Understand the value of good leadership

PNG is now expecting a change of leadership in parliament at the end of this month.
That change is already taking its course.
It is not just an ordinary change, but a meaningful one that would shift the mindsets of people and the way government institutions, departments and development partners have been conducting business in the past.
This means the people’s way of thinking and perceptions about de­velopmental challenges and the need for radical leadership must change.
There is value in choosing leaders and that is the reason for conducting a national election every five years.
However, the saddest part is that most people do not understand the value of their votes and the type of leadership that current development challenges demand for.
Newly-elected leaders who will form the next government must develop policies that will empower the people, villages, local-level governments and districts.
In the current elections, we have observed that people lack the understanding of the characteristics of good and bad leaders.
They cannot differentiate between leaders, managers, business people, administrators, elites, etc.
People tend to assume that everyone who speaks the leadership language is a leader.
People do not know that their democratic rights to choose a leader is invaluable compared to material things.
The people’s democratic right to vote is power and that power should be given to the best leader of all.
The best leader the people choose can make the best decisions for the electorate in parliament.
Leadership is not about money or material wealth and cannot be tra­ded.
The Electoral Commission must learn from now and provide sufficient awareness to all districts before the next general election in 2017.
As people become more educated about development challenges and the critical leadership we need, they would be able to make informed decisions.
Currently, no one has stand out as a good leader.
There is no one that could talk, act and lead in the spirit of a true leader as stipulated in the Constitution.
Papua New Guineans are optimistic that there is someone in the wilderness such as Joseph in Egypt or Daniel in Babylon who can lead and bring prosperity.

Michael Drake K. Kaiabe
Magahene, Hela