Professionals involvement in politics: A call for attitudinal change BY ANIEKAN UMANAH

I feel honoured to be invited to give a key note  address in this august and epochal event. I wish to say that I still cannot comprehend the rationale for the choice of my person for this intellectually and
politically tasking exploration, but I have chosen not to fall into the trap of rejecting the honor, for some reasons.

First, the topical issue, or theme of this event “professionals involvement in politics; A call for altitudinal change” is seminal, apt, and historically consistent with the unfolding dynamics of the day. 

Secondly, the globalization of political culture which impinges on the need for sound, bold and imaginative leadership, the world over aligns with the conceptual premise of this event. Finally, yet not the least, is the fact that, there is a conscious, and practical effort by government to functionally alter the hitherto perceptive notion about leadership, through the institutionalization of best practices and initiation of sound democratic deliverables, in consonance with globally acceptable standards. Therefore, being the “town crier” of that new experience – the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State brought to bear by our Uncommon Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio CON, permit me to say, with every sense of modesty, that the organizers made a justifiable choice.

Let me begin by saying that there is a tendency or temptation of labelling every white -collar worker, and businessman “professional”.
But if everyone is or calls himself a professional, the term loses its meaning.

Who then is a professional?
A professional is simply, a member of a profession.  By that definition, I have gotten into another intellectual trap, which, if I had a choice, would have avoided, for reasons of time and space.
According to Goode, a renowned professor of Social Sciences, “we should think of occupations as falling somewhere along a continuum of professionalism…the core characteristics are, a prolonged specialized training in a body of knowledge, and a collectivity or service orientation.
A professional therefore, has a sense of history. As one with specialized training and body of knowledge, true professionals recognize the relevance of the emerging pattern of relationships, which stresses inter—dependence rather than independence, cooperation, rather than isolation and an increasing centralization of the source of action, rather than the old pattern of a maze of autonomous units, each operating by itself.

Professionalism seeks to clothe a given area with standards of excellence, to establish rules of conduct, to develop a sense of responsibility, to set criterion for recruitment and training, to ensure a measure of protection for members, to establish collective control over the area and to elevate it to a position of dignity and social standing in the society. It is on this note that every profession has umbrella bodies to superintend over their respective workings and proceedings. The Nigeria Medical and Dental Association, the Nigeria Institution of Estate Valuers, (NIEV), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Society of Engineers, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, among many others, are examples of some of the professional bodies in Nigeria.

Professionals Involvement in politics
In venturing into the most flagrantly abused discourse in Nigeria’s social lexicon, and in the context of the involvement of professionals in politics, permit me to draw currency from Charles De Gaulle, a
statesman, international personality, and former president of the French Republic, “I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a business to be left in the hands of “politicians”.
Conceptually, politics is the overall process of selecting/electing persons to take charge of the affairs of the state. Perhaps Harold Laswell, an American political scientist gave the most universally acceptable insight of politics. According to him, “politics is a process of who gets what, when and how” By this definition, politics appears to be grubby, greedy pursuit, filled with scandal and backroom dealings, yet, it is an essential means for resolving differences are determining how power and resources are  distributed in society.

If the primary aim of the politics is the selection of leaders for the state, then the involvement of professionals, in the process is a sine qua non – an essential Professionals were catalytic to the industrial revolution which began in England in 1760. It is pertinent to note that this totally new experience that saw a change from the use of hand to the use  machines in the production of goods, significantly impacted on every aspect of human life, including politics, and living standards in Europe, and America. Also, globalization, the evolving networking of global finances, information and communication technology, and cross – cultural currents require as conditionality, the entrenchment of sound democratic institutions, for the accentuation of the process. It is in that respect, that professionalism, shows its essence.

Professionalism encourages the spirit of hard work which the Calvinist inculcated in the early part of the 20th century, to attain noble acclaim in the society. This Protestant Ethic Thesis, as posited by Karl Marx (1905), gave justification for the growth of craftsmen into professionals, who eventually lubricated the industrial revolution and functionally impacted on the political patterns of the world.

Professionals, irrespective of their occupational areas, have a shared experience that is rooted in quality service delivery, discipline, training, experience, industrial democracy and corporate governance.

