Leadership and followership: The conjoined twins by Martins Onyeike

The popular Maxim that “a fish rots from the head down” is a metaphor for leadership ineptitude but due to our queer nature as a people, it is safe to say that we are an exception that proves the rule. That is not in any way an attempt to divorce the problems bedeviling us from leadership failures. Rather, the purpose of this piece is to highlight the nexus between the quality of leadership and the mannerisms of the people who are saddled with the responsibility of using the ballot as a conduit for progress and growth. Afterall, dictators and bad leaders are not born; they are made.

At all levels of governance, it is incumbent on the voters/people to choose who they deem capable of progressively making policies that will better their lot. However, our penchant to stay aloof during democratic processes is one major bane of our society. We should be reminded that it is a civic duty to vote and be voted for. Our concerns about electoral malpractices, rigging and other vices should not be used as an excuse to derelict our responsibilities as citizens; especially when it comes to those who hold the helm at the grassroots levels. Perhaps due to my political antecedents, I’m inclined by default to first point fingers at my CDA, local council and L.G.A leadership before asking questions of my Governor and the “almighty” President. Reason? Like they say, charity begins at home.

Besides the general ills associated with our electoral system, voters’ apathy and disenchantment can be considered the PMS that fuels the arson of leadership incompetence. In my opinion, a law should even be passed to criminalize deliberate abstinence from democratic activities. When you don’t exercise your franchise, you automatically lose the moral right to hold your leaders to account. The allure to rule with impunity is often birthed by the knowledge that overtly or covertly, our votes didn’t get them there. When next there is a democratic call in your immediate constituency, kindly heed it. Our collective destinies shouldn’t be left in the hands of neophytes. God bless us all.