Africa

MAJOR ISSUES IN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP

Introduction

Our contemporary African society is marked by so many problems just as other worlds are facing. The current issues of concern include: violence, wars, inflation, unemployment, and many others. Some of these problems are attributed to the kind of leaders we have. Chinua Achebe, the great Nigerian novelist, was very clear on this when he stated that the trouble with Nigeria, and by extension Africa, is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. This results from the inability or unwillingness of the leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership. Some of these problems of African leadership, inter alia, are greed, incompetency, and lack of morality.

Greed

Some of our leaders are too greedy and individualistic. They live all their term of office trying to amass as much wealth as possible for themselves. This is very visible in activities such as theft and embezzlement. In such a society as we have it today, it is a paradox that things tend to be loved, while people are used.

Incompetency

There are some leaders who get into positions they do not deserve by foul means. This renders them incompetent and unfit for leadership. Bernard Fonlon opined that those suffering from colour-blindness should not be entrusted to make observations where the discrimination of colours is involved. A leader must therefore know and do what he/she is supposed to do. The great philosopher Socrates held that ignorance makes a man a slave.

Lack of morality

Our society has been stripped off of its moral character. Bernard Fonlon maintains that the main aim of education is to confer the individual with an intellectual and moral character; that which makes him a man to his fellow man. Leaders are supposed to be great moral examples to their subjects, but this is far-fetched in our contemporary African society. What a quagmire!

Way Forward

It is often very easy to point fingers at others than ourselves. It is easy for students to condemn political leaders, while doing the same things when entrusted with small groups back in school. The change starts from you and me. We need to understand that we are put as leaders to serve, and not to lord ourselves over our subjects.

Conclusion

Therefore, as indicated by Godfrey Tangwa, it is important for leaders to be reminded that it is possible to hold high office without abuse and corruption. This is because being human, there is temptation to depart from being technocrats to being kleptocrats. But we need to fight that. It starts from you and me. Africa is full of nice leaders, if you can’t find one, be one! Be the change you want to see in Africa.

 

Kijika Mark B.

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