On-the-issues-of-integrity-character-reputation-and-the-nigerian-political-leaders
September 7, 2020 | News
ON THE ISSUES OF INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, REPUTATION AND THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL LEADERS
Without a doubt, the broad subject of integrity, is one that can be described as the bedrock and foundation upon which every other facet of one individual life and the society should be built to stand and sustained. The issue of integrity is so important that, if it is removed, distorted or not taken seriously, then that person or society concerned will be ridden with disorder, chaos, unfruitful, unjust, unorganized, haphazard, and whatever ill you can imagine. Integrity is what distinguishes one’s character from the others, and it should be the focus first to build one’s reputation. Sadly, many Nigerians are more interested in our public reputation than the integrity and character. The issue of integrity goes beyond an individual and determines the level of sustainable success or not, of every society we can think of. Which is why it is one issue that we need to evidently see and witness more from those that are custodians of our collective wealth as a nation and people.
While we would not want to separate or discuss in details the issues of character and reputation since the subject of integrity alone arguably determines the outcome of the rest of the former two, but my focus on integrity will help to understand this topic of discussion. One might even want to ask: What is integrity? What characterizes the integrity of a person, functionary, or organization? What characterizes, for example, politicians acting with integrity, what is an “integritous” politician? In some published literature on ethics and integrity, it is possible to distinguish at least eight perspectives, using the keywords wholeness and coherence; professional responsibility; moral reflection; value(s) like incorruptibility, laws and rules; moral values and norms; and exemplary behavior. While this is not a write up on a research study on the subject matter, which is too broad for us to delve into, but the focus here is on the simple meaning of the word integrity. Which is: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles (personal, artistic, professional integrity); the condition of being whole and not divided or hypocritical.”
While we would like to focus more on the state of the integrity of Nigerian political leaders, but this is one subject issue that affects every one of us, and which we all need to take a self-evaluation on, to determine where Nigerians have missed/still missing it in our lives and make necessary adjustments where necessary. In fact, we have come to the conclusion that there is only one ‘leadership ingredient’, which has been missing in majority of Nigeria political leaders, and which has made us to have public office holders who are more often than not; say one thing and then do something else entirely in carrying out their statutorily functions. And that one leadership ingredient that is lacking amongst them, is the issue of personal integrity. This is what practically defines one’s daily decision-making process. And most importantly, it points to how one relates to all the people one comes in contact with, and humanity as a whole – in relation to one’s position/office occupied in the public or private space. It is really a sad situation, that if we look around at all Nigerian public office holders, both at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, all we see are persons that are without integrity and personal code of conduct/ethics. And that is why many of them are without any iota of shame, even in a face of obvious dereliction of their statutorily functions, or alleged corrupt practices hanging on their necks.
There is short video of someone that seems like a pastor or motivational speaker, who spoke boldly on this subject matter, which has been going round online, and have caught my attention. The said speaker, practically spoke my mind on this issue of integrity. In his words: “Integrity is what you do when you are not aware that your children and spouse are looking and listening. A person of integrity will still behave himself or herself even when nobody is watching. Even when the world is not watching. That is integrity.
“We are more intoxicated about our reputation than our character. You know why? Reputation is what people think you are. But character is what you are in the eyes of God. And I hereby challenge all of us, that our lives must be lives of integrity. We think the measure of a man are the letters behind his name. We think the measure of a man is his exposure, the countries he’s been to, and there’s nothing wrong with all of these beautiful things. We think the measure of a man are the accolades that decorates his life. We think the measure of a man are all of these beautiful things like eloquence, education, and there is nothing wrong with that by the way. But the full measure of a man’s character - what will you do if you knew you’ll never be found out? The measure of a man is what he will do when he checks into that private hotel while on a business trip? That is what defines what you truly are.
