...Lately, I have been imagining myself in office as the Head of State of a nation and sometimes as the Head of the #AU. Interesting, I Know. Now, I'm fully aware the above may be considered as "dangerous" because, many Afrikan Heads of States don't take kind to such. I get it, but... A girl is allowed to dream mos, Akere! Well, thank God I come from a very democratic country. I must point out that my thoughts are slightly all over the place, do forgive me, but this is a topic I'm deeply passionate about. (I love politics, leadership and economics)
I've always had this 'thing' of being the Head of State or Head of the #AU. also, I know being President isn't easy and whatnot but I think my generation and those coming after us will be the most overburdened leaders of our lifetimes. I believe we will be correcting the many wrongs of our current leaders. I believe there are many decisions being taken in isolation by a people that will not be there to see any of that, and, my generation will be left to answer on things we weren't a part of.
In the words of Vladimir Lenin: "Sometimes- History needs a push." Well, I'm here to give it a little push.
One day, when I'm heading the #AU and or when I'm President, I would invest in:
1. An experienced versatile STRATEGIST
2. A group of thinkers
3. Deactivation points
4. An unknown SILENT team (All rights to these mini thoughts are reserved. I'm actually giving Heads of States FREE advise! Haha)
The reason why most of our Afrikan governments are fragmented & desolate is because we are being led by leaders with emotional teams instead of having thinking team. It is time to do away with emotional teams, people that are driven by praise-singing and clapping hands to everything. People who don't necessarily care about the Presidency, but, rather about how fat their pockets can get. To be honest, Afrika has a lot of emotional leaders accompanied by equally emotional "advisors" and staff. Look, Emotional leaders will lead you to shambles.
Our Afrikan leaders ought to invest in thinking teams, forget about these so-called "Think Tanks" we are hearing about. I am referring to a group of critical thinkers who are able to build and grow the economy and social welfare of their countries without bragging about it. Many Afrikan Presidents lack necessary skills to BUILD solid economic and political nation-based cases. What do I mean? We lack strategic Presidents, leaders that are able to make/take unpopular decisions for the benefit of the masses, a leadership that comprehends that the PEOPLE ( the voters) are power and for as long as they're content with their government, no foreigner can infiltrate their state. Instead of investing in people who are SILENT but POTENT in STRATEGY & THINKING, they use low guys for "leadership" positions. People that are YES/SIRS instead of people that can be STRAIGHT-UP with them.
Our leaders take mental health for granted. Many think because they're The President, they are immune to depression, anxiety and stress. Our leadership must invest in deactivation points. Every leader needs a healthy break! Points known only to their security detail and themselves. These points are crucial for their well-being. Deactivation points promotes healing, allowing the body, mind and soul to realign and reboot itself and these points also help build healing reserves too. Having deactivation points is imperative because that can also serve as a place where the President can meet and strategize with his thinking team.
Most of our Afrikan Presidents have the youth that supports them on their payroll. Their monies are keeping these young people deep in their pockets. We can run around this fact, downplay it all we want, in fact we can even deny it, but fact of the matter is - many leaders have handpicked youth that are doing the bidding of the old influential political rich. This reality then gives birth to passive leaders. I am not even going to address the transactional leadership at play on our beautiful continent. Look, everything seems to be a transaction of some sorts. Afrika has many "passive figures" instead of political aspirators. Sad truth. Coincidentally, young people are willingly being used. Frantz Fanon said: "Each generation of relative obscurity should define its mission, which it must either fulfill or betray." Many young leaders have no care for the future. I am not sure whether it is because the old have pushed and continue to push young people out of politics, or is it because those youth/young leaders that are supposed to provide leadership are doing the work of their masters at the expense of their own-kind and generation!?
As a future President and or head of the #AU, my main premise is to deliver CRITICAL and ANALYTICAL THINKERS to this continent and nation. Youth are extremely dynamic. Hence, it is imperative to ensure TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP. There's a HUGE turning point in critical thinking. You won't believe me but I have a team of young leaders from different parts of Afrika whom I will work with to deliver the Afrika we want and want to see.
Being Afrikan is both amazing and frustrating. Amazing because we get to live on the most transforming and growing continent on earth, and, frustrating because our leadership are operating in isolation and or with people that will serve their "needs", instead of being inclusive without stereotypes and prejudice. Don't get me wrong, there are beautiful leadership stories in Afrika, mostly from the private sector but I still believe in the Pan-Afrikan dream, which is to see a self-sustaining and self reliant Afrika, Good Governance and towards a Federation of a United States of Afrika. I know, 'power is sweet", no Afrikan President would want to surrender power to one individual, I Know... But, a UNITED AFRIKA is far stronger and better than a divided Afrika.
Anyways, Let me end here, for now. In the words of H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma: "A people united, striving to achieve the common good of all members of society, will always emerge victorious.”
For me, "I will ALWAYS be Afrikan FIRST before I am a nationality.' - Sarah-Leigh Elago
Aluta Continua
#MadamChair
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