Society and culture are based on limits- this kind of behavior is acceptable, that is not. The limits are fluid and changes with time, but there are always limits. The alternative is anarchy, the lawlessness of nature, which we dread. But we are strange animals: the moment any kind of limit is imposed, physically or psychologically, we are instantly curious. A part of us wants to go beyond that limit, to taste and explore that which is forbidden.

This is not a trait of a certain race. Human beings all over the Earth share this tendency. They are all given to excesses if a clear limitation is not imposed; abuse anything that is entrusted into their hands if not monitored properly. They will be mentally and physically lazy and incapable of great feats if there is no direction and leadership to guide and inspire them. They will display uncontrollable emotions if no effort has been made to sublimate that energy into something constructive.

Any strong societies that have achieved any measure of success have one thing in common. Strong and inspiring leadership, strict observance and application of stipulated laws and a competent judiciary. Nigeria as a nation of practical outlandish possibilities has consistently being unable to create such a society.

The greatest bane on the African continent is the caliber and quality of leaders that have crept out from caves over the past 50 years to dominate through sheer brutality and with the help and blessing of the West to impose and spread like leprosy their stupidity. Been a leader in Africa does not require any kind of high IQ: you need to be cruel, mean,  drunk, lazy, incapable of change, with an insatiable appetite to acquire and enrich yourself beyond anybody’s imagination. That and the ability to crush those that dare ask why will certainly guarantee you a place in the pantheon of these self-made “gods”.

It is only in Africa that an individual weighing 75kgs will assume a position of authority either as a Ward Councilors or a President of a nation and within 6 months will be probably 95kgs. In other part of the world, you shed almost intolerable weight with your first 100 days in office. Why? Because you have to think. You have to deliver. To them, politics is not a do or die affair like in Africa. They have other means of support, mainly a professional useful educational qualification. In Africa, politics often called “amara politics is all you have. Once you have come to that level, you, your kinsmen and tribe will do everything to stay in power no matter how corrupt, inefficient you are.

I have worked with most competent Japanese, Westerners and also the lazy type which actually constitute a majority. The difference is that the most efficient and able is allowed to float to the top in order to inspire and lead the lazy ones. It is as if a natural process is at play. Your ability to work harder and out-think anyone qualifies you to be a leader. Period! It does not base on where you come from, the religion you are in or any other measuring yard-stick we usually use in Nigeria. We must find ways to allow those capable of inspiring leadership no matter how humble their state may be to take charge.

Successful leadership models abound all around the world. We do not need to search for it. All that is needed is to pick one, Africanize it to suit who we are and our environment and find ways to implement it. Our current concept of leadership dates back to pre-historic times when a leader is answerable to none. He is seem as a dispenser, arbiter and unquestionably above the law. Winner- takes-all-attitude. There is no place for those that oppose him. He is expected to amass wealth and to dole out favors to those that are in good terms with him or his clan.

If we are to make any headway to in our quest to improve our lives and get out of this servitude, we need to define and understand what leadership is. We need urgently to train through special schools, travels and quality distinctive education new set of leaders for tomorrow. From the traditional elder and Chief a village to the Presidency, there is an urgent need to train these fellows on what leadership is or acceptably is. But it also firstly important that there innumerable roles which often contradicts and conflicts with each other’s be examine thoroughly and explain intelligently.

In the time past before I was born, there exists in all hamlets, towns and villages, story-tellers as still can seen in Aboriginal societies of Australia. These individuals are the bearers of the tales that define that society. This is not only their role but they also through this art train future leaders. Because one gleams from the past to define and shape the future. Leaders in a special way are liable for the future rather than what is happening day to day. And this he does with the experiences of the past and the vision of the future.

A leader is also responsible for future leadership. It is his responsibility to identify, develop and nurture future leader. No matter how successful a leader is, if he fails this last test, he has achieved absolutely nothing. The truth is that if we continue to fail in this regard, nothing will dream will ever become a reality. There will only exist in the realm of mere fantasies and will never see the light of the day. And we will continue to act as the experimental subject that we have become for others devilishly more incline to survival than us.