Support Must Never Suspend Scrutiny

A board declares confidence in its chief executive. A church affirms a pastor. A political caucus endorses a candidate. A professional association supports a regulator's direction. A continental body promises its votes to an international leader. Each act may express considered judgement, shared purpose and legitimate solidarity.

The danger begins when support is treated as the end of judgement. Leaders who have promised loyalty can become reluctant to examine new evidence, disclose dependence, protect dissent or admit that conditions have changed. People who ask necessary questions are then described as disloyal, even when scrutiny is part of the duty that made the support legitimate in the first place.

Support must never suspend scrutiny. Values-based leadership can honour relationship and remain intellectually, morally and institutionally free. It states who authorised the position, the evidence on which it rests, the interests and dependencies surrounding it, the matters that remain open, the protection available to dissenters and the event at which support will be reviewed.

Reuters reported at 16:27 East Africa Time on 8 October that the presidents of all 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football had pledged what CAF President Patrice Motsepe described as their unconditional support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as president of FIFA. Motsepe connected that support to Infantino's record and support for African football. Infantino referred to more than USD 1…