Nigeria, July 13 -- Since Nigeria's return to democratic governance in 1999, one striking feature among its political class has been the abundance of oratorically gifted leaders. From the passionate rhetoric of politicians on campaign trails to well-crafted speeches echoing across parliaments and media platforms, Nigeria has never been short of men and women who can speak impressively. But more often than not, this flair for eloquence fails to translate into competent leadership. The phrase "Oratory is not governance" is not just a catchy line, it is a sobering reminder that the ability to mesmerize with words is not the same as the ability to govern effectively.

There is no doubt that oratory plays an important role in leadership. A goo...