Leadership and the essence of compassion
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- Category: Comments
- Written by Mohammed Ahmed Bichi
- Hits: 2188
It is hard to see how a leader at any level can connect with empathy to the people when he is lacking in kindness. In fact, it was the famous American billionaire, Andrew Carnegie who said: “he that dies rich, dies disgraced.” According to his philosophy of giving, it is better to err on the side of philanthropy than to die as a mean, selfish man. The essence of life, it is said, is not its duration but its donation. Surely, the greatest pleasure in life lies in the spirit of giving. Both Islam and Christianity lay stress on the significance of philanthropy and other gestures of kindness towards others. Some people are so miserly with their wealth and uncaring about their neighbours as if they will live forever! Despite this reality of daily experience, there are still some well-to-do Nigerians whose commitment to humanity we must celebrate so as to encourage others to emulate them. The Ramadan fasting period is usually the time when the rich share their wealth with others.
In fact, bringing comfort and smiles to the faces of the less-privileged is one of the great virtues that please God. Disturbed by the pervasive poverty afflicting the majority of the ordinary people, a PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha has left many people speechless because of his incredible level of philanthropy, which respects no political borders. He recently shared 10,000 bags of rice and another 5,000 bags of sugar to the ordinary people to help them do their fasting comfortably with their families. Considering the incredible level of poverty among the masses, such gesture was like an oasis in the desert of despair. Indeed, poverty has become a daily companion of thousands of ordinary people and Abacha’s gesture has gone to a great extent in bringing them instant relief. The beneficiaries chanted praises to God and enthusiastically prayed to God to bless the giver in every aspect of his life. Philanthropy has nothing to do with one’s level of wealth; it has more to do with the inherent spirit of giving. As far as the ordinary people of Kano State are concerned, Abacha’s gesture is very rare. In fact, kindness is better appreciated when it is not solicited or when it is offered at a time it is most needed. And I know nothing of the man on a personal level!
When you are rich, it is no indication that you are smarter than others in the eyes of God. Indeed, when God endows us with power and wealth he does so to test the strength of our faith. For example, God wants to see whether we may use the power or money for good or ill. Some men of power and money use the privilege to oppress others. At some point, however, God can decide to take the money and power away and reduce the arrogant to the level of their previous ordinariness. Leaders without compassion are like a body without soul. Philosophers always make a distinction between pity and compassion. They posit that compassion takes action while pity merely feels sorry! Compassion is therefore, more genuine than pity. Compassion drives the rich to act and bring succour to those in need of it.
The late Chief Moshood Abiola became famous not because he was a successful accountant or businessman; he was because compassion was the driving force of his life. His generosity respected no borders; he was the first politician who had successfully pushed down ethnic, religious, tribal and regional barriers. He was voted for by all Nigerians, regardless of our differences. The famous author of 48 Laws of Power, Robert Green, said strategic generosity can disarm the most hardened enemy. A nation without compassionate leaders is doomed. When leaders don’t feel for others, they can hardly identify with their problems, let alone ever bother to help. Kindness has nothing to do with one’s age.
The generous gifts of food to the people by Alhaji Abacha could not have come at a better time. It is not true that those without a background of poverty cannot be kind. If such theory was ever held true, Alhaji Abacha has successfully discredited that ill-founded postulation. In the past, he has donated sophisticated equipment to public hospitals, including a machine that helps surgeons to perform operations without opening up the patients. Youth and community development associations have also benefitted from his philanthropy. The idea of contesting didn’t originally occur to him; the initiative came from the people who believe he should join the gubernatorial race. And now, I am one of those people. The general concern is that politics is dominated by hungry office-seekers who want power to build themselves while the ordinary people continue to wallow in abject poverty. The mandate of any genuine politician is founded on the hearts of the people. The biggest challenge Alhaji Abacha has thrown to us is that the rich must touch the lives of others or they become irrelevant and morally disqualified to seek leadership at any level.