“Let me make it clear, what defines a man are not his deeds in public, but his deeds in private. You see, you can talk about integrity the way I am talking about it now, but it is useless if you can’t practice it. If your enemies were out to get you, and they did an audit of your life in that department where you are working from, could they find room to criticize you? Now, that is a million-dollar question right there! If my enemies, and make no mistakes all of us have got some enemies. Some of them are unknown, some of them eat with you, some of them smile with you, some of them work with you. I’m saying, if you don’t have enemies, you’re yet to discover them because this is the kind of world, we live in. There are people that hate you for no reason. There are people that hate you because of the shoes you wear. There are people that hate you because of the vehicles that you drive. There are people that hate you because you’re blessed. Integrity is the first step to true greatness. Integrity is the foundation that holds societies together. Integrity, honesty, high-moral values is what we need in leadership today.”
There is no better way to put it other than the fact that, as a people, especially those in Government; we should not focus more on having a supposed acceptable ‘reputation’ in the eyes of the public, but in our private lives we hardly practice what we preach or portray in public. In other words, our reputation should not mean more than our character and integrity. This is something our Nigerian political leaders seriously need to take to heart and make amends in their lives where necessary. And not live a life of hypocrisy.
The funny thing is that it is actually easy to see and know those who have exhibited the lack of Personal Integrity and lack of Personal Code of Conduct/Ethics. As it is said, “By their Fruits we shall know them.” This is why we are wishing, if only our Nigerian present and future political leaders at all levels of Government and the Legislature, would be like some of those we know around the world that have exhibited exemplary attributes of Personal Integrity and Personal Code of Conduct/Ethic – based on the profound legacy some of them have left behind, and some are still exhibiting. What defines a man and separates him from other men in the society, is not the number of cars, mansions, property, businesses, wives, children, and any other possessions you can imagine that he has, but it is his level of integrity and personal moral code. It is when your yes is yes, and your no is no, and people can attest to that about you in every area of your public and private life. What while all of that material and worldly possessions are good, and should be pursued, but it should never be pursued with a compromised integrity of one’s character. That would leave one with a bad reputation, like we have seen with most past and present Nigerian politicians at all levels in the country.
Zik Gbemre.
July 3, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Without a doubt, the broad subject of integrity, is one that can be described as the bedrock and foundation upon which every other facet of one individual life and the society should be built to stand and sustained. The issue of integrity is so important that, if it is removed, distorted or not taken seriously, then that person or society concerned will be ridden with disorder, chaos, unfruitful, unjust, unorganized, haphazard, and whatever ill you can imagine. Integrity is what distinguishes one’s character from the others, and it should be the focus first to build one’s reputation. Sadly, many Nigerians are more interested in our public reputation than the integrity and character. The issue of integrity goes beyond an individual and determines the level of sustainable success or not, of every society we can think of. Which is why it is one issue that we need to evidently see and witness more from those that are custodians of our collective wealth as a nation and people.
While we would not want to separate or discuss in details the issues of character and reputation since the subject of integrity alone arguably determines the outcome of the rest of the former two, but my focus on integrity will help to understand this topic of discussion. One might even want to ask: What is integrity? What characterizes the integrity of a person, functionary, or organization? What characterizes, for example, politicians acting with integrity, what is an “integritous” politician? In some published literature on ethics and integrity, it is possible to distinguish at least eight perspectives, using the keywords wholeness and coherence; professional responsibility; moral reflection; value(s) like incorruptibility, laws and rules; moral values and norms; and exemplary behavior. While this is not a write up on a research study on the subject matter, which is too broad for us to delve into, but the focus here is on the simple meaning of the word integrity. Which is: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles (personal, artistic, professional integrity); the condition of being whole and not divided or hypocritical.”
