In 1979, the election was between Awolowo and Shagari – Nigerians voted Shagari (an unknown grade 2 teacher hyped by the cabals of the day). 22years later, the same Nigerians learnt nothing from history – I would have been expecting people who have been voting recently since 1999 (after years of military rule) to be more “open and fair” when choosing their leader but I guess my views are insane and unpopular as I watched with tears people jubilating and popping champagne over the win of GEJ.
As a good loser, I congratulated my opponents and sucked it in – the win was just too awesome as the numbers were clear whom Nigerians wanted. 7 months later, I am surprised at peoples’ complains – “Boko Haram Bombings, Fuel Subsidy Removal, ASUU strike, Incessant Power Supply, etc”. How can one make a choice and be complaining about it? The choice in itself was beyond comprehension – imagine you own a company and you wanted to select a General Manager between two candidates.
Candidate A Profile
I am a Christian from the South of the country like you and I believe in God’s favor over my life. I have been acting in the capacity of the General Manager for 1 year now though I was the Deputy General Manager for two years. Before the getting to the position of Deputy, I was the Manager of the Sales Department; I became the Manager because the other Manager was accused of fraud. During all my appointments, which came through Luck, I have achieved nothing in fact; sales dropped drastically when I was managing the Sales Department. However, I am a likeable person and no body in my region has ever been the General Manager. Your company will be better if I am giving the chance to serve as your GM.
Candidate B Profile
Unlike you, I am a Muslim from the North. I have been in the position of a General Manager 17yrs earlier. As the General Manager, I implemented quality processes which where pivotal to company’s bottom line and employee motivation. I protected the company’s brand and improved it amongst all stakeholders like suppliers and customers. Please, check company records for references. Though the General Manager’s position was taking from me, I humbly took the position of the Project Manager for Diesel Supply some years later, where I not only saved the company millions of Naira, I initiated and implemented an Education Trust Fund for the wards of the employees. I know that I am strict which is not a likeable characteristics but I believe more in company progress than human sentiments.
If you truly own this company and you want to leave a legacy for your children’s children to the 10th generation, would you have chosen candidate A? If you are privy to a Pilot’s record which shows abysmal and reckless handling of his simulation testing and he wants to fly for the first time and you are to be the passenger; would you agree even if he is a likeable person from your tribe and religion? If in our everyday decision, we demand excellence amidst sentiments, why do we trivialize the most important job vacancy – leadership – since everything rises and falls with it?
It is important to note that I am not anti-GEJ or blaming him for anything; the truth is that I actually like him. However, he cannot do beyond what he is equipped to do; please, cross-reference the parable of the talent in the bible. All responsibility goes to the citizens that complain especially the ones that voted him in – why blame another for what you caused? No matter the debate, forum discussions, arguments, tantrums, etc, the way forward is that we work with him as the President…
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January 26, 2012 at 12:17 pm (UTC 1)
Bros, u don talk am gbam, na we vote am, we mus surport am, na prayer we go dey pray say d man no go scatter we shock absover finish before im leave.
January 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm (UTC 1)
Kudos…thumb up!
Very thoughtful write up.
I never voted for him & i am not regretting that.
Even an inexperience leader can be efficient if he surround himself with people with experience & credibility…not those that will do everything possible to satisfy their own selfish interest as we are witnessing.
Anyway, all we can do is to support what we perceive as good intentions and prayer.
Long live nigeria!
January 12, 2012 at 7:47 am (UTC 1)
Hmmm Dipo,
As one of those who campaigned for Jonathan, I quite agree we made a mistake, genuine mistake. Sometimes God elevates people to certain positions for a reason. Politics is just like marriage, you don’t really know the person until he/she is in! You can never be 100% sure. Mind you Buhari may have taken this same stance on this fuel subsidy bcos at the end of the day a good or bad leader is a reflection of his advisers! Also I particularly shied away from Buhari bcos I felt (and still feel) he would have ruled us like Obasanjo, taking his decisions without care! The things we will never know until he gets there!
I pray our democracy grows to the stage where those who have a pedigree of visible achievement will offer themselves for elective positions and Nigerians will vote without sentiments. At least from what is happening now, we know we won’t be voting Jonathan in the next elections! Even the enlightened Americans make mistakes in the choice of their political leaders……and they learn from it. It shouldn’t stop us from fighting against inefficiency in government.
January 5, 2012 at 8:08 pm (UTC 1)
Dipo, this is a very short and sharp one! Tell them o, maybe some of them will hear and learn.. so the same mistake isn’t repeated at the next elections.
Happy New Year, by the way..
‘Demi
January 5, 2012 at 9:16 am (UTC 1)
ever heard of the term ‘typical Nigerian’? A typical Nigeria is not a rational thinking one so don’t be surprised…..