Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria has said it is important for leaders to be effective by being ready to wield the big stick whenever the need arises.
The former president said that a leader cannot be effective of he or she is not ready to step on toes.
Speaking while meeting with the newly appointed chairman of the Board of Management, Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Dayo Israel, Obasanjo said stepping on toes would help him secure a successful tenure.
“If you’re doing a job and you’re not stepping on toes, then you’re not effective,” Obasanjo said.
Stating that obstacles are inevitable in the leadership process, Obasanjo said the most important thing is how a leader handles and crosses the obstacles.
He said, “On the first day, she arrived at 7:15 a.m. instead of the usual 7 a.m. I warned her, reminding her that she had an obligation to be a good example to other workers. I told her I would not hesitate to wield the big stick if she repeated it.
“To my amazement, the following day, she was late again. I did not hesitate to send her back right from the gate. Not surprisingly, this had an indescribable effect on all my employees, who said, ‘If Baba could do this to his daughter, who are we?” he stated.
He, however, urged the new appointee to ensure just, fairness and a show to humanity in the midst of tough and necessary decision-making process.
