Like Followers Like Leaders II
LIKE FOLLOWERS LIKE LEADERS II
Before I delved into the contextual purpose of “Like
Followers Like Leaders”, I want to quickly and briefly touch base with the
story of a Land:
There are differently cultured, the first people settled in the land in 15,000 BC while numerous indigenous cultures were formed
and there was a rapid transformation in that land which was quickly recognized around 16 century. By 1760 thirteen British colonies containing 2.5 million people were established along the Atlantic coast east of Applanchian Mountains. The
Southern Colonies built an Agricultural system based on slave labor imported
from Africa. After some events, the British Government imposes a series of taxes and
some Acts in 1765. Resistance to these taxes and some retaliating Acts by these
indigenous people led to issuing of punitive laws by the British authority and in turn conflicts arises.
In 1776, the Congress on the Land voted to declare the independence of colonies, led by a General in the military, he won a
revolutionary war and became the first President of that Land. This same
land expanded to the Pacific coast and they acquired more land with a population
of 4 million.
There are several challenges on this land, which eventually led to the civil war around 1860. Due to the abolition of trade where the South is in supported the slave trade because of its large-scale agriculture. 1865 end of the civil war, led to the reconstruction of the nation and the formal abolition of the slave trade with legal and voting right established to protect the free slaves.
Fast Forward, the country became the world’s leading Industrial power at the turn of the 20th century due to the outburst of entrepreneurship, industrialization, and the arrival of immigrant workers and Farmers.
Let me stop here!
The story of the country you are just briefly reading is that of the United States of America. They are in
colonies but united as ONE. They fought for their independence, led by Late
General George Washington. A few years after their independence, there was a Civil
war within them, and that gave birth to a stronger enviable Nation today.
Just after our Independence in Nigeria, I was told that Nigeria too had a civil war, around 1966 -1969. That’s to tell you that we
have a great Nation that went through a transition of building it. That civil
war in Nigeria is a factor of our unity as a Nation.
Starting from the first POTUS (President Of The United States) to this current President, The Senators, the congressmen and women, all public office holders, both Former and Current ones in office have one thing in common. That thing they have in common is what makes their country as it is today. The common thing is the Love of their Nation, they are patriots, and part of the love of their country is the love among themselves. They might have differences but that common and sincere index always bring them together. Every disaster (Natural or Man-made) always made them stronger. We all know and are aware of many of these disasters, and checking them up during and after such disasters always increases their bond and their unity. You may not agree, but think of how the whole country's men and women reacted during Tsunami (Natural Disaster) and how you see the country after September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on World Trade Centre and Pentagon? Even the so call migrants are more loyal to this country than their own country of birth. There must be a reason and underline framework for such a relationship among them all.
Though the USA has the longest democratic system in the world, it is a well-known fact that they do campaign dirty. But there’ll always be a boundary to
their dirty words, of course, the law of the land will take it up. Their main objective
and subjective Campaign mode is what they want to offer to the people of
America, the Senior citizen, the Weak in society, Labour, Women's rights,
physically and mentally challenged citizens, and even the protection of
immigrants. How to protect their Economy and have a policy that will expand
their possibilities with more business owners in Macro Economies as well as
Lean Business Start-ups and Entrepreneurs.
The Policies we are talking about are, though not all
policies perfectly work in any society like that they are policies that the
concerned citizens can plan on, they will see to their effect while the
citizens will know and believe that my country considers my situation, my
business, my health, the education of my kids etc. before they put up for this policy.
Tell me, why won’t the citizen of the country be loyal to their country? It is obvious that they are considered first. In another tier, the congressmen/congresswomen that are representative(s) understand the major challenges their political area are going nursing and they will be consumed with the law(s) to push to solve such challenges permanently. More so, the tradition of their county is well protected, that’s why some counties in the US didn’t allow same-sex marriages.
The citizen knew that their President will protect their life as well as their business. That is part of the tradition in the US, all considerations will be on deck during the campaign before they decide to choose who is going to occupy their top office, and for every choice made, the tradition remains the same except for a few positive changes to mitigate obsolete ones. They consider what or how their so call President will handle some unforeseen circumstances and predictable ones. What kind of attitude will their president will attached to these circumstances, the empathy he/she will have empathy should in case something bad happened, and what type of swift action he/she will take in other to assist and protect them, regardless of their status.
That’s moral Leadership, that’s what their campaign will
entail, that is what the citizens will hold them accountable for in the next
term, and that’s the reason(s) why they’ll vote for a certain candidate and reject
another and the so-called Leaders, that’s the purpose of vying for that position in the first place.
