Writes: Njogu Ndungu

The issue of leadership and governance in Africa raises more questions than answers. It is tragic that many leaders have failed in their duties. It has been argued in a maxim that a country gets the leaders it deserves. Africa’s case is, however, mind-boggling. It is shrouded in mystery, political intrigue and an unrivalled trail of governance accidents.

One wonders what ails our leaders, making most selfish, merciless, greedy, corrupt, power-hungry and human rights abusers. Ideally, leaders should be caretakers or stewards who steer the people towards collective prosperity.

But on attaining power, most African leaders become ‘deities.’ They seek to be worshipped by the people they lead. They consequently lose touch with the electorate and do absurd things with far-reaching consequences.

One common method the leaders use to cement their god-like status is acquire lengthy titles and other symbols of honour to separate themselves from the masses.

Several literary writers have examined this “power syndrome.” And they have few kind words for this “worship-me-disease” that mostly infects leaders in the Third World.

Congolese writer, E B Dongala, in his short story, The Man satirises a rogue leader in an unnamed country. Dongala sarcastically describes the leader in countless names of adulation, such as invincible, infallible and worthy of great honour. One description reads: “the-beloved-father-of-the-nation-the-supreme-and-enlightened-guide-the-commander-in-chief-of-the-armed-forces-and-beneficent-genius-of-mankind.”

The same leader is further described as “the founding father of the nation, the president-for-life, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and beloved father of the people.” Although these generous praise names are satirical, they still reflect reality, where one leader holds so many titles and posts.

It is despicable that a leader would hold so many posts in a country that has talented, educated and able-bodied people. Leadership by a sole individual only results in grave mistakes, which translate into misery for the ruled majority.

Chinua Achebe in A Man of the People also talks of the numerous praise names for a Prime Minister character. They include “the Tiger,” “the Lion,” “the One and Only,” “the Sky,” and “the Ocean.”

Achebe says in one of his short stories that most Third World leaders use their office to amass wealth and honorary degrees among others. Kenya’s Ngugi wa Thiong’o, in Wizard of the Crow, too ridicules rogue leaders. He narrates about a character named, the Ruler, who has no other name. He says “The Ruler had sat on the throne for so long that he could not even remember when his reign began.”

Many African leaders dread leaving office and cling to power, at the expense of the masses.

Ngugi gives the Swahili words like “Mtukufu Rais”, which depicts the leader as worthy of praise. This is then changed to titles like “Mtukufu Mtakatifu,” (His Holy Mightiness) which is both wild and untenable.

Power, the maxim goes, corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Despots, oligarchs and autocrats have ruined many countries around the world.

Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka laments in his memoir, You Must Set Forth at Dawn, on the abuse of power by the late dictator Sani Abacha. In mourning the execution of fellow writer Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995, he writes: “Power had mounted the head of the dictator; it needed its periodic nourishment in blood.” Soyinka describes Abacha as “a monster (that) had reduced (Nigerians) collectively, into a plantation of slaves.” He says leaders drunk with power have little regard for human life because they kill and maim with glee.

Africa’s leadership tragedy deserves serious attention. Leaders should realise people who give them a chance to lead them do so because they hold them in trust.

These lessons offered by our writers, thinkers and philosophers should be taken seriously. It is a privilege to be a leader, and leaders should put self-interest behind the agenda of the people who elect them. Any person who negates this rule is unworthy of holding any leadership position.

Leaders must endeavour to offer selfless services and not pursue personal interests like wealth, power and honour at the expense of the people they are supposed to lead.

Popularity: 10% [?]