My Views on the Reflections of a Scholar-Politician on the Leadership-Peace Nexus and Praxis in Africa Article by Dr. Kayode Fayemi

I have really been inspired by this presentation by Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, PhD. , which he delivered at the Postgraduate Conference of the Africa Leadership Centre, 英国伦敦大学 - 伦敦国王学院 . This is because it validated many of my firmly held views about the dilemma of leadership, governance, and development in Africa and challenged a few equally.?

I am biased toward reflections like this one because I do not believe today's Nigeria sufficiently encourages and spurs cross-interaction between?"politics, activism, and academia."?In 2015 during my International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States, this was one of the major takeaways for me. The interplay of relationships amongst Think Tanks, Government Agencies, and policy drivers in Government. We must return Nigeria to the days when our governance space was dominated by scholars, thinkers, and intellectuals in the mold of Profs. Aboyade, Mabogunje, Kalu Idika Kalu, Claude Ake, Tekena Tamuno and numerous others. Their scholarship was not limited to the four walls of the University but also influenced policy and state formation in Nigeria in large parts. This is why I continue to pay attention and admire individuals like John Kayode Fayemi, PhD. , Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili , Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Prof. Attahiru Jega , Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to mention a few, who transverse the entire stretch.

There is a need for a conscious society where, as Dr. Fayemi argued, the?"pseudo-divide of academia, activism, and politics"?which is currently pervasive in theory and practice, gives way to?"an integrated continuum rather than discretely compartmentalised oppositional phenomena, often complicated and contradictory, but mostly in the quest to make a fundamental difference in a continent that looks so divided, engulfed in conflict, and prevailing security and development challenges."?As he further stated, "if scholars and academics choose to abstain from participating in the political process, we risk allowing the political sphere to be dominated by special interests, populist demagoguery and ethnic divisions that prioritize their own agendas."?The country is yet to recover from the mistake of 1998/1999, which another contemporary of Dr. Fayemi, Dr. AYODELE ADERINWALE , once described as one of the biggest let-downs of the intellectual class on the eve of democratic return in Nigeria. It is no coincidence that since 1999, the class of reasonably exemplary politicians we've had are individuals with a good grasp of the interplay alluded to above, with a few exemptions of career politicians, I must add.?

My work in democratic governance, peace, and security over the last fifteen years at national and continental levels also influences my bias for this article. I have often marveled at the ability of leaders to speak glowingly on podiums about what needs to change and how change must happen but struggle in the office to walk the talk. Dr. Fayemi alluded to this conundrum when he posited, "Leaders may be well-intentioned and even well-groomed, but without the functioning and effective institutional system in place, their efforts will be severely constrained."?Just a few days ago, I was sharing with a colleague my excitement about the work of the African Union over the last years on continental flagships such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Freedom Movement Protocol, Single Air Transport Market, Partnership for Local Vaccine Manufacturing as well for Therapeutics and Diagnostics in Africa. Though progress may seem slow at the moment, the much-needed pre-conditions for rapid transformation in those areas are being laid, and when leaders with the right motivation and political will emerge, they won't have to start from scratch. Call it incremental; it is how I see things change in our continental and regional institutions.

Another exciting reflection from this article is the entire point about the quality of leadership that is required in today's world and why the dearth of leadership on the continent today is evidenced by the kinds of challenges we grapple with in the areas of peace and security, governance, economy amongst others. The author noted that?"leadership is not a solo effort but a team one. It is best exercised when it is underpinned with an appropriate infrastructure of policy, politics, and power. Its critical actions are best sustained not by the charisma of one leadership figure but by the broadness of the consensus that is built around them and the beneficial impact which they register."?The subtle point about the?appropriate infrastructure of policy, politics, and power?is key. I have often argued that the challenge of governance in Africa is not technical. Rather, it reflects our inability to interpretatively marshall our politics and power to drive policy! Any leader in today's world without an evident appreciation of the interplay of these three will struggle.?

Still on leadership, the author further argued that "leadership is not simply or solely about absolutised power exercise in a monopolistic fashion. Rather, it is about the dexterity to manage contending socio-political currents within and outside government in a manner that gives citizens an assurance that there is an authority who is ultimately in charge both as actor, catalyst, referee, and conscience."?In many countries on the continent today, citizens' frustrations result from the pervasive lack of assurance that leaders appreciate, understand, and share in their plights. The dominant feeling of many citizens is that leaders are neither actors in the service of their people nor catalysts for change. They are also not perceived to be unbiased referees in moderating societal tensions and often appear to have silenced their conscience completely. It was Late Kenneth Kaunda who said 'the inability of those in power to still the voices of their own consciences is a great force leading to change."?To wrap up the point on leadership, this excerpt from the paper sums it up –"?leadership can be seen and understood as representing a higher calling: An ability to understand the many contradictions that shape everyday life and to be able to relate to them in the way they are played out in the experiences of the populace but a refusal to be imprisoned by those same contradictions, seeking instead to rise above them and to carry a critical mass of the populace along."

This leads me to the point on citizen engagement, a topic I have dedicated a large part of my work over the last ten years at the African Union and now beyond. We cannot achieve sustained peace and prosperity without actively empowering and engaging citizens. Citizen engagement, in this case, is not just about interest in politics. Rather, as Dr Fayemi suggested, "understand and nurture a culture of pluralism, secularism, and cosmopolitanism in order to ensure that every citizen is given an opportunity to explore, experiment, and exhale in the pursuit of their ambitions for self-actualisation."?Whether that self-actualization is in politics, business, industry, service, arts, or sports, citizens need more space to engage meaningfully. Too many roadblocks, inhibitions, and discrimination are in the way of political, economic, and social participation of youth, women, and other disadvantaged groups. Citizen engagement is central to inclusive growth on the continent, and when we adequately cater to the yearnings of citizens and empower them, we will have laid the foundation for peace, inclusive growth, and prosperity.?

There are so many brilliant points in the article, and a great addition to the body of knowledge on leadership, governance, peace, and security in Nigeria by extension, Africa. I am also excited that Dr. Fayemi will document his experiences in a forthcoming book. I look forward to it. I hope many others in the Buhari Administration will also write their memoirs, like Prof. Yemi Osinbajo , Babatunde Raji Fashola , Sharon Ikeazor (who did a fantastic job at the Pensions Board before she was appointed Minister), Boss Mustapha (particularly on Nigeria’s COVID-19 response) and my brother Tolu Ogunlesi MON . It will be helpful to have them enrich the polity with their reflections.

You can read the full article of Dr. Kayode Fayemi here