We all can see the obvious result of such a decision to do the
right thing for the Leader(s) of a country. The citizens are ready to morally
support their Leaders too because they know all debates from them (leaders) are
all because of the citizens/followers' betterment and the generation unborn.
That’s the United States of America, we all wanted to be their proud citizens, the
European countries where most of us, want our children to be born for the
opportunity for the child to be their citizens. This is where many of us wanted to work and live and many pay millions of Naira just to have those countries Visa. Those countries where they
protect their citizens, the countries without religion like us, but with strict
Justice System, adorable Humanity and overall they are practicing class-less
System.
The major point here is, did we ever ask how they do it to achieve a lot in the whole wide world? What do their so call Leaders have in common that has the agenda of protecting even the unborn generation? Why would the Chief Judge resign for a crime like overspeeding even when he claimed he is innocent?
Our answers are not far fetch, though I said I can’t fathom
our way out of our country's messing situation in the previous part. I think if
we can have answers to the many “Whys” and “Whats” that make the USA and other
European Countries, what it is today (in terms of Leadership) then we can start to draw our way forward…
This is what I can extrapolate:
Their Leaders believed that success without fulfillment is
meaningless. And unless there is a sense of meaning and purpose, life is
naturally empty and unhappy regardless of how much prestige, money, or degree a
person has. Moreover, success begins with developing one’s personal success
philosophy (Philosophies like “There’s no free Lunch” meaning “you don’t
achieve anything for free”), Philosophy about your health, making money,
Family, Society, and Values.
Without a clearly defined purpose and a philosophy to guide one, then life will take the driver's seat by fantasies. Those Nations (USA, UK, Germany etc.) where we all wanted to migrate to today have their leaders guided by their Philosophies.
Have we ever asked or studied any of our Leaders here in Nigeria what were their Philosophies to life in general before an extension to other variables? Because that will help us to predict the Leader we are following. This is very vital because when next they said your Governor or President is a Religion/Tribal bigot or He is one Jubril Sudan, you’ll know whether the story is outrightly correct/faulty or needed further information before you can make any further Judgement on the matter.
Do you know the Philosophies of your Leaders?
If people are, have not defined a philosophy of success,
they have actually defined a philosophy of failure by default. So if I chose to
stay neutral in some situations on the choice of Leadership, these are some missing
factors!
Another factor is what was your Leader’s commitment to Value
and Ethics? We have to understand the
fact that, an integral part of a good value system is Commitment. Loyalties cannot be bought, they are earned. And to
whom do we owe loyalties? Is it individuals or organizations? The answer is
none of them. We owe loyalties to Values. Where the value system is
conflicting, people cannot live in the same home, cannot work in the same
organization, and cannot even tolerate each other in the same country. What made
all races to be living happily in the US is because of their unswerving value
system.
When a person makes a commitment of loyalty to either an
individual or an organization, what is he really saying? He is saying, "I
stand by you because I believe in what you believe in." What if the
individual or the Organisation is/ are into dirty deals, smuggling, or Drug
barons, will you still continue to be loyal to that individual or the
organization? Then you can ask, what’s my Value?
Bad circumstances are not excuses for making bad choices and
leading poor lives. This is why Values and Ethics are not just designed for
good times alone, but also to prevent bad times. They are like the laws of the
land which you need when people are good and you need even more to protect them
from the bad.
I know in Nigeria, most of our choices are not ethical
choices even the choice of buying cloth, people follow the train. For example, many
of our Lawyers will choose material gain against ethical values and defend an
Armed Robber to be discharged and acquitted. After all, that’s the result he/she
needed to be quickly awarded a SAN.
We should all remember that Personal choices are subjective
and not objective but societal choices are purely and broadly objective because
of the effect they can have on the public. Personal choices are based on what’s
appropriate, they are not ethically inclined while Ethical choices reflect
objectivity between right and wrong. That is why our conscience hurts when we
make a bad ethical choice and does not hurt when we make wrong personal choices.
Of course, being a Nice person is not the same as being a Good or Ethical
Person. In fact, this is where many of Nigerian youths are making mistakes and eventually
enslaved. A person could be Socially Nice at the same time be a Cheat and a
Liar!
Many of Nigeria's Youths' decisions are based on:
1. 1. Desire for convenience, comfort, and pleasure.
Easy way out
2. 2. Do what feels good. Desire to feel good or feel
among rather than doing what’s responsible
3. 3. Social Fad and Ads, joining the train, if
everyone is doing it, so should I.
