The public opinion about Engr Olayinka Braimoh, is that he is a good man and that he has the genuine interest and capacity to drive Kogi state forward, but he is a first time aspirant and “new” in politics
Well, politics and leadership are two different things. And a good politician in most instances is a politician who is cunning, who knows how to use people without them feeling used. So, if Engr Olayinka Braimoh is not a “good politician” then I think in the best interest of the masses, that is a good thing.
However, I must admit that I am concerned about the “experience” part, I mean “he is new” implies that he is not experienced. Albeit this is not true in the real sense of what leadership is, but really if experience is all there is to leadership, we should be begging Obasanjo to be our president, after all he is experienced. You can be an experienced politician with terrible leadership record. former Gov. Prince Abubakar Audu is a successful businessman who became governor with little or no “experience in politics ” but he turned out to be the best governor Kogi state ever had. While a man who is adjudged to be one of the best bankers during his days in the banking industry turned out a disaster when he became governor.
You see, the first day I met Olayinka Braimoh, I was impressed. Nobody who has met with him for the first time whether planned or accidental felt disappointed or disgusted at his person — character and otherwise.
There is a reason people across the state are saying he is a good man, that he will make a good leader. Imagine my friend Mubaraq called me to tell me that I do what I preach. What do I preach? I asked Mubaraq the son of Yasmin. He replied: follow who knows road. You followed Late Audu, Sunday Karimi, Tinubu, Aguye and now Olayinka Braimoh. “No wonder”, he exclaimed!!! If not for the want of time, I wanted to ask him “no wonder” on what? Smiles…
Governance is a serious business, it’s not a position that ushers one into the world of merriment. The test of a true leader is in his or her ability to identify a problem before it becomes a crisis. And one of Braimoh’s strength is that he identifies a problem and solves it.
It is time that Kogi will smile again
Abbas Yahaya
Multimedia and Investigative Journalist
Writes From Lokoja