An Article by Femi Oladele; 2025 EPLF Fellow
Do we ever get to the bridge? A question that shifts my mind as it appears that the goalpost keeps shifting to dissuade competent engagement in the political arena. The challenge however is a mirage, keep walking or running towards it and it disappears.
Slightly different from the ‘end of the tunnel’ narrative, I theorize that what we do preparing to ‘cross’ is more important than what we say we will do when we get ‘there’ before we get ‘there’. A significant driver for effective political leadership is the ability to prospect political competence for future challenges, opportunities, and engagements. It is simply not enough to ‘say’ what will be done; much more than that, is the ability to gain the competence to under promise, but overdeliver.
As you plan to achieve a feat, including political leadership, the many ‘what ifs’ stand staring and intimidating, but to successfully swim through the skirmishes of overanalyzes or the demanding stares of “have you got this covered?’, ‘we will cross the bridge when we get there” provides consolation of some sort. While this might appear as a convenient dismissal of responsibility, I propose it as a gateway to ensure undivided focus in preparing for what is likely to come. With the dynamics of rapidly changing socio-economic and political landscapes, we understand that we cannot reliably overpredict hence need to manage expectations within confines of comfort. Political leadership in the global South is fraught with significant challenges, nay, opportunities especially for young people in governance and leadership. Getting it all figured out feels cool, but history acquaints us that those who project perfection, instead of prospect competence failed the most.
Is it possible that our expectation for political leaders to ‘know it all’ or ‘have it all figured out’ is a trapping that has kept us from allowing them to prospect for leadership skills to help them help us ‘cross’? A paradigm shift is required to see that ‘we will cross the bridge when we get there’ is not tantamount to laziness, but an appreciation of the dynamics of the situation, a call to further study the situation, generate ideas, analyze alternatives, and make informed decisions for how to ‘cross’. This gives leaders the opportunity to prospect for skills to help them tackle dynamic challenges for good.
Do not be pressured to have everything figured out, but not lazily nor unprepared. When I say, ‘I will cross the bridge when I get there’, it is from a place of appreciation for the learning resources, exposure, networks, and opportunities that The Bridge Leadership Fellowship (TBLF) has put together for me as a 2025 Fellow of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship. I am learning political skills and building competence for effective political leadership.
Are you willing, ready, and able to cross the bridge when you get there? Join the waitlist for the 2026 Cohort.
Femi Oladele is a Public Policy Enthusiast and can be reached via email at olafemidele@gmail.com
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