A Continent Without Leaders
by Olusola Aladejebi

There is the story of a Head of Department of the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan many years ago who on the convocation day addressed the gathering to the effect that his students had refused to graduate that year, hence the reason no student from the department was presented for graduation.

Something similar has been happening on the African continent with the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

For those who may not be familiar with it, the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership instituted in 2006 is an award by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to celebrate excellence in African leadership. It is awarded to former African presidents or head of states who fulfil the criteria for the award. (Mo Ibrahim is a billionaire telecoms businessman).  

The first prize was awarded in 2007. Although the prize is meant to be yearly, there has been more years the award was not given than years in which it was given! In 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 the Prize Committee, after in-depth review, could not find former presidents who were worthy.

Is Africa a continent without leaders?

 A look at the criteria reveals they are not too extraordinary. The critical ones are that the leaders are:

*democratically elected

*served his/her constitutionally mandated term

*demonstrated exceptional leadership

The third criterion may need a little ‘footnote’.    Exceptional leadership is demonstrated by heads of government who rose above challenging circumstances to develop their countries and strengthen democracy and human rights for the shared benefit of their people, paving the way for sustainable and equitable prosperity.

Sadly, most former heads of state have not been able to develop their countries fundamentally. It is not just ok to superintend over a period of economic growth while human rights go to the dogs. Neither is it worth celebrating a relative de-escalation of violence while official corruption remains pervasive.

The five (5) past winners of the Mo Ibrahim Leadership Achievement award are Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. Most of the winners have come from southern region of Africa. Our southern counterparts seem to have a system that throws up the best among them to lead them unlike other regions.

Conspicuously missing among the award winners are the former presidents of the ‘largest democracy in Africa’. I sought to know the view of some people on absence of Nigeria’s past leaders. David Adeyemi, a youth involved civil society advocacy, has this to say: ‘I think the award committee believe Nigeria leaders haven’t demonstrated true leadership since the beginning of the initiative.

Most qualities possessed by former recipients of the awards can’t be traced to our leaders. For instance, despite the fact that former president of Mozambique, who got the award in 2008, took his people out of post-independence war and had the privilege of a third term he peacefully left after his second term.’

In the view of Adekunle Adekoge, an employability skills facilitator, he considers Nigeria’s past presidents not have met up with any parameter for achieving sustainable development. In his words, “I think they do not follow any specific blueprint or roadmap’. If the views gotten from those I discussed with are anything to go by, President Muhammadu Buhari also may not get the award.

Despite the dearth of excellence in political leadership, the leadership landscape of Africa is not that gloomy as there are exceptional leaders in other aspects—business, education, technology, entrepreneurship. Strive Masiyiwa is a transformational teacher of entrepreneurship and development. He holds no political office but empowers and mentors millions of Africans, especially young people through social media, especially Facebook where he currently has a massive followership of over 3 million.

Fred Swaniker cannot be a recipient of the Mo Ibrahim leadership achievement award (unless, of course, he decides to participate in politics) but is involved, with others, in reshaping the African continent by establishing educational institutions that reimagine leadership and entrepreneurship.

The leadership of Aliko Dangote is obvious to all by his exceptional entrepreneurial acumen by which he builds businesses across Africa employing several thousands. And there are many others—Ibukun Awosika, Mustafa Hassan, Tony Elumelu, Dr Jerry Brown, Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Patrick Lumumba—who are beacons of hope in a continent where true leadership cannot be taken for granted.

When John Maxwell said that everything rises and falls on leadership, it wasn’t only political leadership he meant. Therefore, in whatever aspect of the African society where we observe excellence and outstanding work, true leaders are at work—be it on the football field, rural farm or higher institution.


http://mouthpiece.com.ng/a-continent-without-leaders/