• Integrity and vision
• A sense of accountability
• Experience
• Commitment
• Sincerity
• Facilitate convergence of ideas
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 9
The possible change of leadership in Nagaland State government might signify a politically tumultuous turn, on one hand. On the other, it is an opportunity for the people of Nagaland to project the kind of leadership required to take the State forward, which, according to them is yet to happen.
“We need visionary leadership,” says lecturer Dr. Maongsangba. The lack of vision, a sense of honesty and sincerity in the current leadership, he feels, has kept Nagaland State economically backward—power, roads, drinking water have remained missing from the charts after 50 years of State governance; corruption has gone unchecked in all State departments. While the Naga political issue has been used as an electioneering card, leaders have not bothered with it when in office.
Thus, the mistakes made in the past should be taken into account by the new leadership, observes church and social worker, Y. Nuklu Phom. “We need leaders who see through visions—a leader should be able to see the signs of our times and take appropriate steps to address them,” he feels. But that is not all. Nagaland is in need of leaders who can build new leaders, as well as facilitate the “convergence of ideas” instead of letting varied ideas divide the Naga people, who, according to Phom, might be culturally ahead but are yet to “be civilized.”
“We need a Naga Nelson Mandela,” suggests Professor Lanunungsang, “who can lead the Nagas beyond the villages!” A new leader, according to the Professor, must rise above their “cocoons” and prove to be a leader beyond tribal and regional lines. While he feels that all the contenders for Nagaland’s top job are “good leaders,” “we need a person of high stature with experience, commitment, a sense of accountability, a vision and a good team of advisors.” The leader should have a “clear vision” of settlement of the Naga political issue, and lead the Naga people to a level higher than the Nagaland State—one who can project the dreams and voices of the Naga people beyond the State—to also a new government at the centre.
This needs to be supplemented with a way to “connect with people at the grassroots,” iterates senior citizen Khrielenuo Terhuja, who first came to Dimapur when there were no schools here. “It was through the effort of people who gave their time to society instead of running behind government jobs that boosted education,” she says. Similarly, any leader for Nagaland State must promise only what s/he can deliver, must deliver at least what they promise and be able to talk to all sections of the society, not just the elite. Education, according to her, has taken a beating in the lack of good leadership and “where there is no education, there is no progress.”
Hekali Zhimomi agrees. “There are many anomalies in the way education is conducted in Nagaland State. These need to be addressed by any new leader, apart from all round development,” she offers. Zhimomi reiterates the view of other commentators when she suggests that Nagaland State now needs someone with “integrity and vision” to lead the people, “someone who can see and understand problems our people are facing and address the issues accordingly—someone who can take along all sections of the society and various communities, and give a voice to everyone.”
Resounding these words, Huzo Meru calls for “integrity and vision” while stressing on the need for a change in leadership. “Communication, especially roads, education, health, water—basics like these are not available in the State. Present set of leaders only think of themselves and amassing wealth. Any new leader needs to have a vision for the welfare of our people,” says Meru. But a holistic change, where corruption is rooted out through a good economy, can be brought, according to him, when the youth, women and the church “come in a big way in the next election”.
