Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi: the quintessential leader of his generation

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi: the quintessential leader of his generation 

In the words of famous America Author and Enterpreneur, Jim Rohn a good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.

This concept of leadership as envisioned by Rohn can be in any sectors of the society be it political , economic or even social. For the purpose of this write-up, the political leadership style and the 

attitude of politicians especially in Nigeria catches my attention, most especially in Plateau State.

Since  aspirations for  political leadership is a free will, only very few live up to these leadership ideals. In fact, many political leaders seem to lack some of the most required leadership qualities, such as integrity, transparency and accountability. 

As a result of this lack of required credentials for leadership, It is no coincidence that  many people upon hearing the word “politician” means  negative connotations! 

However, history  has donated these required qualities of leadership to One Man in Central part of Plateau State, North Central part of Nigeria. 

"In the evergreen words of the notable bard of old, Williams Shakespeare, “Some people are born great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness thrust on them.”

For those who are conversant with his history and the trajectory of his life up till this moment, it is crystal clear that Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, the centerpiece of this article, achieved greatness by dint of hard work, commitment to duties, loyalty and by the sheer grace of God.

Therefore, following the Shakespearean model, Yusuf Gagdi falls in the category of the men who achieve greatness. This is the reality of his life.

But for his razor sharp intelligence, his unparalleled devotion to success against all odds coupled with the benevolence of some God-sent folks and his late dad, Gagdi obtained his first degree in Economics from the famous University of Jos and Master Degree in Public Administration from the same institution.

Currently representing the good people of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency in the Federal house of representative. A Public servant par excellence, Gagdi was a one term member representing Kantana Constituency in Plateau State House of Assembly with attractive achievements. 

He single handedly paid the West African Examination Council (WAEC) registration of over three hundred students within his constituency apart from several community projects within every ward he represented while serving in State Assembly. 

At the National Assembly, Hon. Gagdi within first year anniversary in to office secured over 200 employment letters to his constituents, sponsored  various bills and Motions , empowered more than 100 youths/women , settled hospital bills of over 100 patients, constructed examination hall in Kanam Development Association Academy, constructed over 5 traditional rulers palaces just to mention but few.

As a Political leader he knows the  importance of everyone around him through the authority of government, they assess the distribution of power and resources, build relationships with other stakeholders and make decisions that can have great impact on the well-being of his constituents.

Leadership in the political framework requires a focus on the long-term good of a country, above and ahead of any personal short-term gains. Good political leadership requires a combination of charisma and integrity, as well as the ability to assess a situation and make a decision based on what would be best for the greatest number of people. Most of all, leadership in a political framework requires ‘statesmanship’  as opposed to just being a ‘politician’ this means having the integrity and willingness to stand up for what is right against all odds, these are all the ideal Gagdi stands for.

What Makes A Good Political Leader?

Ironically, those who make good political leadership are often those who least want the position in the first place! These are individuals who do not seek power but who have authority conferred upon them by others who value their judgement.

So what makes a good political leader? A good political leader is:

someone who serves as an example of integrity and loyalty to the people they represent, both to the public and to other political leaders. 

someone with good communication and inter-personal skills, who can work with a range of other people, regardless of political party or opinion, to achieve the greatest good for the general population.

someone who can resist the various temptations and lures of the political arena

someone of strong character, with both conscience and charisma

someone willing to listen to the needs of the common people and to represent them faithfully

someone with the courage to stand up and say what needs to be said rather than just tell the general public what it wants to hear

someone who is willing to make difficult (and possibly unpopular) decisions for the greater good.

An effective political leader will have a leadership style that focuses on coalition and building, While negotiation and even coercion are sometimes necessary, a good political leader will always try to use persuasion first.

Taking Responsibility

One of the key leadership qualities many political leaders lack is ability to take responsibility. A lot of political leaders are used to pointing the finger at everyone else and few seem not  to accept responsibility for their mistakes, admit their political failures and acknowledge their own contribution to a problem.

Accountability is crucial to effective political leadership, In Plateau Today, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi stand tall among his peers to not only regularly visit his constituents but also accountable to them on what they sent him to do  as without this, there will be no respect from the followers.

A good political leader is someone who will be honest and responsible for their own actions and decisions and who is willing to admit when they have made a mistake. They will focus their energies and time on representing the people rather than spending all the time “covering their backs” and criticising others.

Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is a living examples with testimonies and revelations everywhere he find himself to these ideals of a true leader per excellence.

Sallah facilitations to my leader, boss and mentor and the entire Muslim Ummah.

By Kankimes Alghazali Moh'd  a private school teacher and freelance writer in Kanam LGA of Plateau State.

Email: Princekam75 @gmail.com

Phone no: 08111645362