Rethinking Leadership in South Sudan

(OPINION/Agrey Cyrus Kanyikwa)

The struggle and confusion over finding a better nation, government and leaders continue around the world, especially at a time of growing anger and rebellion.

Ongoing bitterness and unresolved pain, mixed with pride, can slowly destroy awareness and mislead even the wise. As long as we live in wrong and refuse to accept our personal faults, we are deceiving ourselves. We will never discover our true potential or move forward in life.

Elections alone will not bring into government a holy person who will say everything the people want and then do it perfectly. People cannot sit and expect to be served without working hard to contribute to their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the nation. A true leader is not a perfect person. A leader comes from among sinners who choose forgiveness, obedience to God and the laws of the nation, commitment to serve God and the people, compassion and a life of peace with God and society.

Elections will not produce an extraordinary person while citizens simply watch and expect to be served without making any effort or sacrifice. An election is only one way of identifying someone, based on their willingness and determination to serve God and His people, shown through differences that may be accepted by some people, even if only by a small number.

It is important to note that a person who is elected, chosen or even claimed to be anointed can still become a harsh and cruel leader if their true character, behaviour and attitude are hidden behind a false appearance of humility, only to later harm the people. It becomes even worse when those who may truly be called by God are rejected simply because they do not satisfy personal and selfish interests. In such a case, the next leader will likely not be the one we truly need.

Any South Sudanese can become a leader if that person humbles themselves as a child of God and dedicates their life to serving God and His people with honesty, integrity, faith, obedience and love. Whether through election, selection or anointment, a person’s goodness or badness is hidden in the heart and is revealed only through their actions, behaviour and attitude.

Human judgement is limited. We can only measure what is inside a person by how they show love, peace and goodwill. It is not fair to judge someone for failing to meet our personal desires while we also refuse to take responsibility and contribute to our shared welfare and the progress of our nation.

No one is completely good or bad simply because of an election, a selection or an anointment. A good person can become bad through corruption. A bad person can change and become good if they turn away from wrongdoing and humble themselves to obey God, the laws of the nation, and live in love, truth and faithfulness.

When we hate those who are in power because they do not serve our personal interests or desires, we reject God’s judgement and the legal systems we claim to follow. We become rebellious and distance ourselves from what is truly good for us.

We must renew and awaken our understanding. A better nation, a better government and better leaders can only exist when people are willing to work, accept responsibility and make sacrifices for a better future.

This means offering good actions without expecting rewards, showing goodwill without reservation, opening our hearts to forgiveness without conditions, choosing reconciliation with one another, and committing ourselves to love and doing what is right.

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