Integrity is not equal to Capacity
Every banker that has done a basic credit course knows that the holy grail of giving credit to anyone are the 5Cs, of which capital and character always piqued my interest.
Before a banker lends you money, he wants to know what nature of capital you will employ to engage his money appropriately to be able to turn a profit for yourself and the bank.
Equally, a banker is concerned about the character of the borrower. cases of Nigerians business people abound that have borrowed money just to acquire the latest wheels or plan elaborate weddings. these same people will end up dodging the banks in the end. So very high on a bankers risk assessment sheet is the question of character.
Character can be likened to integrity. it is really a question of integrity or lack of it, to pay back what ones owes or not, likewise capacity can be likened to the capacity of the business owner or management to be able to carry on the business profitably.
When I think of the leadership crisis of our nation, i am assailed with the thought that, we having been raped ceaselessly, have unconsciously sold our common heritage to persons brandishing claims of integrity and uprightness, without having checked for their capacity, claims of capacity or delegating abilities.
I have been hired for certain tasks and duties in the time past, that i was considered perhaps the most suitable candidate for the job,despite my little knowledge or ability to deliver required results, but i always got away with it, because you can be sure i will not waiver on my values for profit. Of what use is an honest man that cant deliver results?
Let me describe the basics, i own a bar where my staff continually steal products, i have decided to prioritize integrity and character in my hiring process. During the recruitment process, i found the most honest man in the land, only problem is; he is equally a devout religious person who doesn’t even wish to see alcohol, much less taste it or sell it. The choices are clear, keep searching for a candidate who has the capacity to man the bar or build a system around this upright candidate that allows for him to monitor without compromising his values. you can already tell the later will be so much of a hassle to achieve.
it is clear, that our nation indeed may have the most upright team to manage our affairs at this juncture, but it is clear their capacity to execute on projects is in question. My two cents, delegate more to people with capacity, build systems that ensure trust around them, minimize leakages, and stop chasing immaterial issues. If someone steals my 2naira either with intent or by error, my next steps would include catching such a person at the least cost to me. If it will cost me, 10 Naira to catch an employee that stole N2. it would make more sense to just let the employee go.
Lets be clear integrity doesn't equal capacity. Come 2019, at all levels, lets employ honest people who have a vision of where Nigeria ought to be (a first world nation ), lets ensure they have the right people around them, lets ensure they love getting things done as individuals, lets inspect their track record of delivering big stuff.
When that cycle comes, allow it be the time for a new generation of young, upright, energetic leaders, that already have shown promises of what they can do with even more resources. Let us not be bamboozled. Let us be like coach Clemens Westerhof and Jo Bonfrere looking to build a national team of footballers that will take on the continent and the rest of the world for the next decade. Let us hire, employ and elect builders that will transform us, allow us be shoulder to shoulder with Sweden, Japan, Israel, India, China, UAE, Canada, Australia, not leaders who tell us it is impossible to aspire to these lofty goals.
Let us see light at the end of this Nigerian tunnel for once, such that if none of us ever makes it to the promised land alive, at least we can be certain our kids are strolling into Canaan. that is what we owe Nigeria. 2019. all values matter.
