There's this African proverb that says, "A man who is leading but has no one following is just taking a walk". Wherever there is a leader, there should be followers to validate.
In every sphere of life, there are leaders, be it in industry, sports, politics, even at the family and communal levels. Humans are wired in such a way as to seek out or have leaders and leadership. Leadership encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organisation to lead, influence or guide other individuals, teams or entire organisations. Basically, leadership can be defined as an influential power-relationship in which the power of one party (the "leader") promotes movement/change in others (the "followers").
Leaders most times are trail blazers, opening new paths, charting new courses, defining and directing others into success and achievement. Leadership is a practical skill without which people and entities might never attain their true potentials.
Leadership is therefore a must, a necessity if we must continue to evolve for the better. It's so instrumental to growth that organisations invest heavily in it. Forbes quotes the leadership development industry as a $366 billion industry. Further research shows that the leadership development market share is expected to increase by $15.78 billion from 2020 to 2025 with a 3.52% YoY growth.
The importance of leadership cannot then be overstated. If this much is invested, then it is expected that we get the best, sharpest and most brilliant minds into leadership. We should have the best of us leading the rest of us.
In Nigeria, this seems not to be the case. Here, the concept of leadership seems to be warped. Instead of seeking out the best, leadership is rather gifted to lying, thieving "inepts" who can exhibit cartel-style machismo and showcase the most bravado without any responsibility towards people or country. The ability to instill fear and unleash mayhem on the people seems to be one of the prerequisites in becoming a Nigerian leader.
Yet, based on the peculiarities and precarious nature of the Nigerian state, these leaders have large followings. Sometimes, one wonders if it is poverty, hunger or just a lack of common sense that drives these swathes of people towards these so called leaders.
Nigerian being a country deeply soaked in ethno-religious sentiment and with the leaders constantly beating the drums of these sentiments louder each time, you wonder how they seem to be above these sentiments.
All over the country, you find followers of various leaders at each others throats, ready to rip and tear themselves apart in loyalty to leaders. Many have turned this support for their leaders into deadly cult-like wars. Some have even lost their lives trying to protect the integrity of leaders with no ounce of integrity. Even at the communal level, those from the same community, who are supposed to be brothers throw caution to the wind and go after each other with fatal intent. Of what benefit, one wonders. You'd think that there's a huge sum to be paid or that these people are being properly looked after by these leaders but alas, they're in the same quagmire just as everyone else.
On the other, you find these leaders of different tribes and religion, who encourage these sentiments and who followers so happily lose limbs and lives for, frolicking with each other, having parties and visiting each other, their children even get married to each other. Yet the followers seem to be caught in a perpetual "zombie loop" fighting for scraps or even nothing at all while their leaders feast on the bounties of their spoils.
It is said, where elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Why are the grasses fighting on behalf of the elephants?
Political Leadership & Followership: Followersh...
By
Tari Ogbowei