This process of joint- decision-making and collective bargaining underscore the democratic credential of professionals. From the global stage, where the likes of Barrack Obama, a seasoned professor of international Law holds away as president of the United State; Francois Hollande, a seasoned administrator from Ecole Nationale d’administration  as President of France; Angela Markel, a doctor of philosophy in Physics, who worked at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, as German Chancellor; the continental shelve, where our amiable President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a Doctor of Zoology, presides over the affairs of the most populous black nation in the world, Nigeria; to the sub-national stage, where the purveyor of the Uncommon Transformation,  Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer, with an impeccable corporate pedigree superintends as Governor of Akwa Ibom State,  the story is the same, it’s an  experience  that is founded on the ability of the leadership component to  translate  visions  into material reality.

That represents aparadigm shift from the traditional conception of politics, which is characterized by: elitist paternalistic rule with calibrated intimidation, obsession with consensus and disdain for free debate, unacceptable disposition of public wealth; unchecked exercise or public power, and the personalization of state resources.
According to the Centre for American Progress Action Fund, professionals are now

the most democratic, and fastest growing occupational group in the developed countries of the west, particularly, the United States, where they gave Barrack Obama 68 percent of their votes in 2008 and repeated same fest in 2012.

Ladies and Gentle men, it is important to note that the involvement of professionals in politics is a negation of mediocrity in political leadership as it deepens the process of political- institution building. The emergence of Barrack Obama, the first black president of the largest multi-racial democracy in the world has altered the course of history by engendering a new political culture, anchored on merit, rather than the color of skin. This historic endeavor attests to the tenability of imaginative leadership, which according to Professor John Stoessinger, a notable Professor of Global Diplomacy, “is capable of maximizing other elements of state power for enhanced capability upon the global scene…”
Professionalism entails a change in attitude and mentality to public service. In this connection, is the opposite of quackery in public life and in private thinking.

Back home, our indefatigable Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has raised the bar in public administration, redefined political leadership through a well-defined system approach. This pattern of professionalizing governance has engendered a new ethos, leading to the institutionalization of critical infrastructure s the growth pole of development. The numerous flyovers, uncountable roads, free and
compulsory education, the ibom Tropicana entertainment Centre, the e-library, Olympic size stadium, international airport, and state university, among other top of the line projects, reinforces the assertion that “leadership is the brain of a state”.

It is in this light that the emergence of the present Secretary to Government of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, becomes relevant. His experience in corporate governance, exposure, and network of relationship underscore the essence of the involvement of professionals in politics.  He has evolved democratic governance principles that has made him an enduring brand, which may today be termed brand UGE. In the weeks and months ahead, we hope and pray to be part in the evolution of this great catalyst who may be wanting to deepen the story of the Uncommon Transformation
Towards A Change of Attitude Every society has a political culture that is peculiar to the reality
of its social structures. As experts, like Ken Ifesinachi, Aja Akpru-Aja (2004) and others, have noted, the political culture of a society is the reflection of the attitudes of people to politics and leadership.
Sociologically, attitudes connote evaluated and associated beliefs and behaviors toward politics, the political process or the political system.

Ironically, our attitude in Akwa Ibom has been characterized by hate, blackmail, character assassination, pull-him-down, loss of faith, political apathy, and the like.
Understandably, these vices are integral aspects of political electioneering the world over, as certain persons must resist functional change, but its dimension of entrenchment in our state body politics, particularly as we head towards the 2015 Governorship elections is horrifying. There are capable of opening the outlets for disunity in the state, which represents the objective of the enemies of the state. There is need for an overhaul of our attitude to politics and the overall electioneering processes. Let us inculcate the attitude of assessing our leaders based on their pedigree or capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy.

In conclusion, I submit that there is need  to rethink our political attitude and overall culture into a totally new experience which I call Neo-Politick, a pragmatic approach to political behavior, where the people place merit over primordial and parochial sentimentalities.
This shift in political attitude and culture would inevitably add value to the process of confidence -building in the leadership – people nexus, while ultimately reinforcing the sacred place of the people as the locus of political power in a democracy.

Aniekan Umanah is Commissioner for Information and Communications, Akwa Ibom State