THE crisis of under-development is often mis-interpreted in much of the Third World. And this, alas, further deepens and makes the crises of under development more intractable.

Too many times our governors and other political warriors in the Third World begin with and stop at the enactment of massive infrastructural developments. To their shame or perhaps state of un-knowingness they mistake rising skylines as the equivalent of human development.

Perhaps the most tragic exemplar of this must be the last Shah of Iran. From sprawling industrial complexes to Western style parks, with which he dotted Iran, he still found himself the most unwanted leader of his era. What did he do wrong?

The answer can be summarized with one phrase: He alienated and divided his people and turned Iran into a state at war with itself. In the end a revolution led by a cleric who was exiled to France toppled the arrogant and uncaring regime of the Sha.

Perhaps the only Nigerian leader who sees clearly the futility of dividing his people, as perhaps no other is Dr Babangida Aliyu of Niger state. We will give an example. Not too long ago the Supreme Court gave verdicts on two gubernatorial legal jostles. Dr Babangida Aliyu was and still is the triumphant party in one of the two cases.

The other triumphant party in the second case, who we shall not name, went home as is perhaps expected in Nigeria with a sense of personal triumph and righteousness. Next he set up a cache of activities to praise only himself….. And to even suggest he is the next redeemer.

And to speak frankly one can’t quite blame him, for his is a purely Nigerian mindset. For Nigerians it is all like it is, with one infamous Pope, who on election said, now that we have it, let us enjoy ourselves.

Lacking in a heroic sense of history or purpose, he nearly destroyed the Papacy. Our leaders, unwittingly are going in the path of the less than the blameless Pope, and are thus endangering Nigeria.

But Aliyu improves on this Nigerian attitude and tradition of the winner as a Shah, as a persecutor and divider of his own people. As reported by numerous newspapers the statesmen in Aliyu came to fore on the hour of his Supreme Court and final triumph. Let us use The Sun as our anchor. On 21/07/10 the Daily Sun reports thus:

“Niger state governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has appealed to the people of Niger State to join hands with him to further enhance the development of the state.

The Governor who was reacting to the Supreme Court judgment, which confirmed his election, said the people who took the case to court were justified in pursuing their rights. But he said now that the case was finally over, they should drop all sentiments and support the administration for the growth of the state.

According to him, politics should be that of development as well as the concerns for the majority of the people who could not take care of themselves, rather than politics of few individuals in the society.

He restated that now that all cases were over in the courts, his government would have more time to think and plan for more dividends of democracy for the people, stressing that government would consolidate on past achievement and ensure that all projects were completed.

While expressing appreciation to God on the outcome of the judgment, the Governor stated that the judgment clearly indicated the growth of democracy as well as the country.

He maintained that what transpired in state for almost three years underscored the need for electoral reforms, stressing that it was only his faith in Allah that kept him going in his effort to effectively serve the people in the state, adding that the victory had simply rekindled his faith in God, the judiciary and in the growth of democracy in the country.

It is this sense of compassionate victory, of the hero as a servant, a reconciler that separates and makes Aliyu the new Nigerian Leader.

And his ever present recourse to God, deepens his sense of commitment to the citizen and polity. For in and with God, men, especially their leaders, are accountable, beyond now, beyond history and unto eternity. This breeds humility and a sense of dedicated purpose in leaders. And we must remark, not a sectarian god but a God who is the God or Allah for all.

Perhaps with leaders cast in the mould of Aliyu Nigeria despite what her detractors say is not finished. In fact our best years are in our future… a future cut by pathfinders who come in the shape and form of the Aliyu, the Sardaunas, the Awolowos and the Azikiwes of the world.

We cannot write on this without reminding ourselves that this enactment of peace in a geo-polity is the first economic raw material and dividend. Here history is our ever ready witness.

The prosperity of Europe ensued and became sustainable only when after years of sectarianship and wars, her visionary leaders who like Aliyu sued for peace and this despite their victories. Post-World War II is Europe’s /America’s most eloquent thesis on the validity of peace as an indispensible tool of human achievement.

And that peace is not just a human development index, it is also an economic and developmental infrastructure itself. It is in fact the first and mother of all infrastructures. We salute Aliyu for this singular vision and thus this gift of all- inclusiveness and sense of peace for all.

This reminds us of the great Canandian philosopher George Grant. Of course as an interpreter of modern development, nobody outclasses him. His contentions are this simple: That without man being reconciled to himself, to his society, without man reconciled to one another and our technology to nature we are doomed. In fact, he used the term ‘doomed progress’.

This is the bane of all non-humanistic leaders who treat citizens as no more than mere recipients of their presumed and arrogant greatness. But Dr. Aliyu helps us reverse this, by donning the toga of a servant leader … of calling on the opposition to join as one in government because this government is for all Nigerlites.

It is a clever and profound economic move; for in truth it is only when we build together that we can build at all. If we separate ourselves into warring camps and zones we destroy not just the little we build but, worse, ourselves, and alas our high destiny.

By Zaky Okedero, a commentator on national issues, writes from Minna, Niger State.