PROFESSOR AMBROSE ALLI -WHEN LEADERSHIP MEANT SERVICE

WHEN LEADERSHIP MEANT SERVICE: A Look Back at an Era Before Political Monetization This was a time before politics became a lucrative enterprise. Consider Professor Ambrose Alli, a college professor who, despite his esteemed position, drove an old Peugeot 504 that sometimes required a push to start. He owned no property, residing in a university-rented apartment, while his wife served as a hospital matron. His bank account held not a single dime. Yet, he was elected into the Constituent Assembly. Unlike many of his peers, Professor Alli meticulously returned to Benin every Friday to brief Edo State's political leaders on the discussions and to solicit their opinions. When the contest for the UPN governorship nomination arose between him and a wealthy Ijaw businessman, J.T. Garry, my father championed Ambrose Alli's cause. He argued to the UPN leadership that to be an effective leader, one must first be a dedicated follower. Alli's consistent recognition of his delegation and his diligent briefings proved his commitment as a servant, thus demonstrating his potential for exceptional leadership. He secured the nomination and ultimately, the governorship. No governor of Edo State, civilian or military, including the renowned Samuel Ogbemudia, could rival Ambrose Alli's four-year tenure. Throughout his governorship, his English wife continued to drive their old Peugeot 504 to UBTH as a matron, a testament to their unwavering humility. In 1983, Ambrose Alli finally built a modest four-bedroom bungalow in his village, Emado Ekpoma. Its opening coincided with his mother's burial, an event attended by important dignitaries, including four other UPN governors. Uninvited, I, "Aproko," drove 200 kilometers to the venue, hoping to glean architectural ideas for my own nascent construction project. Upon arrival, I was struck by the simplicity: four external walls, a single flush entrance door, glass-louvred windows, and asbestos roofing sheets. It was, quite simply, just a house – a profound contrast to the opulent displays of wealth often associated with public office today. In 1984, when Buhari seized power as military Head of State, he accused the overthrown NPN Federal Government of corruption. One of his initial acts was the imprisonment of all five UPN governors and two NPP Igbo governors. Strikingly, not a single NPN governor of Northern origin was jailed. Ambrose Alli was accused of misappropriating N983,000 and sentenced to 100 years in prison. He was later informed that he would be released upon payment of N1 million. With no funds in his account, Ambrose Alli endured nearly six years of imprisonment. He was finally released on his 60th birthday, September 22, 1989, having lost 80% of his health, and only after Chief Igbinedion generously volunteered to pay the N1 million. Now, compare this integrity to the present day. An unknown individual emerges during an election cycle, flush with unaccountable wealth, declaring their presidential ambitions in a country he does not even know his own LGA. He had never lead an organization of up to 20 staff. Or consider a former governor like Peter Obi, who, despite being ranked 25th out of 36 governors during his tenure, suddenly announces his presidential bid, because he has some shadowy "sponsors in the diaspora" involved in questionable businesses. A brief investigation reveals his name implicated among the "world's fraudulent businessmen" in the Pandora Papers. Or what do you say about a past minister whose wife was a common trader on diapers starts picking N4b monthly for a phoney empower the women of her state. Next he says, he wants to be a President. Let me not spoil your tastebuds mentioning imternational crook like Atiku once banned from entering the USA. He too wants to be a President despit his boss Obasanjo has well documented dossier on him in his book on his stealing propensity. Now, what can we possibly expect when such individuals ascend to the presidency? Blaming them becomes futile; the true fault lies with you, the electorate who voted them into power