For the umpteenth time, Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s style of governance was the focus of attention during the public presentation of a book, Praxis of Political Concepts and Cliches in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Essays in Honour of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, last Thursday.

Adewale Oshodi, who was at the event, reports on how some of Dr. Aliyu’s political concepts could help in expanding the frontiers of democratic practice in Nigeria.

WITH Nigeria’s democracy getting stronger by the day, different political concepts structured to suit the style of governance in the country, and which will eventually translate into positive impact on the people’s standard of living are beginning to emerge.

But despite the large number of politicians and intellectuals in the country, only few are really concerned about how political theories can be translated into practice for the benefit of the people. Among these few is the Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who, since becoming governor, has come up with different political concepts aimed at making public office holders more responsive to the yearnings of the people.

The most popular of Dr Aliyu’s political concepts is the servant leadership, where public office holders see themselves as servants of the people who elected them into office. With this concept, the governor, on assumption of office, said he should be addressed as the Chief Servant, instead of His Excellency by which all other governors are addressed in the country.

It is as a result of Governor Aliyu’s intellectual standing on Nigeria’s political issues, that a group of academics decided to write a book on political concepts and cliches, in honour of his style of governance.

Last Thursday, August 5, 2010, the book, Praxis of Political Concepts and Cliches in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Essays in Honour of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, was presented to the public at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, and the event was graced by three former heads of state - Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari and General Ibrahim Babangida - governors, academics, political and public office holders, among others.

While presenting the book, former President Olusegun Obasanjo commended Dr Aliyu for bringing his intellectual capacity into governance, saying as a result of this, the governor had defined how political theories and practicals could be combined for the good of the people.

Also, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, who is from the state Dr Aliyu governs, admitted that the governor’s political concepts were already setting the stage for another system of governance, which would be more responsive to the people.

Earlier, in his address, the chairman on the occasion, Kogi State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, had eulogised Dr Aliyu, saying his humility, combined with great intellectual standing, was what had endeared him to the people, not just those in Niger State, but in the whole of Nigeria.

Another counterpart of the honoree, Alhaji Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, in his eulogy described Dr. Aliyu as someone who cares about other people.

Alhaji Goje said the calibre of people at the book presentation showed the honoree, Dr. Aliyu, as somebody who people give so much respect.

Also, in lending his voice, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, said Dr Aliyu’s concepts centre on the public office holder truly doing what the people expect from him.

Professor Bamiro then described Dr Aliyu has a person who respects intellectual value, while using it for the good of the country.

The editor of the book, Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, stated that the book was the result of critical interrogation of the different political concepts and cliches in the country by academics who had contributed articles to the book.

Professor Albert, while describing the governor as a man of deep intellectual strength, stated that the governor had come up with different political concepts which were already helping in the process of governance in Nigeria.

“Concepts like servant leadership, deliberative democracy, etc. are the ideas of Dr Aliyu, and they are all helping in expanding the frontiers of democratic practice in Nigeria,” Professor Albert stated, while admitting that Nigerians are particularly attracted to Dr. Aliyu because of the consistent efforts he is making towards translating his academic political ideas into practical state policies.

However, while the book is in honour of Dr Aliyu, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, in his foreword, says apart from the first chapter which gives detailed account of the need for such a book and why it is being done to acknowledge the unique qualities of the governor, there are only two other chapters that address themselves to his achievements.

“Therefore, the book is not one of  panegyrics written to massage the governor’s ego, but one that contains a collection of objective analyses of the Nigerian political system,” Professor Oloyede stated.

In his speech at the event, Dr Aliyu urged public office holders to be more responsive to the yearnings of their people, saying it is only through this that the country can be more conducive for the people to live in.