Complaining About Leadership Failure

If the best that can be brought against someone complaining of a failure in leadership is to ask the complainant to go and do better, then there's a gap in the discourse that has been left unattended.

In the very idea of leadership is implied the fact that we can't all do it ourselves. Therefore, a few, representative of our embodied goals, are picked to coalesce our strengths and work towards the realisation of common ends. The criteria for this "picking" often involves the concession that the individuals so picked represent the best among us suited for the purposes of attainment of said goals. This also carries with it the implied contract that given the peculiarities of the situation, some preferences will be accorded to these reps such as will make their tasks not too burdensome, so that certain luxuries are allowed them at the expense of those for whom they work; those they serve.

Within this framework, the majority go about their lives earning an honest living and keeping their side of the bargain in the expectation that it is reciprocated by the reps working for the common goal. When this majority infringe on the larger agreement, the laws of the land, they must submit themselves for the appropriate repercussions. All that is all good and well.

But, cue in the case here. These reps, with the bowler gentleman (yimu) at the helm, do anything but keep to the terms of this contract. They multiply the luxuries that accrue to them by means both unjust and illegal, arm-twist the legal justice system to do their bidding, obfuscate the essence of leadership so badly that when they distribute the crumbs of peanuts that fall off their tables to a few anointed acolytes, the latter swarm the media with news of how this or that wolf of our politics is "TRYING", while they simply cannot even keep to the singular dictate of the Constitution which charges them to look to the WELFARE and SECURITY of the citizens.

All these while, the majority does not relent in keeping their own side of the bargain. The acute lack of charismatic leadership becomes so stark, the blind see it. And as a result, some other-sighted individuals, who can no longer keep quiet because of the ringing in their ears from the disturbance of an informed conscience, decide to speak out, calling a spade its given name. They also engage in fora that seeks some corrective measures to stem the tide of such brigandage, measures they don't intend to currently publicise. Plus, they have intentions to be more proactive should the means become available.

It is imperceptibly benumbing to them to see others who are as victims as they are ask them to correct the malaise by doing, on their own, what should be the government's task ab initio. Because they raised their voices to call out a perceived irresponsibility on the part of the government, the next best thing to do is to ask them to go do it themselves? So, why was the government there in the first place? Why do we have to run the most expensive government in the world, by GDP ratio, if it was as easy as it comes to do this stuff ourselves?

As I began, however good intentioned we get, we can't do this all as individuals. We'd so expertly complicate matters if we even attempt it. So, it is a necessary duty that the government is set up to provide and we do what it takes to get them do it. But not passively. We take turns to watch them and make sure that, as our employees, they ain't sleeping on the job nor blowing away our good dough playing Candy Crush while miscreants run off with huge chunks of the Company in a trail of blood.

The language in which that watchful Enterprise is ensured now depends on different variables such as the temperament of the person speaking at the time and the enormity of the malfeasance the one speaking is addressing.

And, if the "picked" can't stand the heat, he or she shouldn't be so clueless to fail to realise that "no bi by force to govern". He or she should honourably leave at any time or be courteous enough to those being denied appropriate leadership and not present himself or herself for the next round of "pickings" no matter how many orchestrated signatures he collects begging him to continue.

Minding the Neighbour’s Business

Paul raised his eyes from the book he was reading to look around the sitting room as the neighbour’s generating set came on. The standing fan still rotated. And the indicator on the extension box for the TV and decoder plugs still glowed red. There was still power being supplied.

“Why won’t this man just pay his electricity bill like everyone and at least save some of the fuel money for other things?” he thought to himself. Adding, “And allow us some peace during the day?”

“Is that from ‘Iron Man’s’ house?” Paul’s mum asked from the kitchen.

“Yes,” answered Paul, smiling at his mum’s use of the popular street alias of their neighbour. He sold iron rods at the biggest retail market in the area.

As she entered the dining section of the sitting room with a bowl in hand, she voiced Paul’s thoughts. “Does that mean they cut his light yesterday when they came around again? All the money for fuel could’ve been enough to pay for more electricity than he uses in three months. And he could’ve used the change to pay that his cleaner who’s always complaining of not being paid. Ah ah!”

“I tire oh!” Paul agreed. The generator seemed to be in agreement as it fluttered. It sounded as if the machine was coughing.

“Will they even pity that gen and fuel it, sef?” another voice added.

Paul turned around to see Cali, his mum’s driver enter the dining room.

“Is that the reason for the sputtering?” Paul questioned him, and noticing the lost look, rephrased, “…that’s the…ermm, change in sound?” his eyebrows going up quizzically.

“Yes na!” Cali responded. “When the fuel is almost finished, that is how the gen tries to tell everyone that the tank is almost empty na!”

“Hmmm,” Paul sighed.

“As rich as he is, he can’t fuel his gen, he can pay NEPA and he can’t pay the people that work for him,” Cali went on, vigorously shaking his head. “Na wa ooh! And na so dem go dey shange car up and down, dey travel everywhere, all around the world. No contri dem neva reash! No bi money dem dey take travel? Abi na ‘san-san’?”

Paul’s laughter stuck in his throat when he noticed that it was his mother’s icy stare that stopped the driver from continuing his tirade. Cali quickly zipped it, picked up her bags and food flask and scurried away to go get the car prepped.

