Mind Restructuring: Optimism, Endurance And National Rebirth -By Richard Odusanya

I see hope for a national rebirth. I see hope for a new Nigeria. I see the African renaissancee rekindled. I see Africa’s culture gaining a new currency in a new normal. According to the spiral dynamics model originated by Clare W. Graves, an alternative cultural view on value systems is that, they are evolutionary. As such, the dominant value systems in a society depend on existential problems with which the persons in that society are coping. We are sure of hope rekindled.

The culture of traditional African societies, together with their value systems and beliefs are close, even though they vary slightly from one another; it varied and manifold, consisting of a mixture of countries with various tribes that each have their own unique characteristics from the continent of Africa… for example, social values, religion, morals, political values, economic and aesthetic values all contribute to Africa.

It is also a known fact that African cultural values and practices consists mainly the good sense of humor, hospitality, manners, excellent behavior, relationship, sacred and religion, sanctity of life, respect for elders and authority. Morality, language, proverbs and so on. Almost all the African cultural values are derivative of the African communitarianism. Africa is the cradle of civilization, and the reality of such must be guided jealousy without compromise.

In the words of Condoleezza “Condo” Rice, an American diplomat, political scientist, civil servant and a professor who is currently a director at the Hoover institution and Samford university. She posited thus: “A revolution is what happens when you don’t see evolution coming.” Consequently, the African culture and traditions must be preserved.

It is in line with the cultural values and practices of the good people of our beautiful continent of Africa, which has been highlighted above, that we are going to be addressing our minds..”Mind Restructuring”, the benefits of endurance, optimist and the national rebirth, thus: avoiding the quick fix syndrome and embarrassing a more enduring solutions.

It is, therefore, pertinacious, to begin with the search for a national cohesion and rebirth through the instrumentality of good leadership and vibrant citizenship. Great leaders have three things; inner strength, inner light and inner vision. Nigeria situation, for example needs a leader who is strong and confident, yet humble. A leader who encourages diversity, not ethnically biased or advancement of religious bigotry.

It should be noted that leadership grows like a tall trees, it needs both toughness for accountability–flexibility to adapt changes with a compassionate and caring heart for self and others. A great leader is unequivocally respected like the great Madiba’ Nelson Mandela and many of our heroes. In essence leadership is the sense of calling to a higher purpose.

We therefore, recommend the respect for leadership must be earned, it also placed a burden on the society to generate a vibrant citizenship who knows what it takes to hold leadership accountable and demand for quality representation across board. A good leader is required to place a very high premiums on selflessness, less of sense of entitlement and collaboration with the team and God-fearing-conscious followers. This is the kind of leader that we so desire in the troubled nations of Africa. It has become imperative that we choose a leader who will invest in building bridges, not wall blocks, not weapons. Morality not corruption. Intellectualism and wisdom not ignorance.

Innovation distinguishes between a great leader and a pervasive, unmitigated sadistic mindset. Who’s vision is limited to himself and his coteries of followers. A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a moulder of consensus. A good leader seeks to lead in a way that the crowd will naturally follow. It is well with the troubled nations of Africa.

ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS

Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.