‘Even if Ambode changes party, or secures a compensatory federal appointment, the internet will never forget his folly and juvenile drama where he appeared like a rain-beaten suspended school prefect’
While reading the book, SHADOW: FIVE PRESIDENTS AND THE LEGACY OF WATERGATE by Bob Woodward, something fascinated me. Richard Nixon, former American President and the man at the centre of the Watergate scandal, was on the cusp of political extinction as he faced the most disastrous period of his career. The options for him were limited: One of it was to resign or face a disgraceful impeachment and trial. Nixon had to decide not just on the resignation but also how to navigate his exit without going to jail. He would require state pardon from his likely successor, Vice President Gerald Ford.
Nixon summoned his Chief of Staff, Alexander Haig, his right-hand man and a retired Army General, for a brainstorm. They decided Haig had to see the Vice President, Gerald Ford, and subtly negotiate Nixon’s post-presidency pardon.
Gerald Ford had very protective aides. One of them was Robert Hartmann, detested and distrusted by Haig. Hartmann did all he could to talk Gerald Ford into taking the hard line against Richard Nixon. But while Gerard Ford did not commit to agreements that could blight his Presidency from get go, he was resolute not to throw his Predecessor, Richard Nixon, under the Bus. As a matter of fact, at the risk of public outcry that questioned his integrity, he processed and pardoned Nixon.
The preamble is a showcase of the rigour and laborious process of government administration, crisis management and forthrightness in the face of complex political machinations. It is often a time for leaders to rise above themselves in clear and charitable demonstration of nobility.
After Sunday’s ill-fated world press conference called by the embattled Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, I took time to study his resume. From Wharton to INSEAD to Harvard, Ambode parades an intimidating track record of academic and administrative excellence. Indeed, you have to give it to him, he paid his dues.
If this resume is the only thing he reeled out at that press conference, if he had mentioned all in his CV with emphatic grace and candour, if he had relegated to the background his ego, anger and a visibly combative quest for vengeance, by daybreak and by now, Akinwumi Ambode would have siezed the momentum in public discourse. This CV is what we would be talking about. But in contrasting self-immolation from the Gerald Ford model above, Ambode walked into his own long dark night in a reckless, misguided vulnerability to adult delinquency.
Ambode’s penchant for compulsive and unforced errors did not start today. I recall at the primaries that brought him to power at the Lagos Airport Hotel years ago. In front of other bewildered contestants, Ambode made a remark curious to the standards of sensitivity and lacking in capacity for gauge mechanism. He said: “Anyway, we already know who would win”. Eyebrows were raised. That was tactless. Ambode was made to apologise. After getting to power, no one can deny him of having delivered a stellar performance. The face of Lagos has changed. But again, I hasten to say, this is an added “storey building” on Fashola’s well decked upstairs. Fashola it was that actually changed the face of Lagos!
Characteristic of him, Ambode has been accused of uprooting all of Fashola’s legacies. Why? Fashola was known to have worked against his emergence as Governor in clear preference for Supo Shashore. This he paid for dearly as he only escaped being muddied up after series of smear attacks that seemed to emanate from his successor.
There is something disreputable about being deliberately slavish to an unbridled malicious craving for throwing others under the bus. It is this same compulsive demeanour that may propel you to attempt the suicide of rubbishing the man who brought you to power and reckoning, Bola Tinubu. However, should you decide to burn that bridge and be your own man which is bold, daring and frankly lies within your right for self-advancement, you must have “conquered” the mass populace through a people-centred system of governance that would propel citizens to queue behind you in one unequivocal voice on your raining day. Fashola enjoyed this where Ambode seemed to be struggling. You cannot destroy the party structure that brought you to power and still not have the generality of the people behind you. It is tantamount to stepping out to jog bare-chested in snowy winter! Ambode did not think this through. He did not choose this battle well.
Let’s now add this icing on the cake: imagine if at that press conference, Ambode had said the following…
“I welcome my co-contestant, Jide Sanwo-Olu to the race. I admire and respect him. His ambition is his right and well safeguarded by our constitution. Moreso, the more contestants we have, the merrier and better it is for the robustness and deepening of our ever evolving democratic culture.
“As the holder and incumbent of the current mandate, and Chief Security Officer of this state, I assure you, Jide Sanwo-Olu of maximum security as you present yourself for this primary. Finally, my good people of Lagos State, the meaning of leadership actually is service. And part of the inherent virtue of service is selflessness. Therefore, I am not desperate to be returned to power. But nonetheless, I emphasize that you reflect on my evidence-based giant milestones as you make a choice. Our bigger picture shall be the peace, progress and consolidation of the strategic template that differentiates Lagos from other states. Our bigger picture is not my Brother Jide, and definitely, not me, Akin!
God bless you and thank you all!”
‘Ambode’s resume is fantastic but it was torn to shreds on that Sunday in a self-destruct moment of fury’
If this was Ambode’s short speech, I can visualize the applause and the turning around of the wheel of tremendous goodwill to himself. What were his handlers thinking?! What went wrong? How did he waste such monumental opportunity that led to the anti-climaxing of himself and the degrading of his brand personae?
Leadership requires the capacity for conquering self in the face of physical, psychological and emotional pressure. It requires siezing every opportunity as a platform to step out and make a STATEMENT with tempered, measured, soothing and winning words. Ambode’s resume is fantastic but it was torn to shreds on that Sunday in a self-destruct moment of fury. Many people boast of resumes, but not many people can lead. If they lead, occasions that test them expose their underbelly and they crash like a pack of cards. This exposes their lack of inner strength and how bereft they are to arrest and manage crisis. This is the Achilles heel that seeks to destroy a brilliant man by the books, but deficient in leadership. Even if Ambode changes party, or secures a compensatory federal appointment, the internet will never forget his folly and juvenile drama where he appeared like a rain-beaten suspended school prefect.
Ambode’s public communications’ disaster is a learning curve on the tragedy that befalls a lack of capacity for conquering oneself.
