The 34th President of United States, Dwight.D.Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, a royal father, in an army, or in an office.”
Last Saturday His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo , Oba (Dr. ) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, celebrated his 51st coronation on the throne.
The colourful event was well attended by distinguished personalities , traditional rulers, political Office holders and captains of industry, including the Aare Onikoyi Onikoyi of Yorubaland, Chief Olutomori Williams.
The Palace Media Crew led by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, sought the view of Aare Onikoyi of Yorubaland, among others , on the Paramount Ruler and his Rulership .
Excerpts :
Aare Onikoyi
Alaafin is a great Paramount Ruler who has a futuristic vision and knows how to turn his ideas into real-world success stories. He, not only belief in Honesty and integrity , but living by it, which are two important ingredients which make a good leader. He remains a highly respectable Paramount Ruler today because Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 sticks to the values and core beliefs .
Alaafin is confident enough to ensure that others follow his commands. If a leader is unsure about his own decisions and qualities, then his subordinates will never follow him or her. As a distinguished Traditional Ruler , Alaafin is oozing with confidence, show some assertiveness to gain the respect of his people, subjects and the entire Yoruba land. This does not mean that he is overconfident, but the Paramount Ruler is at least reflecting the degree of confidence required to ensure that his people and subjects trust him as a caring Royal Father.
Probably the most difficult job for a leader is to persuade others to follow. It can only be possible if you inspire your followers by setting a good example. When the going gets tough, they look up to you and see how you react to the situation. If you handle it well, they will follow you.
As a trustworthy Royal Father, Alaafin always think positive and this positive approach is visible through his ctions. He stays calm under pressure and keep the motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
f you are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome any current and future challenge easily. This is one outstanding quality and attribute of IKu Baba Yeye.
What is more, as a team leader, your team looks up to you and if you want them to give them their all, you will have to be passionate about it too. When your teammates see you getting your hands dirty, they will also give their best shot. It will also help you to gain the respect of your subordinates and infuse new energy in your team members, which helps them to perform better. If they feel that you are not fully committed or lacks passion, then it would be an uphill task for the leader to motivate your followers to achieve the goal.
What my parables mean is that Alaafin is passionate and his commitment to the well being of his people and subjects is total.
Finally, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111’s a fantastic communicator. Until you clearly communicate your vision to your team and tell them the strategy to achieve the goal, it will be very difficult for you to get the results you want. Simply put, if you are unable to communicate your message effectively to your team, you can never be a good leader. Alaafin is a distinct and good communicator. Words have the power to motivate people and make them do the unthinkable. Alaafin uses them effectively, hence he is achieving better results.
What of his decision-making capabiliy.
Apart from having a futuristic vision, Alaafin possesses the ability to take the right decision at the right time. Decisions taken by him have profound impacts on the people, not only in Yorubaland, but the nation as a whole. Alaafin thinks long and hard before taking a decision but once the decision is taken, he stands by it. Although, most leaders take decisions on their own, but Alaafin will consult key stakeholders before taking a decision.
Above all, Alaafin is also renowned for his accountability. Arnold H Glasow once said, “A good leader takes little more than his share of the blame and little less than his share of the credit.”
Alaafin will make sure that everyone of his subjects is accountable for what they are doing. If they do well, he will give them a pat on the back but if they struggle, he will make them realise their mistakes and work together to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions create a sense of responsibility among his subjecrs and they will go about their assignments more seriously.
