Allowing paradigm shift in leadership

Allowing paradigm shift in leadership

Fatai ADEWUYI

“If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall discover that we have lost the future.” This quote is by one of the greatest American Presidents, John F. Kennedy. This philosophical statement is relevant here as it was relevant when he said it to the Americans in relation to the role of history in the life of human beings generally. The past needs be investigated and examined for the present and future. Whoever that doesn’t know the past is condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past, will fail to live the present correctly and unable to predict the future. All these boil down to the fact that the past must be studied in our human endeavours in relations to the present dispensation characterized by woes and dooms in all human facets of lives. Recent sad happenings of kidnappings, ritual killings, banditry, criminality, corruptions and immorality that have eaten deep into our social fabrics are all borne out of departure from the past values. The bitter truth is that we are all culprits both the leaders and the followers. Elections are coming around where we have to vote in our new leaders. 2027 is fast approaching and the leaders have been scheming, we followers must shine our eyes to choose the right leaders. The above philosophical statement by John F. Kennedy had allusion to America, I am similarly directing it to our country. May God spare our lives till 2027 and beyond and usher in good governance for us.

Also, l have observed a new trend in leadership in our society, which gives premium to titles. We believe those with huge titles are the ones who qualify to be leaders. But leadership is not mainly about titles: PhD, honorary doctoral, grand chief, managing director, CEO etc, rather, leadership should be about performance and service to humanity. A good leader must be a servant of the people he is leading, so were men of God, and early leaders. They shunned being called leaders or described by any titles. But now some leaders are mere title holders, forgetting that one may have a PhD and still be an idiot or novice! Just as we have many (mechanical) engineers that cannot repair motor car! Many are professors that cannot profess! Many are imams that cannot differentiate between public speeches and hutubah! Frankly, we need a new paradigm shift in leadership, that goes beyond titles but about performance. Gone are the days we talk of autocratic style, laisse-faire style, democratic style, participatory style, charismatic and many more. Now, we talk of situational style of leadership which is combination or hybrid of all, for it is the situation that one finds oneself that will determine what style to use. So, we must get ready to learn as ignorance is not a thing of shame as being unwilling to learn. For it is empty barrels that make the most noise. Ogbomoso is a land of valiants and knowledge, both in western and Islamic education. Professors and doctors abound as well as men of intellectual abilities that are naturally endowed with knowledge and wisdom. Let us allow paradigm shift in leadership for better social, religious, traditional and what have you contract.