While we would like to focus more on the state of the integrity of Nigerian political leaders, but this is one subject issue that affects every one of us, and which we all need to take a self-evaluation on, to determine where Nigerians have missed/still missing it in our lives and make necessary adjustments where necessary. In fact, we have come to the conclusion that there is only one ‘leadership ingredient’, which has been missing in majority of Nigeria political leaders, and which has made us to have public office holders who are more often than not; say one thing and then do something else entirely in carrying out their statutorily functions. And that one leadership ingredient that is lacking amongst them, is the issue of personal integrity. This is what practically defines one’s daily decision-making process. And most importantly, it points to how one relates to all the people one comes in contact with, and humanity as a whole – in relation to one’s position/office occupied in the public or private space. It is really a sad situation, that if we look around at all Nigerian public office holders, both at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, all we see are persons that are without integrity and personal code of conduct/ethics. And that is why many of them are without any iota of shame, even in a face of obvious dereliction of their statutorily functions, or alleged corrupt practices hanging on their necks.
There is short video of someone that seems like a pastor or motivational speaker, who spoke boldly on this subject matter, which has been going round online, and have caught my attention. The said speaker, practically spoke my mind on this issue of integrity. In his words: “Integrity is what you do when you are not aware that your children and spouse are looking and listening. A person of integrity will still behave himself or herself even when nobody is watching. Even when the world is not watching. That is integrity.
“We are more intoxicated about our reputation than our character. You know why? Reputation is what people think you are. But character is what you are in the eyes of God. And I hereby challenge all of us, that our lives must be lives of integrity. We think the measure of a man are the letters behind his name. We think the measure of a man is his exposure, the countries he’s been to, and there’s nothing wrong with all of these beautiful things. We think the measure of a man are the accolades that decorates his life. We think the measure of a man are all of these beautiful things like eloquence, education, and there is nothing wrong with that by the way. But the full measure of a man’s character - what will you do if you knew you’ll never be found out? The measure of a man is what he will do when he checks into that private hotel while on a business trip? That is what defines what you truly are.
“Let me make it clear, what defines a man are not his deeds in public, but his deeds in private. You see, you can talk about integrity the way I am talking about it now, but it is useless if you can’t practice it. If your enemies were out to get you, and they did an audit of your life in that department where you are working from, could they find room to criticize you? Now, that is a million-dollar question right there! If my enemies, and make no mistakes all of us have got some enemies. Some of them are unknown, some of them eat with you, some of them smile with you, some of them work with you. I’m saying, if you don’t have enemies, you’re yet to discover them because this is the kind of world, we live in. There are people that hate you for no reason. There are people that hate you because of the shoes you wear. There are people that hate you because of the vehicles that you drive. There are people that hate you because you’re blessed. Integrity is the first step to true greatness. Integrity is the foundation that holds societies together. Integrity, honesty, high-moral values is what we need in leadership today.”
There is no better way to put it other than the fact that, as a people, especially those in Government; we should not focus more on having a supposed acceptable ‘reputation’ in the eyes of the public, but in our private lives we hardly practice what we preach or portray in public. In other words, our reputation should not mean more than our character and integrity. This is something our Nigerian political leaders seriously need to take to heart and make amends in their lives where necessary. And not live a life of hypocrisy.
The funny thing is that it is actually easy to see and know those who have exhibited the lack of Personal Integrity and lack of Personal Code of Conduct/Ethics. As it is said, “By their Fruits we shall know them.” This is why we are wishing, if only our Nigerian present and future political leaders at all levels of Government and the Legislature, would be like some of those we know around the world that have exhibited exemplary attributes of Personal Integrity and Personal Code of Conduct/Ethic – based on the profound legacy some of them have left behind, and some are still exhibiting. What defines a man and separates him from other men in the society, is not the number of cars, mansions, property, businesses, wives, children, and any other possessions you can imagine that he has, but it is his level of integrity and personal moral code. It is when your yes is yes, and your no is no, and people can attest to that about you in every area of your public and private life. What while all of that material and worldly possessions are good, and should be pursued, but it should never be pursued with a compromised integrity of one’s character. That would leave one with a bad reputation, like we have seen with most past and present Nigerian politicians at all levels in the country.
Zik Gbemre.
July 3, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes