LEADERSHIP:PLIGHTOF IDENTITY IN NIGERIA.

Antiquity has it that there have always been misconceptions of what leadership entails. Different kinds of people, at different point in history, have disguised themselves under the umbrella of leadership. Majority has played this important role in the society because of egocentrism. According to Thomas Hobbes,” human beings by nature are animalistic and selfish.”Therefore, following this postulation, it should no longer be news that the actions of our so called leaders will remain odious to us.
It is pertinent to ascertain that most of the conflicts in Nigeria are a result of faulty leadership. The climax of it all is that leadership position has become a thing that does not obey ethical norms any more. In short, it has turned to a “do or die” affair. Come to think of it, those that turned leadership position to a “do or die” affair, did they actually understand the meaning of leadership? The critical question here is how “good leaders emerge? This will remain a question that even the critical minds cannot answer holistically because human beings are agents of change. We are ambivalent in nature. As a result, we remain unpredictable.
Moreover, to different people, leadership has different meaning. According to Panteleon O.Iroegbu “leadership is the art of directing and guiding a group of persons, an organization or a nation towards the achievement of common objectives”(Panteleon O.Iroegbu;Kpin of Democracy: Thematic introduction of socio-political philosophy.Benin-city.Ever-Blessed publication.2004,P.135.)From the above view, it is apparent that leadership is prefaced by the spirit of serving the society. According to Peter Ovat,”leadership is an institution of service. It is one that demands selfless service, transparent honesty and an exemplary character”(Pantelaon O.Iroegbu;Kpin of Democracy: Thematic introduction to socio-political philosophy.Benin-city.Ever-Blessed publication.2004,P.135)Also it is of paramount importance to aver that leadership is a key for success and a key for failure as well. This means that a thin line separates success and failure in leadership.
In the word of Awolowo,”the level of enlightenment on the side of leaders determines the level of socio economic development and the standard of living of that country. One of the fundamental problems of our leaders is the problem of priority.Awolowo further states “most of African leaders do not get their priorities right.”(Obafemi Awolowo: Socio Political Philosophy; A critical interpretation.Italy.Tipo LItografia.1986 P.145)Also a good leader must be patient and must be enwisdomised.Can leadership position in Nigeria be said to be a quest for service or a quest for title?
Furthermore, the concept of leadership in Nigeria is a thing that has to be re-visited. As earlier stated, majority of Nigerians cannot actually fathom out the essence of leadership. To some, it is a call to serve while to others, it is a call to be served. It is quite unfortunate that most of our past and present leaders belong to the later category. Therefore I think they need to do some mental cob webbing. From the above, it becomes indisputable that a leader is one that leads with both words and actions. That is, leading by example. Put differently, a leader must see himself or herself as part and parcel of the society. Meaning he or she must obey ethical norms of the society.
Nonetheless, leadership is not a thing that emanated from the blues. In fact, biblicallyspeaking; Adam was the first leader in the world. After the creation, Adam was placed by God to be “in charge” of all his (God) creatures. Throughout the history of the people of Isreal, there is a common factor that cuts across the collapse of the leadership system at different point in history. As soon as they misinterpret the concept of service and make others serve them, their leadership collapse and a new leader emerges.
As a way of conclusion, leadership has been a problem to human beings according to history. It is a thing that will not cease to be, unless man ceases to be. It must be noted that the essence of leadership is for the “common goal” of a particular individual. According to Dr.E.Amara,”what is for the society cannot be for a particular individual?”Therfore, in order to ensure effective leadership, a leader has to be discipline both in words and actions. Every leader must look up to the leadership of Jesus Christ. He exemplified who a leader is by stooping to wash the disciple’s feats. Above all, he teaches us that a leader is called to serve not to be served.