Peter McCann: A Great African
The greater the power, the greater the addiction to power. To give up the cocaine of power merits admiration. Relinquishing power when not absolutely forced to is a noble act. CEOs and businesses founders cling to power beyond and sometimes far beyond their best years. They embrace willful blindness, confirmatory bias and hubris. History provides business and government leaders with fine role models.
In ancient Rome, Cincinnatus (519–430 BC) is our first example of relinquishing power. ‘Within his lifetime Cincinnatus became a legend to the Romans. Twice granted supreme power, he held onto it for not a day longer than absolutely necessary.’ (1)
In early US, George Washington (1732 – 1799) was one of the two greatest Americans of the 18th century, the other being Benjamin Franklin. In a story widely told, King George III asked what Washington would do if the Americans won independence; when told that Washington would return to his farm, George III replied ‘If he does that he will be the greatest man in the world.’ (2) Washington completed his insurgency and his presidency and returned to his farm.
In South Africa, Nelson Mandela has the status of a secular icon. But, Frederik Willem de Klerk (b 1936) jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993. Mandela’s legacy rests on his achievements including his presidency of South Africa and his moral and aspirational leadership over many years; de Klerk’s legacy rests on his principled relinquishment of power. Let us recognize each man’s greatness and contributions without sterile relativism.
In Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan (b 1957) was recently defeated in reasonably clean presidential elections and graciously conceded on March 31 2015. Jonathan saved Nigeria from ruinous conflict and he legitimized and embedded democracy in Nigeria. He is leaving power as a statesman.
Cincinnatus, Washington, de Klerk, Jonathan – all great men, in much different circumstances, and made greater in their relinquishing power. They had ‘feet of clay’ though, as all men do.
CEOs and business founders should read biographies of Cincinnatus and Washington who are sufficiently distant in time to allow dispassionate appraisals (3) and de Klerk may be controversial. Goodluck Jonathan is our most recent role model of relinquishing power.
Peter McCann is a Canadian management consultant. He is scheduled for two seminars in Lagos, in June 2015.
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