BY CHRIS GYANG
When the great Leopold Senghor was championing the cause of the Negritude literary movement, which was aimed at showcasing to the world the fact that the black man was not of a backward race, the legendary Wole Soyinka simply told him to stop all the posturing and hype.
Rather, Senghor should concentrate on practically demonstrating what he was theorizing by churning out critically acclaimed literary works that could match those of Europeans.
Thus, Soyinka famously declared: “A tiger does not have to proclaim his tigritude.”
Essentially, he was saying that the effectiveness of any human endeavour and cause is judged by the quality of its practical and tangible outcome and not by ephemeral words and empty theorizing.
Why are we going down this literary memory lane here?
It’s meant to show us that man, in fact every human being, should be able to point to the practical, positive, outcomes of his or her endeavours and thoughts when all is said and done.
It is from that standpoint, therefore, that we kindly direct the minds of both our political leaders and those of us who believe in them, in the process of assessing who is a true leader among them.
Viewed from that perspective and on a more general note, respect for a leader should be based on his or her practical antecedents.
That kind of respect naturally emanates from what the people see as his felt contributions to their general well-being. This kind of respect can never be exacted or gotten through sophistry of any kind.
This is because, first, the human mind has the capacity to discern between truth and deceit. Second, and most importantly, true leaders are forged from the finest stuff that can never be counterfeited.
Of course, as a human being and leader, Jonah David Jang has his personal flaws which surely hurt individuals, groups and even our state when he was governor, senator and thereafter.
But, certainly, Jang is not the problem of the PDP in Plateau State.
On the contrary, he is the most unifying factor in the Plateau PDP. For instance, in the 2019 general elections, his Northern Zone gave the PDP an unmatched clean slate.
To be sure, he occupies an exalted and iconic position that has been voluntarily conferred on him by the generality of Plateau people and Party members – and that was not through any force of coercion.
If the truth must be told, Baba Jang is the face of the PDP in Plateau State.
Consequently, we are bold to assert that he has earned a rare place on the pantheon of the great leaders of not only our Party but Plateau State as a whole.
Undoubtedly, he is the nemesis of the rudderless Lalong administration. This is mainly because his achievements as governor are so intimidating to them that they know that even if they are given two plus more tenures, they can never match his developmental landmarks.
Landmarks that will remain a reference point in the annals of the governance of our state for a long time to come.
This is only one of his legacies that have so seamlessly conferred on him the position of a true leader.
And, just like Soyinka so boldly affirmed, Baba Jang has earned the respect and position of a statesman and leader because he has not patently “declared” his “tigritude.”
He has painstakingly concentrated on the selfless pursuit of offering good governance and direction to Plateau people of all political and religious beliefs at the most critical moments of their lives.
Others who seek to be true leaders may kindly wish to borrow a leaf from Baba Jang.
Obviously, rabble rousing is not the path towards such respect because it’s earned and not exacted.
And, mark this, he has survived this long because he possesses this uncanny knack for rallying his beloved people to victory. He rebounds when all appears to be lost; when his opponents least expect.
Above all, he has a very deep, hands-on understanding of the internal dynamics of Plateau, and indeed Nigerian, politics.
No doubt, this old horse still has much more to offer in this highly unpredictable game of politics.
*THIS PIECE, PARTS OF WHICH THE WRITER HAS SLIGHTLY EDITED, WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2020, EDITION OF THISDAY NEWSPAPER
