Nelson
Mandela is not your run-of-the-mill type of leader; he is a leader to the core.
The Madiba himself is an exemplary and selfless leader. He is a model and a
huge inspiration to all manner of leaders worldwide, and a great lesson too,
especially for African leaders, i.e. anyone who cares to draw from him any
lessons at all. Now, let us meet our role model/case study: He is the South
African statesman (1918-2013) who was released from prison to become the
nation's president after the first multi-racial election in 1994. By exhibiting
unflinching and unparalleled selflessness, and sacrifice, Nelson Mandela
finally stood himself out as an epitome of an astute leader for the world to
behold.
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| Nelson Mandela |
Leadership
must drive a definitive image along with it in order to be reckoned with. Thus
a good leader must be one that is both devoted to his career, and diligent towards
his calling and vocation. It is quality leadership and integrity (at work),
vision, principle, and a predilection for the sublime that unfolds your inner
being to the approval and admiration of civilised society. In the end
therefore, it should matter to you when you ask yourself – what image do I
portray, or how do people see me?
On
the very day Nelson Mandela passed on; on that night of thunder in South Africa,
when a mighty tree fell and the eagles fled their nests, top world leaders left
everything to pull up the rostrum and pay tribute before anything else, and
before the strike of dawn. That very moment the American president – Barak
Obama ordered that the American flag be flown at half mast immediately,
starting from the White House in Washington DC.
While
fellow African leaders in unison with their counter parts all over the world
join in mourning, uttering ululations and pouring encomiums on the departed
world hero, which is the usual ritual, one should wonder if anyone is actually
drawing any lessons from the life and times of this fallen hero; this dogged
fighter, defender of justice, and an astute leader of the African continent and
the world. Usually these African leaders are just wont to come out publicly
just to identify with a great brand or personality and, to eulogise the dead –
just mouthing off tributes that do not emanate from their heart. They are sober
only for a second and the next moment they are back to who they are – what a
pity.
In
the Holy Scriptures, Jesus Christ referred to the prophet – John the Baptist (a
man of no means) as ‘the greatest of all prophets born of woman’. And many who
are professed religious people and Christians alike today would be shocked to
know that; many would even want to contest it in their hearts unfortunately for
them because, greatness, contrary to their brainwash beliefs, does not have to
do with, and does not consist of your material possession. So also, our Nelson
Mandela has revealed himself larger than life – a very great man and leader of
unmatchable stature, not basing it on material possession, but on quality
leadership and life style. What more – Michael Jackson, the late music icon of
the world longed to meet this great citizen of the world and shake his hands
until he did, ditto for so many other world leaders that eventually met with
him. Even his enemies had no choice but to admire him.
Greatness,
and by the same token, quality leadership, is measured by the core values and a
sound philosophy of life which all sum up to the legacies you build and
eventually bequeath to posterity. But on the contrary – our leaders, most of
them in Africa, and especially here in Nigeria do not seem to care about image
or integrity; they are just too busy aggrandising themselves. They do not
cherish those virtues that stand out Nelson Mandela; they neither have candour
nor cherish peace in their hearts because the truth of the matter is that
without justice, there can never be true peace in the land. Our (rulers)
leaders are too material conscious and value above all else, primitive
accumulation and power acquisition. But Nelson Mandela compared to these lot looms
like a translated being, towering above them all, having also transcended all
these and other primordial idiosyncrasies.
Our
leaders, and in fact everyone of us must learn the lesson that greatness is
never measured by the size of your bank account, or the size of car your drive,
but by the size of your heart and the values that drive you. Greatness is never
measured by the size of mansion you live in or the number of houses all over
the world that are in your name, but rather a true leader and great personality
is acknowledged by the love he shows, the courage he musters to remain resolute
to lofty principles; to uphold them and to stand up and stand out, even if
alone, only to make a difference. Such is the man Nelson Mandela; a man of
simplicity, a man of charisma, a man of humility and outstanding
accomplishments.
By:
Morgan Nwanguma (www.workamania.blogspot.com)
Brand/Creative Executive - Energy Group, Lagos
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