It is a common belief that Ethics and Ethical choices are a bit confusing, the big question is to who? Those with unclear values will remain in confusing mode but those with clear values know to who.
Another way where I can explain these ethics and ethical
choices as they affect our public office holders is with Principles; they can be related to two sets of principles. They are the
principle of Power and Privilege and the Principle of Truth and Justice. If one
pursues truth and Justice, it’ll always mean a diminution of Power and Privilege.
Meanwhile, if you pursue Power and Privilege, it will always be at the expense
of Truth and Justice. Your value will help you make choices when you are in a conflicting
circle. Whenever you make that choice that favors Power and Privilege, it is a personal ethical choice but opting for Truth and Justice is an Ethical choice that
can be wholly felt and in advance, it can shape the life of the generation
unborn. Because, in a situation involving obedience to authority, people carry
out orders partly to honor their own obligation. Hence, one must, therefore, be based on value. That distinguishes between the two levels of responsibility-duty
to one’s superiors and accountability for the effects of one’s action on the
public domain.
Kindly note: In all aforementioned countries, it is not absolute that they have good leaders or even good citizens. They do have a few bad leaders as well as a flawed citizenry. In fact, they might record the highest crime rate in the world but they, the good ones both Leaders and Citizenry live up to the challenge and surmount the challenges due to their love of their country and a sense of responsibility. In the course of that, they built a society where the government and political environment is honest, generally, you will agree with me that their people are honest, law-abiding, and helpful. And the reverse is true too in our country. In a corrupt environment, an honest person has a tough time. Whereas in an honest environment, the corrupt one has a tough time.
Then let us be aware of the last factor; to the Nigerians
especially the Youths. What is our PURPOSE, Personal and General? We might think we have a Personal purpose that
is right, but I am of the opinion that, if we are having a generic problem like a Lack of Moral Leadership and Followership, Ethical and Value problems, Economic problems
in the Country, Terrorism and Bandits or overall security challenges, Tribal
and Religious challenges etc. don’t you think that we are having generic
purpose as well? That’s the way is see it. We are in the same shoe! Our purpose
should be advanced beyond personal but generic too. How do we go about it?
Our purpose in life can be driven by desire; Desire for
success, desire to do one's duty even at the cost of pleasure. The desire for
purpose is something worth dying for which gives meaning to life. What good is
it if you gain the whole world and lose your conscience? A purposeless life is
a living death. What is your purpose? Is
it to be used and abandoned, manipulated to be sent on deadly political errands, and for what gain? Do you have one? Do we the youths have one?
So when next you’re being called to WALK for a Leader, when
next you are going on a Campaign train, when next you wanted to vote, when next
they said you should defend your land or Tradition, and when next you put your
life on the line for someone, ask what’s for, is it my purpose? If triggering
our youths to this conscious state is my purpose, just know that I’m doing it
now. What was our Generic Purpose?
Purpose brings passion. Find or create a purpose and then
pursue it with passion and perseverance. Every day we need to ask ourselves the
question: "Am I getting any closer to my purpose in life? Am I making this
world a better place to live? If the answer is No, then a day in life has just
been wasted.
Life will reward us in proportion to our contribution. The
earlier we find a purpose in life, the better it is. It appears that the
greatest challenge comes in the unending search for the purpose of life. Not
only as an individual but for our families, organizations, and country. Once our
purpose and values are clear, conflicts between self-interest and social
obligations find a moral balance between themselves. We become aware of when to
take a stand. That is the time we start making the right decisions for
long-term gain rather than making the wrong decisions for short-term gain. Wisdom
and Maturity lead to a greater understanding of major issues.
We should all get it to our heads that, all humans are
fundamentally flawed; and because institutions are comprised of humans,
institutions too are, inherently flawed. Consequently, when assessing the
outcomes of all human endeavors, it stands to reason that we can’t expect perfection
anywhere but we should demand improvement everywhere.
Just as ordinary people learn, grow, and improve over time,
it is not unreasonable to expect society to do the same. Therefore, any proven
act of unnecessary and avoidable harm caused by society and/or Government
negligence that remain unexamined, unresolved, and unchanged for the better has
no valid excuse and should never be tolerated.
I am not afraid of what the result of the input can cause me but
the youths, society, and people in Government doing the same thing over and over
again is solely my fear!
Watch out for the concluding part that may project our probable way forward... Like Followers Like LeadersIII.
Babatunde Kolawole (10 10)
#trustyourinstincts
babsozone@gmail.com
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