

A 39 year old French man married to a woman twice his age becomes president, and New Zealand is buzzing with the news that Jacinda Ardern is poised to become its new prime minister. In Austria, early results suggest that 31 year old Sebastian Kurtz is Austria’s next chancellor and back in 2015 we’d thought Justin Trudeau was young! In retrospect, the world probably has him to thank for the new trend of voting in young leaders. I recall when Trudeau became Prime Minister, we could not believe it. He was 43 years old and was already at the helm of Canada’s affairs. Barack Obama was 48 when he became president in 2009, years younger than George W Bush. Little did we know that his was only the beginning…

I can’t help but route all these developments home.

Nigeria.

On the 26th of July 2017, the Nigerian National Assembly passed into law a bill that proposes 35 as the minimum age for the office of the president. Hottest news of the day without a doubt. It trended on Social Media for days! Now however I , like many other Nigerian, am wondering if we dare hope that 2019 will bring with it Fresh blood. I have seen posters of people and I am googling to know more about them: some I’m impressed by and others have made my heart whisper, ‘ You too?’

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased by the show of new faces but I’m also wondering what skills and changes they will bring to the table. A lot of manifestos are hinged on the candidate’s youth. But you see, it is not just youth we need. Even Chinua Achebe explained what is required for a youth to lead in any society. He said and I paraphrase, ‘When a child washes his hands well he can sit and eat with the elders.’

It’s about the manifesto and how much they commit to executing it once they get into power.

According to CNN, Sebastian is offering the people of Austria a crackdown on immigration and they want him for that. I can think of a number of things I want my future Nigerian President to focus on and trust me when I say it will not be a one point agenda!

Over the next few weeks I’ll write about the sort of person I will be casting my vote for. My vote is just one but it is very powerful. Just to be clear: I’m not voting for anyone who is above a certain age- we need fresh blood in our system but those coming in need to bring in the change Nigeria needs. What kind of leader do you want? Do tell!