By Sani Abdullahi Kofar Mata:
Leadership is the lifeblood of every society. It is the compass that directs nations, organizations, and communities toward progress, stability, and transformation. When leadership is visionary, societies flourish; when it falters, societies stumble. Today, the world—and particularly developing nations—faces profound leadership crises. These are not merely political or economic challenges but moral, social, and generational tests that demand courage, wisdom, and sacrifice.
To overcome these challenges, leaders must learn from history, embrace timeless principles, and rise above the temptation of mediocrity. True leadership is not about personal glory but about service, integrity, and building a legacy that outlives one’s tenure.
The Wisdom of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto
The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern Nigeria and one of the nation’s greatest founding fathers, left us with an enduring lesson about leadership through three profound sayings:
Ba’a iyawa (You can not have the capacity to do everything)
Ba’a gamawa (You can not accomplish or complete everything)
Ba’a yabawa (You can not impress or satisfy everyone)
This wisdom reveals three eternal truths of leadership. First, no leader has the capacity to solve every problem or carry every burden alone. Second, no leader can complete all tasks within their lifetime or tenure; leadership is a relay, not a sprint. Third, no leader will ever satisfy everyone, for leadership is not about universal approval but about pursuing justice and the greater good.
As Ahmadu Bello humbly declared: “I am not a perfect man, but I will always try to do my best for the people who have entrusted me with leadership.” His words remain a guiding light in a world where many leaders mistake power for perfection.
Capacity and the Limits of Leadership (Ba’a iyawa)
Leadership is not about doing everything but about enabling others to act. A wise leader builds capable teams, strengthens institutions, and creates an atmosphere where everyone can contribute to progress. Those who attempt to shoulder all responsibilities soon burn out and fail. Leadership thrives when it embraces humility, partnership, and delegation.
Incomplete Tasks and the Burden of Continuity (Ba’a gamawa)
No leader can finish the journey of development alone. Great nations are built on continuity—where each leader builds upon the foundations of the past and lays stones for the future. Sadly, in Nigeria, projects are often abandoned with each change of leadership. True greatness lies not in finishing everything oneself but in ensuring institutions, policies, and visions endure beyond one’s time.
As Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa wisely noted: “The success of any leader is not in what he starts and finishes, but in what he builds that endures after him.”
The Challenge of Appreciation and Public Opinion (Ba’a yabawa)
Every leader must accept that he can not please everyone. Leadership is about principles, not popularity. A leader who sacrifices truth for applause will end up betraying the very people he seeks to serve. Criticism, when constructive, is a mirror; flattery, when embraced, is a poison.
The reformer Mallam Aminu Kano put it best: “Leadership is not about winning applause but about serving humanity with justice and humility.”
The Voices of Awolowo and Azikiwe
Other founding fathers also emphasized values that remain timeless.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo taught that service must always come before self: “The wealth which has no bearing on the welfare of the people is useless. Leadership must be for service and not for self.” This challenges leaders to measure success not by personal gain but by the lives they uplift.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the nation’s first President, also reminded us that leadership is a moral trust: “It is better we displease a few by doing what is right, than to betray the hopes of millions by doing what is wrong.” His words echo the wisdom of Ahmadu Bello’s Ba’a yabawa—that true leadership is about courageously doing right, even when it is unpopular.
Together, these voices—Bello, Balewa, Awolowo, Azikiwe, and Aminu Kano—offer a moral compass rooted in humility, justice, inclusivity, and service.
Practical Principles for Effective Leadership
From the wisdom of the past and the demands of the present, certain principles stand out for every leader who seeks to succeed:
Seek results, not rewards. Leadership is not about recognition but about delivering impact.
Do the right things, at the right place, time, and with the right people. Timing and context matter as much as intention.
Do not attempt to satisfy everybody. Leadership is about justice, not universal approval.
Never be disturbed by criticism, and avoid flattery. Criticism refines flattery blinds.
Mindset shapes destiny. A positive, honest, and disciplined mindset determines whether a leader rises or falls.
Leadership is a sacred trust. Power is not a privilege but a responsibility owed to God, the people, and posterity.
Integrity, Corruption, and Trust
The greatest crisis of leadership today is not a lack of ideas but a lack of integrity. A leader without integrity is like a house built on sand—it can not stand. Corruption eats away at the foundations of progress, diverts resources from the poor, and destroys the moral authority of leaders. Reviving integrity in leadership is the first step toward national renewal.
Inclusivity, Vision, and the Future
Leadership in the modern age must be inclusive and visionary. Diversity should be a strength, not a weakness. Leaders must unite, not divide; empower youth, not ignore them. A society disconnected from its younger generation risks decay. The leaders of the First Republic showed that inclusivity and vision can hold a diverse nation together—lessons today’s leaders must urgently relearn.
Conclusion
Leadership is never about perfection. As Sir Ahmadu Bello wisely taught, leaders can not do everything (Ba’a iyawa), can not complete everything (Ba’a gamawa), and cannot please everyone (Ba’a yabawa). But they can do the most important things: serve with honesty, act with justice, and leave behind legacies of trust and progress.
The future will not belong to leaders who pursue wealth, applause, or power for its own sake. It will belong to leaders who embrace service as a sacred duty, who listen to criticism, who rise above corruption, and who treat leadership as a trust from God and humanity.
As Mallam Aminu Kano reminded us: “A leader is only as strong as his honesty, and only as enduring as his service to the people.”
The time has come for leaders—present and future—to confront challenges with courage, humility, and vision. For in leadership, the measure of greatness is not in what one gains, but in what one gives.
Sani Abdullahi Kofar-mata.
30th September 2025.