Of a fact, Onyemaechi’s achievements cut across legislative initiatives, constituency development, successful sponsored bills, oversight functions and series of enviable empowerments to his constituents.
It is an indisputable fact to posit that the basic function of a legislator is to make possible laws and mediate between the constituents and the government. This definition leads to the basic function of leadership which is to produce more leaders and good results not more followers. On this point therefore, A true leader must have the compassion to listen to the needs of others and the courage to make tough decisions in times of need, to synchronize the sensitive plights, plea , agitations and demands of the people.
Again, an egalitarian society just like ours, I can state categorically that a successful leadership is based on the level of influence a leader cum legislator has over his environment and not the authority he has on hand to override the interest of the masses, electorates or to deal with the people in a manner that makes him insensitive or reluctant.
In a legislative context, influence and authority are distinct concepts and can be defined as thus:
Influence:
The ability to shape or sway decisions, opinions, or actions.
Power to persuade or induce others to support a particular viewpoint or policy.
Capacity to affect the outcome of a decision or legislation.
Sources of Influence can be likened to:
Personal relationships
Expertise or knowledge
Constituent support
Lobbying efforts
Media presence
Authority:
Legally vested power to make decisions or enact laws.
Official capacity to enforce rules, regulations, or policies.
Recognized position of leadership or jurisdiction.
Sources of Authority:
Constitutional or statutory provisions
Electoral mandate
Official appointment or designation
Institutional hierarchy
Jurisdictional boundaries
The key differences are:
Legitimacy: Authority is derived from formal, recognized sources, whereas influence can stem from informal or personal factors.
Decision-making power: Authority holders can make binding decisions, whereas influencers shape opinions or recommendations.
Accountability: Authority figures are accountable for their actions, whereas influencers may not be directly accountable.
Scope: Authority is typically limited to specific jurisdictions or areas, whereas influence can extend beyond formal boundaries.
Deriving from examples:
Influence:
A lobbyist persuading lawmakers to support a bill.
A committee chair’s expertise shaping policy discussions.
A constituent group advocating for a specific issue.
Authority: can also be considered as in:
A governor signing a bill into law.
A judge issuing a court order.
A legislative leader scheduling floor votes.
Interplay between influence and authority:
Influence can shape authority holders’ decisions.
Authority figures can use their position to influence others.
Effective influencers often build relationships with authority holders.
In the legislative context, understanding the distinction between influence and authority helps navigate:
Policy development
Coalition building
Advocacy efforts
Leadership dynamics
Governance structures
Little wonder , a renowned political scientist and my philosopher brother from another mother, Walter Lippmann once stated, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him/her in other people the convention and the will to carry on”.
This implies that a good leader can be a good law maker who will always fight to leave behind him men and women made leaders of others and in the ability of others to make others , the entire society, constituency, environment, state will become filled with leaders. At the realm of this impactation, leadership will become more easier and legislative responsibility will be well simplified and respected.
However, a good legislator will take cognizance of the combination of forces with the executive, judiciary and the public compliant units. Complaints in the sense that the people can recall their representatives and be ready to file in their complaints and public petitions.
By so doing, the conviction in the Legislator will necessitate the change and the vision of the desired outcome will be the governance, the people will cherish. This is what is expected of government, ie what every arm of government ought to be doing, to uphold the constitution in action and in deed without fear, prejudice, favoritism or rancor.
Anonymous once said, “power is nothing without control”. On this therefore the legislator is a middleman between the people and the government and therefore saddled with the responsibility to make laws to check the excesses of both the people and the government.
Kanayo as a legislator per-excellence, back-to-back majority leader 9th and 10th House and Honourable member representing the hospitable and law abiding people of Owerri West, has established lasting legacies in the sands of time, which are seen manifest before the eyes of his constituents, gods of the land and the entire state at large.
He has so far passed creditable executive bills, presented and sponsored excellent motions, added his voice in support of several motions presented before the hallow chamber IMHA by co-honourable colleagues and most importantly does his official function alongside oversight duties very perfectly and also moderate the orders of the House as the majority leader.
No doubt, the name “Egbe” is symbolical with action. Egbe is calm but dogged fighter. Egbe does not support intimidation. Egbe has high ethical and moral standard. Egbe is reliable and success driven. Egbe has a heart and mind of benevolence. Egbe is a team manager and unifying factor in the IMHA. Egbe is a decent politician that has the fear of God as his watchword. His leadership style inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.
In addition, working with him as his legislative aide and adviser has made me learn to adapt to his simple cum lowest common multiple (LCM) way of lifestyle. A lifestyle of humility and service delivery. Egbe thought me to focus my ‘eyes on the ball’ when it concerns politics while putting efforts to achieving higher feat in my career and aspiration. As my principal, Kanayo Onyemaechi co-operates with his workers and maintains friendship. He sustains huge contacts across political borderlines and divide. Egbe is trustworthy
Owerri West is blessed with the personality of Rt Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi (Egbe) because he is a legislator that fixes breakdown; A legislator that says let’s go; A legislator that inspires enthusiasm and empowers his people unlike hundreds of politicians including those who have served in same majority leader status and representatives of Owerri West in the past administrations.
Summarily, Kanayo Onyemaechi is qualified to ascend higher grounds in his political ambition and aspiration. Egbe is qualified for the green chambers. Egbe is qualified for the Governorship context. Egbe is qualified to be a senator of the Federal Republic and more. It is his semblance that Labaran Maku ex- Minister of Information whose tenure was marked by significant events and challenges and his legacy is complex, reflecting both accomplishments and controversies, posited that, “Greatness is not all about wealth. It is something you do which is immaterial in content but spiritual in content that move your society from one level to another”. Rt Hon Onyemaechi Kanayo, Majority Leader IMHA is a legislator per excellence.
Princely Onyenwe
A seasoned Investigative Journalist,
Civil Rights Activist, and Political Analyst,
Currently Editor and News reporter with 9News Nigeria
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