The challenge of building Singapore was entrusted into his lap, a daunting task indeed. But instead of shying away, he meticulously went to work and engineered a first world country from it and practically from nothing. He articulated what needs to be done, he created a road map to get it done and then with a motivated citizenry, he got it done. The result, today the Island city nation, which had nothing at inception, is a well-oiled functioning country, with a well secured and anchored economic hub which is the envy of so many countries in the world. Singapore has near to zero crimes with the second lowest crime rates in the world; is super clean, is very business friendly; has nearly a flawless functioning society; and someone made these possible and that someone is no more, the reason the nation is thrown into mourning for that someone's loss.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is not yet blessed with such people as above as none of Nigeria's leaders would be so missed when eventually they are gone. Not Olusegun Obasanjo, who most Nigerians will celebrate his departure whenever he kicks the bucket; not Sani Abacha whose death Nigerians prayed was not soon enough in coming; not Ibrahim Babangida whose happenstance on the Nigeria political landscape left so much to be desired including the annulment of the freest election of June 12; and of course not Muhammad Buhari who is yet to apologize for those three innocent Nigerians he murdered. No Nigerian leader thus far has displayed the audacity of courage and vision needed to pursue great things which make great leaders out of great nations. So because of this incapacity, they will not be so missed nor so mourned at their departure since they failed to lead Nigeria to greatness. Except for regional leaders like Obafemi Awolowo and Odimegwu Ojukwu, who both provided that type of leadership to their Yoruba and Igbo people of Biafra and may be Ahmadu Bello for his Northern people, no Nigerian leader ever had what it takes to join this class of leaders. Anyway, Icheoku condoles with the people of Singapore on their loss and says rest in peace LKY, Adieu!