Okeigbos, let us learn leadership from jungle
Onawumi Ayochris writes from Okeagbe, Okeigbo
My people, hear me today!
We have gone past the age of condemnation, past the era of propaganda, past the time when ambition was pursued by tearing others down. The future we seek cannot be built on slander. It must be built on dignity, on truth, and on service.
Propaganda may sell an image, but it can never create a true leader. Leadership is not about noise, not about mockery, not about empty promises. Leadership is about responsibility, empathy, and the courage to act when it matters most.
Let me tell you a story from the jungle. The animals once gathered to choose a leader. The parrot spread propaganda, boasting of beauty and charm. The hyena mocked others, hoping ridicule would win favor. The monkey entertained with tricks, distracting the crowd. But the lion remained calm. He spoke little, but his words carried weight. He reminded the animals that leadership was not about noise or slander, but about service, courage, and unity.
Then disaster struck, a raging fire swept through the forest. The parrot’s speeches vanished into smoke. The hyena’s laughter turned hollow. The monkey’s tricks could not save anyone. It was the lion, with wisdom and courage, who guided the animals to safety, protecting the weak and restoring hope.
The jungle learned a lesson that day: true leadership is not about propaganda or mockery. It is about responsibility and empathy.
And so must we learn the same lesson. Our community must rise above propaganda. We must reject campaigns of calumny. We must choose leaders who engage the people honestly, who confront challenges with integrity, who build bridges instead of burning them.
Elections are open contests, determined not by cheap popularity, but by competence, value, and the overwhelming support of the people. Politics must be played with decorum, decency, and honesty.
My people, let us remember: true leadership is not about the crown one wears, but the service one gives. Let us stand together, with courage and unity, and demand leaders who will guide us like the lion guided the jungle through storms, through fire, through trials toward safety, dignity, and greatness.
