The Peril of Self-Appointed Leadership 

The Peril of Self-Appointed Leadership 

by Jerry Adesewo

Leadership is a sacred trust, a divine calling that requires both preparation and sacrifice. In the past editions of this column, we explored the essence of leadership as a call to service, not an investment for personal gain. We highlighted the example of Moses, a leader refined by trials, and contrasted it with the modern-day Nigerian political landscape, where leadership is often sought for personal enrichment rather than public service. This week, we take a step further to examine the dangers of self-appointed leadership, which seem to have become our lot in Nigeria, and other parts of Africa, and the world, drawing insights from Numbers 16:1-35 and Nigeria’s flawed electioneering system, which enables unqualified individuals to impose themselves as leaders.

Korah’s Rebellion: A Lesson in Illegitimate Leadership

Korah was not an ordinary man; he was a Levite, a privileged member of the priestly class, entrusted with serving in Israel’s worship of God. However, rather than embracing his divine assignment, he allowed ambition and entitlement to consume him. He convinced 250 respected leaders to join him in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, claiming they had exalted themselves above the assembly (Numbers 16:1-3).

Read Also: Leadership Is Not an Investment, but a Sacrifice

Korah’s downfall teaches a fundamental truth about leadership—not everyone who desires power is fit to lead. His gifted leadership and persuasive speaking ability earned him followers, but he lacked the humility, divine backing, and sense of responsibility that true leadership demands. Instead of being remembered as a faithful servant, Korah’s legacy became one of destruction, as he and his followers perished under divine judgment.

This is the tragedy of self-appointed leaders—they do not build; they destroy. They operate outside divine purpose, manipulate followers for personal gain, and ultimately bring suffering upon those they claim to lead.  Does this sound familiar?

The Nigerian Parallel: A System That Enables Self-Appointed Leaders

Like Korah, many leaders in Nigeria today impose themselves on the people, not through a divine call or a track record of service, but through manipulation, deceit, and financial muscle. Our electioneering system, rather than producing God-ordained, people-chosen leaders, has become a marketplace where power is sold to the highest bidder.

In many instances, leadership is not earned by integrity, competence, or sacrifice but by wealth, tribal influence, and political connections. The process allows for the emergence of leaders who are neither prepared nor willing to serve. Political godfathers, much like Korah, use their influence to impose candidates upon the people, disregarding merit or the public good.

The result? A nation plagued with corruption, misgovernance, and suffering, because those at the helm of affairs see leadership as an entitlement rather than a responsibility. How else do we explain a situation where public officeholders loot billions while citizens struggle with insecurity, poverty, and poor infrastructure? How do we justify a system where political office is seen as an investment, and elections are fought with financial war chests rather than ideological vision?

Man-Appointed vs. Self-Appointed Leaders 

In every society, there are two kinds of false leaders:

1. Man-Appointed Leaders: These are individuals who ascend to power through political manipulation, nepotism, and financial influence rather than merit or public trust. They are placeholders, controlled by the political godfathers, who placed them in power. They serve personal and political interests instead of the people.

2. Self-Appointed Leaders: These are individuals who, like Korah, impose themselves through ambition and deception, seeking power for personal glorification. They are often seen in dictatorial regimes, coup d’états, and political structures where leaders refuse to step down, clinging to power at all costs, as has become the norm in many African countries today.

Nigeria has suffered under both types. The military era saw self-appointed leaders who took power by force, ruling with an iron fist. The democratic era, on the other hand, has seen an influx of man-appointed leaders—politicians installed by powerful godfathers, indebted to their financiers, and ultimately serving the interests of a few rather than the will of the people.

A Call for God-Ordained Leadership

If Nigeria must progress, we must return to the principles of divine leadership—leaders who are called to serve, not those who force themselves into power. Moses did not seek leadership; he was chosen by God, tested through trials, and refined for the task ahead. Similarly, great leaders of history—Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Sankara—were not self-imposed but were called to leadership through service and sacrifice.  Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is a Nigerian example. He had leadership entrusted to him by divine arrangement but lost it the moment he became engrossed with power and wanted.

Godly leadership is marked by humility, accountability, and a burden for the people. It is not about power, privilege, or wealth, but about service, stewardship, and sacrificial commitment to the common good. Until Nigeria embraces these values in governance, we will continue to suffer under the weight of corrupt, self-serving leadership.

Final Thoughts: The Warning of Korah’s Fall

Korah’s story is a warning to every nation that tolerates self-imposed leadership. God does not support rebellion, entitlement, or ambition without service. When leaders impose themselves outside God’s will, they may rise for a while, but their fall is inevitable.

Nigeria must wake up. If our democracy is to yield meaningful results, we must reject self-appointed and man-appointed leaders. The people must demand leaders who are prepared, competent, and genuinely committed to national development.

The question remains: Will we continue to tolerate self-appointed leaders, or will we insist on God-ordained, people-chosen leaders who will truly serve? The choice we make today will determine our future.