‘What is the use of living, if it is not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and the eternal? And I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun.
–Winston Churchill, Speech at Kinnaird Hall, Dundee, Scotland (in Liberalism and the Social problem, (1909); Churchill, Echo Library (2007:87)).
The role of Leadership in the fortunes of nations is often the subject of discussions by experts and non-experts alike; for good reason. It is especially difficult to ask someone to perform a task where the purpose is unclear. National Leadership requires personal values consistent with the constitution, and also personal beliefs in consonance with the national conscience: the signet staff of the people’s choice. Our focus is the people’s expectations, as we take stock of Africa’s ‘national political shepherds’ in their role as political anchors.
Vision and good values are indispensable to shepherds who provide security and are required to pasture the flock to graze in ‘green pastures’. Some years past, in a group interview on VOA/TV news to Africa, a reporter asked his guests what they thought would accelerate progress on the continent. We agreed that good leadership ranked foremost. To the reporter’s credit, he persisted in details as to what good leadership meant. Opinions varied. In hindsight, the question was a simple one: Who do you desire to travel with? or who do you wish to take counsel with on issues?
The answer is simple: Wisdom.
The name of the Wise is always sure protection. He(she) knows the way; and together, ‘we will walk in it’.
There is gain in leadership vision. Uncertain leadership value merely magnifies misfortunes. Past leaders in Africa have been knowledgeable and well-educated, but knowledge has to pair well with understanding for good governance. Both the mind and the heart need a connection to the origin.
There is value in good counsel!
Unfortunately, the lack of good counsel in Africa has left leadership rudderless. The leadership thread should signify a purposeful journey with Wisdom as Leading Light. The nations receive fresh luster from good leaders.
On the leadership issue, we dare to move away from opinions to concrete requirements discernible not just in style, but in valuable content and vision. Borrowing from those who have so discerned the moment, we may look to examples of purposeful vision; Kennedy’s ‘Moon Mission’, Churchill’s assessment of Hitler’s purpose, and Mandela’s peace and reconciliation efforts are a few examples.
The value system for progressive leadership of African nations is well founded if it rests on the defense of an objective or belief that has a source consistent with visions of national/continental greatness. This brand of Leadership is inner-driven and priceless.
The laundry list of leadership qualities is endless. These may include integrity, political/legislative skills (as in Lyndon B. Johnson), and Communication skills (Kennedy/Reagan/Obama, etc). Most students of international politics will recognize the bureaucratic leadership model (Nixon) and the collegial leadership model (Kennedy) among several others.
These leadership styles and models derive principally from some specific values. True Leadership is discernible in results that may not be immediate. Two things may look very much alike but differ in content.
Leadership vision and value content are anchors of Peace. This is especially true of leadership that has rested in belief. This may be a belief in one’s Maker or the constitution or both. Ultimately, the constitution cannot be more than its maker.
By far; the pressing question for Africa’s Leadership is whether Leadership is tradable. On this we are clear: the ‘rights of royalty’ may not be conferred on the unstable. The advantage of good leadership goes beyond the immediate moment. Posterity is the beneficiary of true leadership because of inherited security and peace.
The true national leader invariably becomes a guardian against the foolish, as the community is continually strengthened. By strengthening the nation against its enemies, the leader of necessity becomes the Chief defender of the nation. He (or she) has become the good shepherd that will not plunder the ‘maker’s portion’-the people.
Strong leadership must be linked to a source of power. The armory of the maker (or the constitution) is open to the leader because the belief system is founded on a higher set of values; the foremost of which are communal love and fidelity to the system.
The shepherd cares for the sheep, not simply out of obligation; but for love’s sake. This is self-interested virtue that defines a happy servant-leader. The result is a peaceful leader dressed in a garment of Justice bearing as it were the miter that honors his or her beliefs. Right Leadership is thus distinguished because the gain is no longer simply measured in gold.
Leadership legacy is the evidence of wisdom’s traveled trails. The good shepherd takes care of his flock. When fortunes change and for unknown reasons the heavens hold back the rains, the leader’s ‘lambs of Justice’ will provide the clothing and sustenance for the weary. Among his own; the leader is secure…
The prosperity of such a nation is inevitable because the fold feeds in unity, and has its fill of justice and fidelity to the system-; the sower and harvester are laborers in the national vineyard.
There are no stray sheep because of ever-present opportunities and motivation for service. Unfeigned or true national leadership is like a ‘lily on the banks’; the nation as the verdant cypress tree bears fruit.
The alternative to good leadership is one that blasphemes belief in pride by groaning upon the national domain. This latter kind of Leadership is coercive because sovereignty is forced. This model sets streams of sulfur’ to flame. It is not progressive.
We are hopeful of better things for the continent as we forge ahead with wisdom robed in garments of peace. We are hopeful despite the current continent-wide crisis.
From Ethiopia and Egypt through Nigeria and down to South Africa -with peace blossoms as evident love within and across the continent-; like a ship of beauteous ‘gold studded with gems’, Africa is destined to shine among the cloud of nations in this our renaissance. It does not yet appear so, but cakes of conflict must be thawed by the heat of unrest.
We seek wise leaders who will lend majesty to our cause by donning justice for a breastplate. These leaders will wear the right judgment with mercy’s power for a helmet. Political Parties with Leadership thus constituted are acceptable to us. They will war against the foolhardy, but remain always a shelter to the peaceful and the peaceable.
I knew a Man once; still do, who told me a short story. He told of a popular musician whose notoriety became acceptable as a trademark. She (the musician) had a dear friend and confidant. On this day, the musician was wearing a favorite T-shirt (which had a basketball picture on it). She was going to the movies. At the theater, she met a close friend and confidant wearing the same T-shirt, except she was in the company of the musician’s partner. Everyone expected a brawl. Surprisingly, the Musician merely observed that her girlfriend and her partner belonged together anyway.
The question is a simple one: what did she know? To the passerby acquainted with the duo of musician and her girlfriend, they appeared to have the same taste in T-shirts and men. Yet, there was clearly a difference discernible to our musician.