It Is Not In Blood But In Brain

MORACK AKIN-DAVID

True leadership in any organized and humane society is not the reserve of any clan or community. The art of real leadership is primarily premised on pure demonstration of intelligence and requisite skill, in handling the complexities that come along with it. Therefore, it is tantamount to gross misconception to think that just a cross section of any organized society can claim the sole right to the highest political leadership seat. Something must be wrong somewhere!

Leadership is not in the blood, rather is in the brain. It is practically cultivated through accumulated years of deliberate learning. It was Queen Elizabeth II that gave this profound expository expression: “I learn the way a monkey learns. Watching his mother” One oddity I have observed in the contemporary world, particularly in Africa, is seeing those who are not ready to learn, still striving to lead. The question is, “To lead who?”

A leader that will not take personal responsibility to consciously subscribe to the demand of practical learning is a disaster to any society. Queen Elizabeth ascended her ancestral throne, not just because she was next, but more importantly because she had passed through spirited learning under direct tutelage of her predecessor, her mother. Most of Africans political leaders in the past 60 years were and are orphans. Leaders without mentor, none to call them to accountability or order. They are islands. So, you still wonder why we are where we are?

Remove learning from the equation of leadership, and what you have remaining are loads of loafers called leaders by their ill-informed followers. They all scatter all over humanity. They are not teachable; neither would they listen to wise counsels. Sadly, even in their messy mire of blunders, their loyal supporters and worshippers will still bend and lick the dust of their feet. It will remain a show of shame until the change comes. We wait.

• Morack Akin-David, author of “Game of Leadership” writes from Lagos