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Read his new piece below…
Fellow Nigerians, reactions to my column last week were not unexpected.
As anticipated, they were indeed varied. Some people were impressed that
anyone could tell President Muhammadu Buhari what most people would
never dare. Others felt I could talk because I don’t work with the
President and therefore do not feel the pressure of those that do.
A few more simply dismissed my contribution as they usually do without
any good reason.
It could be true that more often than not, aides usually misread their
bosses and idols and so feel under pressure not to irritate, annoy or
even antagonise their Boss. I have had the privilege of working and
interacting with bigwigs at home and abroad and noticed that many of
their employees treat them with awe, fear and trepidation but not
necessarily with respect.
On my part, I have tried to remain truthful, respectful and loyal to my
bosses without being fawning or uncritical. Sometimes, they would love
and appreciate these attributes. On other occasions, they’ve chosen to
live in denial and bury their heads in the sand like ostriches do. Even
when they have discovered the truth, ego has sometimes denied them the
chance of accepting the fact that you were right and they were wrong.
So I wasn’t surprised that some Abuja guys were not impressed about my recent article titled HOW THEY MISLEAD OUR LEADERS.
I won’t be surprised if our President did not read that important
article because it was kept away from him. The easiest way to fail as a
leader is to be shielded from reality by cronies who tell you all is
well when all is far from being well. The other way to invite failure is
when a leader allows sycophants to invite and amass enemies for such
leader. I witnessed both of these first hand during the seeming
deification of President Goodluck Jonathan by those who felt he was
beyond reproach. But after his government collapsed, most of those who
fought imaginary enemies on behalf of President Jonathan simply vamoosed
and left the former President to his personal ordeal. Ironically, it
was those of us considered his enemies that came out boldly to defend
him and to protect his rights under the rule of law given the
statesmanship that he had demonstrated in the twilight of his
administration.
I won’t be surprised if our President did not read that important
article because it was kept away from him. The easiest way to fail as a
leader is to be shielded from reality by cronies who tell you all is
well when all is far from being well. The other way to invite failure is
when a leader allows sycophants to invite and amass enemies for such
leader. I witnessed both of these first hand during the seeming
deification of President Goodluck Jonathan by those who felt he was
beyond reproach. But after his government collapsed, most of those who
fought imaginary enemies on behalf of President Jonathan simply vamoosed
and left the former President to his personal ordeal. Ironically, it
was those of us considered his enemies that came out boldly to defend
him and to protect his rights under the rule of law given the
statesmanship that he had demonstrated in the twilight of his
administration.
What
I find baffling is the fact that man never learns any didactic lessons
from history. Less than two years ago, many of those who have somehow
found themselves in power today hailed the critics of Jonathan’s
administration. They found our pens more powerful than machine-guns.
They called to thank us for our patriotism and gallant battle to restore
hope to a dangerously bleeding nation. I remember one particular
gentleman, who is currently a Minister; he used to phone me to commend
my maturity in attacking issues rather than personalities. Today he has
stopped calling and I’m sure he is no longer comfortable with the same
level of patriotism and maturity that he praised.
I find baffling is the fact that man never learns any didactic lessons
from history. Less than two years ago, many of those who have somehow
found themselves in power today hailed the critics of Jonathan’s
administration. They found our pens more powerful than machine-guns.
They called to thank us for our patriotism and gallant battle to restore
hope to a dangerously bleeding nation. I remember one particular
gentleman, who is currently a Minister; he used to phone me to commend
my maturity in attacking issues rather than personalities. Today he has
stopped calling and I’m sure he is no longer comfortable with the same
level of patriotism and maturity that he praised.
Let
me reiterate that I love President Muhammadu Buhari but mine is not a
fake or blind love. I was taught by my very traditional mum that “a
mother chastises a child she loves” and I have translated that to mean
that conversely, a child must offer true words of advice to parents he
treasures. This is why I talk about our President with such respect and
decorum but at the same time I boldly analyse his policies and actions
and candidly offer advice as I see fit. I believe we can help in
supporting him by telling him the true state of affairs and painting the
real picture of things. Nigeria is much more complex and complicated
than some of those in power today wish to admit. I suspect they have
also assumed that they know the mind-set of the President who they
perceive as stubborn and unyielding and would rather play along in order
not to invite his wrath. The impression out there is that Baba is mean
and vengeful and can trample on and injure anyone in his line of fire.
When I tell people I met a soft, gentle, humble and caring man once in
2011 and twice in 2015, they tell me that was all a façade and I
couldn’t judge him on those accounts. It may be necessary for the
President to free his people from this self-manacled bondage they have
chosen for themselves, as I once advised. The unfounded fear of Buhari
may stultify the progress of this government. And only the President can
help his men and women overcome this dangerous paranoia. The world has
moved beyond the type of maximum rulership which this suggests and the
President is not such a person in any event.
me reiterate that I love President Muhammadu Buhari but mine is not a
fake or blind love. I was taught by my very traditional mum that “a
mother chastises a child she loves” and I have translated that to mean
that conversely, a child must offer true words of advice to parents he
treasures. This is why I talk about our President with such respect and
decorum but at the same time I boldly analyse his policies and actions
and candidly offer advice as I see fit. I believe we can help in
supporting him by telling him the true state of affairs and painting the
real picture of things. Nigeria is much more complex and complicated
than some of those in power today wish to admit. I suspect they have
also assumed that they know the mind-set of the President who they
perceive as stubborn and unyielding and would rather play along in order
not to invite his wrath. The impression out there is that Baba is mean
and vengeful and can trample on and injure anyone in his line of fire.
