After Theon Greyjoy invaded Winterfell, he was cajoled to show his strength by publicly executing Sir Rodrick. Theon’s lieutenant enticed him to show power: “He has to pay the iron-price; they will never respect you while he lives.”[1] The temptation to show strength and force was overcome by President David Palmer, who refused to retaliate unless he got true justification.[2] Some oil-marketers framed innocent countries in bombing Palmer’s country, and hoped to gain market-shares from his retaliation on the countries. How do effective leaders apply strength in proper administration?
Love and fear are two necessary feelings that leaders need to gain and retain support of their people. Though it appears better, getting the love required for cooperation may be more difficult than getting fear. Fear comes from instant pain, death or threats, but love could take longer time to cultivate. Fear has been a tool for controlling people and getting collaboration, even where there is no love. Hence, some political analysts advocate early show of physical strength to instil fear and to get collaboration from subjects.
The aim of leadership is to direct the modes of interaction in a society for harmonious cohabitation, creativity and progress. Leaders are empowered by the society to exercise some degree of control on members of the society for common good. Hence, legitimate leadership-positions are created by a group of people who wish to organise themselves for peace and progress. They begin by agreeing on terms and conditions for their relationship that will foster peace and progress. Eventually, they choose and empower leader(s) from among themselves to become custodian(s) of their agreement.
Physical strength become vital for a leader to get obedience from the people, mainly stubborn ones. However, physical strength can be abused when office holders lose focus of the society’s purpose. The purpose is not just to be in control, the purpose is harmonization of human initiatives and relationships for common good. And sometimes, sustainable harmonization is more obtainable by dialogue than by physical strength. Using physical strength and force become necessary after other avenues have been sincerely explored.
It may be tempting for leaders to show their readiness to use physical strength. Showing that readiness for physical strength and force may instil the necessary amount of fear for obtaining collaboration and discouraging insubordination. It is often expected to send signal of seriousness about leaders, especially new leaders that are still being observed. Yet, without proper and factual justification for using physical strength and force according to the people’s agreement, leadership becomes tyranny. The quick and unjustified use of force does not show a leader’s strength, but his lack of self-control.
In Nigeria, there is not yet an agreement between the different ethnic communities that are lumped together.[3] “Africa’s nation states were formed by foreigners, lines drawn by Europeans on maps of places they had often never been to. They carved out territories, cut up kingdoms and societies of which they had little idea“[4] And there has not been a sincere effort to get an agreement that will guide the relationship between Nigerians towards progress. Instead, using violence, different politicians have held Nigeria together at military-gunpoint under a colonially-imposed constitution
Despite the challenges facing the disorganized Nigeria, a new generation of leaders will arise to foster sincere agreements between Nigerians. These agreements will be at the foundation of future progress that will take place in Nigeria. Physical strength will then find justification and purpose in the pursuit of justice and consent of the governed. Those who only obtain cooperation by killing or terrorizing people are animals, not strong leaders. Since humans are rational animals, strong leaders are those who obtain collaboration through rational conviction for common good. A leader that quickly resorts to physical strength before reason and dialogue becomes the least rational of citizens.
[1] Game of Thrones, Season 2, Episode 6
[2] 24, Season 2, Episode 23
[3] cf. Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. (New York: Public Affairs, 2010). p.445
[4] Richard Dowden, op. Cit. p3