Orji Kalu Grounding His Private Jet: A Shining Example of Servant-Leadership, By Professor Kalu Eni

Most of us agree with Chinua Achebe, Africa’s renowned literary giant, who aptly summarized Nigeria’s post-independence struggle as a leadership crisis.

In his thought-provoking book, “The Trouble with Nigeria” (1983), Achebe emphasized that the country’s woes stem from a simple yet profound issue: failed leadership.

He eloquently stated, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply a failure of leadership… The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are hallmarks of true leadership… Nigerians are what they are only because their leaders are not what they should be.”

Yesterday, I read on popular Nigerian newspaper, ThisDay with the title ‘Orji Kalu: Why I stopped using my private jet’. In the article, Senator Kalu said “he stopped using his private jet due to the current high fuel cost. He said the development is also affecting his wage bill to his workers in Nigeria and other West African countries”.

His recent announcement is a breath of fresh air in Nigeria’s political landscape— even though many do not understand the context of his statement. My understanding of his statement is that instead of spending dollars using his private jet to fly around, he should generate revenue for his company, and use the money to pay his numerous staff across Nigeria and other West African countries. The truth is, he has distinguished himself by embracing servant-leadership and empowering his staff to overcome the harsh economic challenges and hurdles Nigerians face.

By grounding his private jet, Kalu demonstrates solidarity with workers awaiting resolved salary differentials. This selfless act showcases his commitment to their welfare. He had demonstrated this trait even during his tenure as the governor of Abia state. The salaries of workers, their gratuities, pensions and allowances were a major priority to his administration. Even though, I am a diasporan Abian, Senator Kalu’s simplicity and his determination to put the welfare of those around him is extremely impressive.

As a former Abia State governor, Kalu’s leadership style prioritizes people over privilege. By cutting personal expenses, he ensures his workers receive fair treatment.
Kalu’s gesture inspires hope for a better Nigeria, where leaders truly serve the people. Other leaders must emulate Senator Orji Uzor Kalu—whose leadership is based on the principles of taking care of the people. So, the very few uninformed people who have misinterpreted his speech should be properly informed that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a honest and compassionate Igbo leader who has invested a lot to develop humanity. His statement was about the welfare of his staff. He taught about cutting down his own cost, in order to serve his own staff better.

He is an avatar, trailblazer, legend and source of inspiration to his generation. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu can be compared to the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and of course, Lee Kuan Yew. He is an epitome of servant-leadership, and a detribalized Nigerian.