Leadership has
been described as "a process of social influence in which one person can
enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common
task". [1] For example,
some understand a leader simply as somebody whom people follow, or as somebody
who guides or directs others, while others define leadership as
"organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal". [1]
In the Spring
of 2010, prior to the election that swept out the Labour government of Gordon
Brown from office in the United Kingdom. There was a critical case of the UK
prime minister Gordon Brown having a two-faced relationship with the people -
appearing nice and good in public but terrible and bad in private. Gordon Brown
was notably fiery during private engagements especially when someone disagreed
with him; however, he presents the usual happy face of the deceitful British in
the public. During his campaign to return as the UK Prime Minister, he visited
Rochdale and encountered Mrs Duffy a widow and a retired social worker, and a
grandmother as well. Mrs Duffy challenged Mr Brown on issues pertaining
immigration and crime. Mr Brown after the exhausting experience not releasing
that the Skynews microphone was still attached to his body, told one of his
aides that the encounter was 'a disaster' and described the woman as being
'bigoted'.
Mr Gordon Brown
Interestingly,
this encounter took a big slice off the Mr Brown's popularity in the polls and
when the tape was replayed to Mr Brown on BBC Radio 2 interview. He instantly
apologies on air, made a personal telephone call to Mrs Duffy and visited her
as well to apologies. [BBC],[Telegraph]
Mrs G Duffy
Recently,
there has been a similar issue in Nigeria; Mr Adams Oshiomole and an unnamed woman
mostly know by the people as ‘Go and Die Widow’. Mr Adams Oshiomole is Governor
of the Edo State situated in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. He was elected as
Governor based on the will of the people of the state and was re-elected as
Governor with most of the market women making themselves the available
electorate for the election.
Mr Adams Oshiomole
Online media in Nigeria has been angered by the
recent video post on the Youtube: Governor Oshiomole and the 'Go & Die' Woman showing the high-handedness and lack of social relationship to the people by Mr
Oshiomole. Inasmuch as
the public is not fully aware of the offence of the woman in the video
committed, people are very angry about the utterances and lack of human
sympathy exhibited by the Governor. Most people believe that this issue could
have been handled in a more amicable way; a leader to a follower way and not a
Master to a Slave way.
Mr Oshiomole and the unamed Woman (Widow)
Comparing Mr
Brown of United Kingdom and Mr Oshiomole of Edo State Nigeria, Mr Oshiomole
should apologise to the public for his behaviour and set up a proper group
within the state government to ensure that such offences committed by this
woman is eliminated.
