WHAT-MAKES-GOVERNOR-DIRI-A_GOOD-LEADER

WHAT MAKES GOVERNOR DIRI A GOOD LEADER

 (Part 2)

Dave Ikiedei Asei

17/01/2023

In the previous articles, we looked at two critical components that make a good leader and I talked about integrity and innovation and how Governor Diri met all of them. Today, we shall take a look at other aspects of good leadership and how the Governor measures up in these respects as well.

1. Honesty

One of the essential leadership qualities is the possession of honesty. Honesty is expected from leaders to garner trust and respect from people for reliability. Moreover, we look up to people who are loyal to their words and are accountable. Thus, honesty is the most valued trait for any  one as a Government or any leader in general.

Leadership can be defined in one word 'Honesty'. You must be honest with the players and honest with yourself. ~Earl Weaver

I could vividly recall during the thanksgiving service organize after the Supreme Court pronounced Governor Diri of the PDP and his deputy winners at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. In his speech that day, he promised to appoint men and women of integrity to positions of authorities and would give them free hands to run the affairs of their Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Today, true to his words, all the people he has appointed are given free hands to run the affairs of their departments. This is what true and good leaders do.

He also promised to continue from where his predecessor stopped, and true to his words, he has continued to complete many of such projects. Some examples are the Completion and takeoff of the Bayelsa international airport, the ongoing  Yenagoa-Oporoma and Sagbama-Ekeremor Senatorial roads. Others are the ongoing dualization of the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha road, maintenance of various internal roads, the ongoing construction of the Igbogene-Glory drive road, the Igbogene-AIT road and others too numerous to mention here, in addition to initiating and building new projects.

What I can say is that, Governor Diri does more than he talks. He is an action Governor, not just talk, but talks less but do more than he says. Many of the ongoing and new projects that he has planned to execute are ones he did not mention but from the bottom of his heart, he feels that such projects and programmes are vehicles that will drive the economy to fulfill his dream of a prosperous Bayelsa State.

2. Active Listening

The roots of effective leadership lie in simple things, one of which is listening. Listening to someone demonstrates respect; it shows that you value their ideas and are willing to hear them according to John Baldoni.

Active listening is an excellent quality to have when it comes to leadership. Good leaders listen to people with great attention and sincerity. It helps them understand people and their perspectives.

 Active listening builds trust and relationships in the long run. Good leaders communicate with care, focus on the person and the message; they don't interrupt and acknowledge what is being said. And that is what the world needs; leaders who listen to its people. Acquiring this skill is not easy; it needs self-awareness and humility to respect others’ thoughts.

In accordance with these principles, Governor Diri is a good listener when it comes to the feelings and needs of Bayelsans. One thing he quickly did was to listen to the plight of our senior citizens (the pensioners). 

When he took over from his predecessor, there were backlogs of unpaid graduates and some payment adjustments were inevitable and once he was told, he swiftly swung into action and implemented the upward adjustment of pensioners pay. 

Not done, he also made provision on monthly bases to set aside funds to clear the unpaid gratuities of retirees who have for long not paid as an when due. But due to the long years of neglect by previous administrations, many are yet to be paid, but he made sure that every month, set amount is provided to pay according to the years of retirement. At least there is hope that eventually, all retirees would be paid.

He did same for the payment of civil servants, pensioners salaries and political appointees before the end of the month. As we speak, almost all the civil servant, pensioners and political appointees have been paid in spite of the fact that the federal allocation came late.

There are uncountable instances where the prosperity Governor has paid rapt attention to the cries of his people and has done the needful, thereby making him as a good leader of our time.

We should be proud and happy to have such a leader in our dear state.

May God bless and protect him to fulfill all the promises he made to the peace-loving people of Bayelsa State.

Civil servants are smiling to their banks as the miracle Governor provided aowances for 2022 Chrismas. 

He is a good leader indeed.