Their Tales; Not Their Silence

When it comes to penning down my thoughts and beliefs, I can be quite enthusiastic. But the desire‘acme-ed’ when the discourse of greatness strolled downmyalley. It’s only because exceptionality, along all its plains, is something that soothingly massages my fancy, releasing excitement.

I often find myself immersed in books and discussions about it, yet my fascination feels no wane. And, I love to observe men of this breed in action and grudgingly, in their silence though it hurts. Even from a very acute angle, I quite excitingly understand their various acts and attainments inspire many. On the other hand, their silence tells us nothing, rubbing pains deeper into our veins. And, that is, if we appreciate the many discomforts of silence. Yes, we’d love the great humansamongst us to talk.

This is only because their words, to some of us, maybe a bit biblical as we quest for phenomenal successes in all our endeavours.

Just a few months back, some of my folksbothered about begging for the chatters of these unusual men, in an extraordinary sense. The belief there was something in them for all of us was clearly real, almost outer-worldly. We sought many ways to get them to share, to reveal, to talk to us the larger majorityof the many unknowns that drove all of them to dizzying heights. Luckily for us in thiscluster, we dreamt, which impaled our sleep. In our dream we sought for and found something ofgreat goodness and value to many a human and society. We argued, arranging and rearranging our thoughts and views in meaningful sequence. Slowly but assuredly, we understood in the wholeness of discussion, awareness is heightened.

And, raised awareness has its own ways of propping appropriate actions. And, when the action iswell-timed, would certainly lead to desired results. We felt quite good; something worthwhile is about the shore. At last, we created the Lunar Leadership Society – a platform of like-minds to foster, promote, nurture as well as raise the level of discourse/treatise on leadership and personal/self-development.Although we admitted it might not have given the ‘eureka feeling’, only few things do.The Lunar Leadership Society may not have received points for originality; the society promises to be different.

Thereafter, itbecame much easier to create a sub-podium for these men of raw grit and extraordinary courage to share with us values leading to their thickness of standards, practices and beliefs in a society prevailed by the thinness of the beings in all of these spheres.We bartered and finally settled thatall of them would rather be hot, rising steam than drinkable lukewarm water in a grandmother’s clay-pot.

We are enthused.So far, The Lunar Leadership Society is well-received given website visits and the rising number of enlistments. That is, if count highlight more than sheer numbers.Like all phenomena, we bank on the strength of enough. When we get there, the count will take a pause. For now, the door is still ajar.

The especially focused sub-podium is here with us too. And, it is entitled, ‘their tales, not their silence’. The sub-platform is to celebrate some of the nation’s greatest of men and women whilst we listen our ways to more meaningful existence. When they talk and we heed, we’d end up as big gainers.

Yes, we choose to celebrate them for many reasons. One, we know and have embraced the individuals in our homes could be the prophets we seek for in other men’s apartments. We are different; for we cuddle that the apparent isn’t all the time completely shallow. In slight of the typical Nigerian view, we don’t believe the great guys are not of our shores like many are wont to think. They aren’t just always outside; they are inside, here with us. We easily wrestled the oft-mouthed belief they are in America, in Asia and in Europe. They are definitely not of Africa, nay Nigeria.We honestly differ, thinking they are here with us. And, truly, they are.

Aliko Dangote isn’t American. That quiet, shy-looking man is from Kano, Nigeria. Jim Ovia isn’t white. That Agbor man is black.And, he is Nigerian. Tony Elumelu isn’t European. He’s from Delta State, Nigeria. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe aren’t Asians. The former is Edo and the latter, from Rivers State. They are Nigerians. So, are the likes of the GT Bank duo of Fola Adeola and Tayo Aderinokun (of blessed memory), Atedo Peterside, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Folorunsho Alakija, Otunba Subomi Balogun and Pascal Dozie, Ibukun Awosika etc. This list is too short.

There are many ranked Nigerians out there worthy to be celebrated; worthier to be listened to. But where are the daises? The Lunar Leadership Society presents one of such stands, which primarily is about the speedy spread of hardly-available practical business – greatness knowledge through this crop of our finest. Well, maybe, wisdom which, arguably, is peculiar to our clime.

These men, many will agree, are strong-rolled, tenacious, action-oriented, resilient and self-confident. They are also hardworking enthusiastic, optimistic, brave, purpose-driven and energetic. Aren’t they also explorers? As explorers, they have furrowed into the dark, uninviting and insipid cavernous holes of greatness. On their paths were large odds;some of them, largest of odds, which are unimaginable. Being extra – made of more, these men defiled them with the sound and smiles of victory coming somewhat earlier. Isn’t it about time we listened to their tales?Isn’t it time we told them their silence hurts? Because in their stories, the next generation of legends are certain to experiencesome refreshing beam of sunlight inspiration. Welcome to the Lunar Leadership Society; welcome to ‘their tales, not their silence’.

Tony Monye

The Convener

The Lunar Leadership Society