Paul hid his smile with his book when his mother’s lips turned up in disgust.

“That’s how this Cali runs his mouth oo! You see his small mouth, and you think he can’t make a complete sentence,” his mother said.

“But even in things that don’t concern him, he must talk. You should see how many times I have to stop him from talking about everything and anything he sees on the road while driving. If not for my prayers and God’s guidance, I’m not sure how safe we’d be on the road.” His mother clapped her hands in the vertical manner typical of sarcastic reactions, her lips still turned up.

Paul, now really laughing, noted, “But he was right sha! No bi ‘san-san’ dem dey use fuel gen na! Talkless of travelling abroad or even buying cars.”

His mum shot him one of her ‘looks’. “Ehen?” she countered, “Is it your business?”

“But it disturbs our peace na?” Paul lamented.

And right then, as if on cue, the generating set was switched off. The silence could be touched.

“Well, that’s your peace, right there,” his mum enthused as she reached for the door. “Enjoy it,” she said and as she closed the door, finished, “while it lasts.”

It was his turn this time to ‘yimu’.

On the other side of the fence, however, the generator technician, after trying the generating set for a while to test the quality of the job he’d just finished doing on the set had just turned it off. He was satisfied. As was ‘Iron Man’. As the technician left ‘Iron Man’s’ gate, he stopped to allow Paul mum’s car go by. The driver eyed him with some maleficience.

Cali was already talking about him by the time the technician crossed the street behind the leaving vehicle.

Old Tambuwal Out. New Tambuwal In

Suddenly, a youth wing of, emmm, youths have begun whipping up support for the youthful Aminu Tambuwal as a viable alternative for President. They wish other youths to board this wagon, latch unto this drive and make it a reality as he has what it takes to deliver where others have failed. And they're running this on the platform of the opposition party, the APC.

I doubt the credentials of the character of someone as shifty as Tambuwal. And this current "politics of convenience" doesn't bode us any good. It has become convenient now for anti-PDP stalwarts to prop up a previously staunch PDP henchman for no other reason but his cross-carpeting, due, largely, to selfish ambitions? And suddenly, he's what? The Messiah? Please!

If he'd had moral grounds or clash of principles and values as the bases for defecting, that'll have been considered in a different light. But we know concepts like MORALS, VALUES, PRINCIPLES are anathema for these folks.

As an alleged "youth" I'd be doing myself a disservice allowing such characters as Tambuwal lay any claim to represent me. I speak for myself. He doesn't have that mandate. He doesn't qualify. He failed.

Contenders for GEJ's Consensus Spot Arise

Good morning Panel of Judges, co-debaters, accurate time-keeper, ladies and gentlemen.

Allow me to argue against the motion which states that "Allowing Other Candidates Pick Presidential Forms to Contest Against the Consensus Candidate of PDP is Democratic and the Candidates Have a Chance"

The points of those favouring the motion are beautifully expressed and quite impressive. But were these other candidates not thought of when the hierarchy of the party were junketing across the country in their heavily publicised signature-gathering in all the zonal rallies of different opportunistic groups for support for their "Best President Nigeria Ever Had"?

2. Where were these other contenders at the time? I'm not going to aver that they were in the contingent of these cross-country travellers. It's likely, but...

3. Were they not aware of the party's decision to stick with a "winning formula" in the person of GEJ and his acolytes in power?

4. Did they not notice how N98.1m was purportedly raised by governors and other "well-intentioned" individuals (whose names were later listed) in a bid to "help" the once "shoeless" Otuoke son buy a N20m presidential form?

5. Can they claim to have been oblivious of the fact that having gathered signatures and provided the funds for the form, the party stooped to their most recent low to beg the incumbent "messiah" to contest so as to consolidate on his "good luck" to Nigeria?

6. Is their ignorance so massive that it missed all the media time purchased by a coterie of managed and tele-guided groupings to remind amnesic and senile Nigerians of the amazing "transformation" that has been Nigeria's lot since he took the reins of power as president, even though this (indirectly, if you like) flew in the face of the country's electoral law?

7. Have they forgotten that he is the incumbent with the blessing of the current party "leaders" and the faith family consisting of the biggest pastors in the world from this country?

8. Is it beyond them to witness the strides being made to secure the release of the girls abducted by Haramites and acquire for the country an unprecedented ceasefire with blood-thirsty extremists? The first of its kind anywhere in the world? Instantly making the incumbent the international celebrity model of terrorist dealings?

9. Do they not note how the incumbent singlehandedly fought Ebola to a halt, thereby acquiring a cult-like following internationally as the WHO gave the country a clean bill of health?

10. Haven't they noticed how Mama Peace, Dame Patience has become kingmaker across the South South, only needing to raise the hand of the "handpicked" candidate for the next election for said person to have the best chance of becoming the party's flagbearer? Such power only comes with longstanding and obese patience.

So, my ladies and gentlemen, with these few points of mine, it is hoped that you have become convinced beyond rational doubt that their attempts at democratising the process is a ruse and that some more observant of the populace see beyond the smokescreen. You don't democratise by giving one of the contenders an unfair advantage. For 2015, there is, as Adewumi Noah Adeniyi said, "only one Usain Bolt in the race" for Aso Rock in PDP.

Thank you.