Bichi lives at No. 28 Janet Akinrinade Street, Jabi, Abuja
Leadership and the essence of compassion
Category: Comments Written by Mohammed Ahmed Bichi Hits: 2188
It is hard to see how a leader at any level can connect with empathy to the people when he is lacking in kindness. In fact, it was the famous American billionaire, Andrew Carnegie who said: “he that dies rich, dies disgraced.” According to his philosophy of giving, it is better to err on the side of philanthropy than to die as a mean, selfish man. The essence of life, it is said, is not its duration but its donation. Surely, the greatest pleasure in life lies in the spirit of giving. Both Islam and Christianity lay stress on the significance of philanthropy and other gestures of kindness towards others. Some people are so miserly with their wealth and uncaring about their neighbours as if they will live forever! Despite this reality of daily experience, there are still some well-to-do Nigerians whose commitment to humanity we must celebrate so as to encourage others to emulate them. The Ramadan fasting period is usually the time when the rich share their wealth with others.
In fact, bringing comfort and smiles to the faces of the less-privileged is one of the great virtues that please God. Disturbed by the pervasive poverty afflicting the majority of the ordinary people, a PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha has left many people speechless because of his incredible level of philanthropy, which respects no political borders. He recently shared 10,000 bags of rice and another 5,000 bags of sugar to the ordinary people to help them do their fasting comfortably with their families. Considering the incredible level of poverty among the masses, such gesture was like an oasis in the desert of despair. Indeed, poverty has become a daily companion of thousands of ordinary people and Abacha’s gesture has gone to a great extent in bringing them instant relief. The beneficiaries chanted praises to God and enthusiastically prayed to God to bless the giver in every aspect of his life. Philanthropy has nothing to do with one’s level of wealth; it has more to do with the inherent spirit of giving. As far as the ordinary people of Kano State are concerned, Abacha’s gesture is very rare. In fact, kindness is better appreciated when it is not solicited or when it is offered at a time it is most needed. And I know nothing of the man on a personal level!
When you are rich, it is no indication that you are smarter than others in the eyes of God. Indeed, when God endows us with power and wealth he does so to test the strength of our faith. For example, God wants to see whether we may use the power or money for good or ill. Some men of power and money use the privilege to oppress others. At some point, however, God can decide to take the money and power away and reduce the arrogant to the level of their previous ordinariness. Leaders without compassion are like a body without soul. Philosophers always make a distinction between pity and compassion. They posit that compassion takes action while pity merely feels sorry! Compassion is therefore, more genuine than pity. Compassion drives the rich to act and bring succour to those in need of it.
The late Chief Moshood Abiola became famous not because he was a successful accountant or businessman; he was because compassion was the driving force of his life. His generosity respected no borders; he was the first politician who had successfully pushed down ethnic, religious, tribal and regional barriers. He was voted for by all Nigerians, regardless of our differences. The famous author of 48 Laws of Power, Robert Green, said strategic generosity can disarm the most hardened enemy. A nation without compassionate leaders is doomed. When leaders don’t feel for others, they can hardly identify with their problems, let alone ever bother to help. Kindness has nothing to do with one’s age.
The generous gifts of food to the people by Alhaji Abacha could not have come at a better time. It is not true that those without a background of poverty cannot be kind. If such theory was ever held true, Alhaji Abacha has successfully discredited that ill-founded postulation. In the past, he has donated sophisticated equipment to public hospitals, including a machine that helps surgeons to perform operations without opening up the patients. Youth and community development associations have also benefitted from his philanthropy. The idea of contesting didn’t originally occur to him; the initiative came from the people who believe he should join the gubernatorial race. And now, I am one of those people. The general concern is that politics is dominated by hungry office-seekers who want power to build themselves while the ordinary people continue to wallow in abject poverty. The mandate of any genuine politician is founded on the hearts of the people. The biggest challenge Alhaji Abacha has thrown to us is that the rich must touch the lives of others or they become irrelevant and morally disqualified to seek leadership at any level.
Bichi lives at No. 28 Janet Akinrinade Street, Jabi, Abuja