THE QUESTION OF POWER IN AFRICA REGARDING LEADERSHIP BY UWANUAKWA ISIDORE

GENRE: ARTICLE
TITLE: THE QUESTION OF POWER IN AFRICA REGARDING LEADERSHIP
WRITER: UWANUAKWA ISIDORE, ALGERIA
REVIEWER: JOSEPH ODURO, GHANA

The etymology of the word 'Power' metamorphoses under the auspices of the political ecosystem of a setting in which the word primes. This is what we get from Uwanuakwa's article, The Question of Power in Africa Regarding Leaderships." In recent years, humans have greatly evolved in the modes of political systems being patronized. In most cases, this sudden change in political atmosphere is brought about by cultural assimilation, imposition, and acculturation. The changes in the political terrain and the system of power breed resistance and chaos due to the novelty of the system of power or political ideology which most seek for the interest of the minority.

The writer explores the viable conditions needed for power to prevail. According to his article, the various resources that fuel power are intelligence, skills, and money. This assertion embodies the key roles of the people to influence the growth of power. Power may result from motivation but the absence of these resources makes it futile and a wasteful pursuit. Thus, African leaders to be precise, may not be able to extend the influence of their power in the face of inadequate funds, resources, and support, and the only way autocratic leaders could assume power is when they have absolute and total control over the aforementioned resources.

Power and its influence in the African context employ five different types of working definitions (i.e. coercive power, legitimate power, expert power, reward power, and referent power). Coercive power remains the most common form of power that prevails in our societies today. Leaders who employ this form of power, impose the fear of being hurt or poorly treated. Fear has proven to be a very effective tool for social control and maintaining balance in society. Leaders and sects of society who employ this ideology may have their power truncated in a short time through resistance. Expert power connotes influence or position gained by the virtues of the leader. These may include personal skills, educational achievements, and other peculiar virtues. Legitimate power is acquired based on position, title or office held by the leader. Reward power is based on the leader's ability to reward his subjects and Referent power, on the other hand, is based on the leaders' personal traits and relations with people of influence.

The author highly considers his audience, as such the article takes the reader on an educative and enlightening tour with so much ease with the help of the simple diction employed in explaining such a complex subject. The chronological arrangements of facts spell out the theme and purpose of this article as well. The theme is very much relevant as it applies greatly to the current political ecosystem of Africa.