Who Is A Leader? By Richard Odusanya.

By Richard Odusanya 

Image crediy: LinkedIn 

Who is a leader? Simply put, a leader leads by example. My idea of a leader can see what an entire populace can not see, and whose vision is far greater than that of the nation. A leader can think outside the box while everyone around him is scared out of their pants. Therefore, the road to a prosperous Nigeria and the leader that will lead Nigeria to the dawn of that new day of economic growth, technological advancement, and Political stability, will not come from Mars but from within the people who so wish to pay the full price.

Leadership is an action-oriented process involving influencing and motivating people to achieve goals. Leaders have a vision for the future and inspire others to follow them. There are many ways a leader can be seen as good or bad. It all depends on the person and their goals. Leadership is contagious. If you hang out with a great leader, you'll become a leader. Great leaders don't "lead", they inspire people to become leaders with their actions. Actions speak louder than words. I was fortunate enough to work closely with some great leaders. I learned a lot from them -- just by observing them. With profound humility, in my little world, I know others who learned from me, just by observing. So leadership spreads.

I'd like to digress here by pointing out the obvious and stark reality of hunger, poverty, and dissatisfaction -- the harsh realities of President Bola Tinubu's first year in office. Hopefully, our dear President will painstakingly address such issues that will alleviate the pains on June 12 DEMOCRACY DAY. Nonetheless, there are fundamental issues that must be addressed. As such, effective leaders don’t avoid hard truths or difficult challenges. Instead, they take responsibility for their decisions, maintain optimism, and focus on charting a new course of action. 

President Bola Tinubu (PBAT), signed into law the bill to revert to the old national anthem. PBAT, assented to the bill on Wednesday '29 2024. The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda. The anthem symbolizes Nigeria's diversity. "...Help Us to Build A Nation, Where No Man is Oppressed.." is a powerful line. Historically speaking, several countries have changed their national anthems over time for various reasons. Hence, my preference for the then-former national anthem, 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ over ‘Arise Oh Compatriots’:

1. South Africa: Changed in 1994 to reflect the country's transition from apartheid to democracy.

2. Germany: Changed in 1990 after reunification, replacing the East German anthem.

3. Canada: Changed in 1980 to make the lyrics more inclusive.

4. Australia: Changed in 1984 to replace the British national anthem with a more Australian-focused song.

5. New Zealand: Changed in 1977 to include Maori language and culture.

6. Russia: Changed in 2000 to replace the Soviet-era anthem.

7. Poland: Changed in 1926 and again in 1991 after the fall of communism.

8. India: Changed in 1950 from "Vande Mataram" to "Jana Gana Mana" to promote national unity.

9. Sri Lanka: Changed in 1951 to include Tamil language and culture.

10. Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe): Changed in 1980 after gaining independence from British colonial rule.

These changes often reflect significant political, social, or cultural shifts in a country's history. My stand: as an unrepentant advocate of restructuring and having written series of articles on "Mind Restructuring" I can conclude that we need to rebuild our beloved country Nigeria together. Therefore, I have concluded that; it is a lack of, and inadequate, education including our mindsets. That Africans, particularly Nigerians, in our mentally lazy state, and expectation of magical happenstance, believe we can live in a society that we did not create because we are dissatisfied with the one we have made! People who want to live well must work 100% to achieve that yearning; no shortcut to this reality! 

Let me conclude by stating that, I have the utmost respect for the person of Marcus Tullius Cicero, of the blessed memory; a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, writer, and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire. His extensive writings include treatises on rhetoric, philosophy, and politics. Cicero was the one who said: "Vox Populi, Vox Dei," literally meaning the voice of the people is the voice of God or the voice of the divine. Therefore, I crave our compatriots' indulgence at home and abroad in voicing out, more particularly, to revisit the issues of our constitution and electoral process/laws. 

Richard Odusanya

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