FOLLOWINGtwo consecutive years of a fruitless search for an African leader deserving of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, PedroVerona Pires, former president of the island country of Cape Verde, was recently awarded the highly respectable prize, for turning his country of half a million people into what the Prize Committee described as 'an African success story economically, socially, and politically'. He joins the group of select modern African leaders who not only leave office with honour, but are celebrated from without fordoing the greatest good for the greatest number of their people. Cape Verde is a cluster of 10 small islands with few natural resources and little rainfall. Only four of the islands support agriculture and the country imports much of its food and other consumer goods. Tourism and fisheries are the two major revenue earning economic activities besides light manufacturing. But, in his 10 years as leader of his country,Pires proved that there are no unviable nations, only unviable people. Thus, he made himself and his country proud.The Good Governance Prize is awarded to an African leader based on a four-criteria assessment ofthe state of the nation namely: Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity, and Human Development. Mr. Pires led his country, especially during his two-term presidency( 2001-2010) out of theun-dignifying group of least developed countries byUNDP classification, into that of the more respectable medium developedcountries. In Africa, only Botswana achieved that feat.Pires indeed earned this award. Coming from a 16-year stint as prime minister in a post-independence rule, he successfully guided his country from a one-party to a multiparty system of government, in which, for that matter, his incumbent PAICV party lost power to the opposition through elections.This was hisfirst credential asa democrat. In 2001 he became president and by giving Cape Verde a stable political system and a market-oriented economy that attractedhundreds of millions of dollar in foreign investments, the following decade recorded, according to IMF figures, a GDP annual growth rate of more than six per cent and a 181 per cent rise in per capita income. Today, literacy rate is about85 per cent, primary school enrolment is 84 per cent with education free from age six to 12. Life expectancy rates above 70 years. And it is reported that Cape Verde 'is well on trackto meet its targetsunder the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs).'Pires' two terms ended in 2010 in accordance with the country's constitution. If honour and credibility are key components of leadership, he confirmed this by rejecting suggestions that he alter the constitution to prolong his rule. Characteristic of a man who values his place in history above all else, he said: 'This is a simple matter of faithfulness to the documents that guide a state of law.' His democratic credentials were assured.A winner of the Ibrahim Prize receives an initial $5 million and another $200,000 a year for life. In a continent so desperately bereft ofgood leaders for reasons that include the fear of life after government house, it is, in the opinion of billionaireMo Ibrahim, an incentive to lead honestly, fairly and justly without the burden of 'relative poverty, term extension and corruption'. Far more than the money however, 'to lead well is beyond the price' in the apt words of Mo Ibrahim Foundation board member, Mary Robinson.The history of Mo Ibrahim Prize to date indicates that size, grandstanding, and the mouthing of large claims to leadership do not amount to greatness of leaders or of nations. Thewinners ' Joaquin Chissanoof Mozambique,Festus Mogae of Botswana, and nowPedro Pires of Cape Verde' workedquietly but efficiently toimplement their visions of greatness for theircountries. And their integrity was hardly ever in doubt. Even if their countries are small as may be argued, their experiencesshow thata great man given asmallcountryto manage enlarges it to fit hisgreatness. Conversely, small men diminish great nations. Leadership then is the key to how Cape Verde has emerged on the respectable side of the divide asmeasured by, among other indices, human development,good governance,economic freedom, press freedom, and corruption perception. A nation rises and falls on its leadership.Cape Verde ismovingupin the comity of nations, at a timeNigeria is slidingdownas measured by theimportant indices of humandevelopment and economicperformance. Fear has been expressed thatNigeria may not meet the MDGsdeadline of 2015. Lately, this giant of Africawas ranked down from 84th last year, to101st out of 134 countries in Forbes Best Countries for Business Report that examines 11 criteria, including property, rights, innovation, technology, corruption, red tape and stock market performance. And Nigeria does not feature in the top 10 best African economies for business, as it falls behind Zambia (56th) Namibia (71st) Mozambique (77th) Malawi (86th) and Senegal (96th). Not surprisingly, a country burdened with an insatiable rapacious elite, and run by a cabal of self-seeking men and women united by parasitism as a principle of governance will rank far behind, and its leaders will not be namedin the league of global award winners.The sum of these is the urgent need for good leadership of Nigeria. But leadership is action, not position. Therefore, Nigeria'spresent leadership at every levelmustwake upto the challenges of its respective roles, sees visions of greatness for the country,focus itsthinkingandclearly define policies. Our leaders must quickly prove their capacity to govern. Nigerians seek a leadership demonstration and capacity to back those repetitive claims to continental greatness withcommensurate performance inthe critical spheres of national life. Only then can awinner of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership emerge from this clime.
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