In times of crisis, true leadership is defined by action, not silence. Yet, today’s leaders are missing in action, leaving the masses to suffer from systemic failures.
The African proverb, “A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth,” underscores the essential role of leaders in protecting their people. But with soaring fuel prices and entrenched corruption, our leaders—political, religious, and economic—seem to have abandoned their responsibilities.
Lao Tzu said, “Silence is a source of great strength,” but in our case, it has become a refuge for inaction. The Swahili saying, “Kizunguzungu cha mlevi hakipimwi”—”The dizziness of a drunkard cannot be measured”—aptly describes the chaotic and unaccountable silence of our leaders. And of course, the Kikuyu saying, “Mũtumia mũtiũkĩrĩa na ũhoro”—”A person who does not take action will be left behind”—couldn’t be more fitting.
Protests, once a powerful tool for change, now seem ineffective against deeply entrenched issues. As noted in “Baruwana da Zanga Zanga,” traditional protest methods are failing to deliver real change. The Swahili maxim, “Mtu ni watu”—”A person is people”—reminds us that real solutions require collective effort.
Our leaders—both religious and economic—must rise to the challenge. The Swahili proverb, “Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone”—”Let the guest come, so the host can be healed”—suggests that external intervention is needed for internal healing. Religious leaders must use their moral authority to challenge injustices, while economic leaders should push for policies that benefit the common man.
Edmund Burke’s assertion, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” is crucial here. The Swahili saying, “Asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani”—”He who does not accept defeat is not a true contender”—emphasizes that only through united, decisive action can we achieve real change. Our leaders must end their silence, confront systemic failures, and restore integrity and justice to governance. After all, it seems they’re waiting for a miracle to solve everything while they enjoy their front-row seats to the chaos.
Abu can be reached via danjumaabu3750@gmail.com or +2348062380296