When I tell people I met a soft, gentle, humble and caring man once in
2011 and twice in 2015, they tell me that was all a façade and I
couldn’t judge him on those accounts. It may be necessary for the
President to free his people from this self-manacled bondage they have
chosen for themselves, as I once advised. The unfounded fear of Buhari
may stultify the progress of this government. And only the President can
help his men and women overcome this dangerous paranoia. The world has
moved beyond the type of maximum rulership which this suggests and the
President is not such a person in any event.
I
have have been seeing posts on social media indicating that some aides
have been telling Baba that majority of Nigerians are satisfied with his
government and that only the disgruntled elements, otherwise nicknamed
“wailing wailers”, are complaining. But this is not true. Nigerians are
complaining about many things and Baba needs to know. Of course, not
everyone is lamenting like the Biblical Jeremiah. There are always new
beneficiaries in every new government. And those who have crossed the
bridge, or ladder, of pain into comfort don’t usually see the misery
they left behind. That was the anecdotal case of the French Empress who
asked why people could not eat cake when there was scarcity of bread.
Little did she realise that bread and cake belong to the same family of
flour and that the issue was one of poverty not merely famine or supply.
have have been seeing posts on social media indicating that some aides
have been telling Baba that majority of Nigerians are satisfied with his
government and that only the disgruntled elements, otherwise nicknamed
“wailing wailers”, are complaining. But this is not true. Nigerians are
complaining about many things and Baba needs to know. Of course, not
everyone is lamenting like the Biblical Jeremiah. There are always new
beneficiaries in every new government. And those who have crossed the
bridge, or ladder, of pain into comfort don’t usually see the misery
they left behind. That was the anecdotal case of the French Empress who
asked why people could not eat cake when there was scarcity of bread.
Little did she realise that bread and cake belong to the same family of
flour and that the issue was one of poverty not merely famine or supply.
Nigerians
are complaining about the slow pace of work. They want Baba to jazz
things up. Not that they expect him to do it all but they are hoping he
can rejig this government and bring in proven and tested Nigerians from
any part of the world and whatever political or religious background. It
is the prerogative of every government to hone its engine of governance
regularly by discarding worn-out batteries, plugs and pumps. You may
need to flush dirty engine oil and replace with premium lubricant. It
should be obvious that what we have at the moment is far short of the
speed and stamina required to take Nigeria to the next level.
are complaining about the slow pace of work. They want Baba to jazz
things up. Not that they expect him to do it all but they are hoping he
can rejig this government and bring in proven and tested Nigerians from
any part of the world and whatever political or religious background. It
is the prerogative of every government to hone its engine of governance
regularly by discarding worn-out batteries, plugs and pumps. You may
need to flush dirty engine oil and replace with premium lubricant. It
should be obvious that what we have at the moment is far short of the
speed and stamina required to take Nigeria to the next level.
Nigerians
are complaining about the seeming Nothernisation of the key sectors of
the Nigerian economy and polity. I am personally not very worried about
ethnic sentiments as a completely detribalised Nigeria but there are
those who feel very strongly about this and the President may need to
allay their reasonable fears of being extinguished and exterminated from
the national politics of Nigeria. My honest suggestion is that Baba
should come out to tell Nigerians the criteria he uses in arriving at
his choices. He should confront his critics with superior logic and the
mathematics of appointment distribution. He should not just dismiss this
as a non-issue. That is the burden placed on him by Constitutional
democracy. Every controversial action and decision must be explained
tirelessly and endlessly. As I have said several times nothing beats
merit, not even primordial ethnic sentiments.
are complaining about the seeming Nothernisation of the key sectors of
the Nigerian economy and polity. I am personally not very worried about
ethnic sentiments as a completely detribalised Nigeria but there are
those who feel very strongly about this and the President may need to
allay their reasonable fears of being extinguished and exterminated from
the national politics of Nigeria. My honest suggestion is that Baba
should come out to tell Nigerians the criteria he uses in arriving at
his choices. He should confront his critics with superior logic and the
mathematics of appointment distribution. He should not just dismiss this
as a non-issue. That is the burden placed on him by Constitutional
democracy. Every controversial action and decision must be explained
tirelessly and endlessly. As I have said several times nothing beats
merit, not even primordial ethnic sentiments.
Nigerians
are complaining about the high cost of governance especially in this
era of dwindling national fortunes. Many are telling us that we
persuaded them to vote APC because we flaunted the credentials of Buhari
as a frugal and simple man not susceptible to frivolous spending or
profligacy. They are taunting us that they have seen no evidence of the
reduction in the extravagant spending on presidential jets and the
upkeep of government personnel and their families. Again it may be
necessary to update and educate the Nigerian people on how government
has concretely worked on cutting costs in these austere times. It is
always good to talk to people who may not know the facts and those who
feign ignorance deliberately. The government communicators should,
please, not be so dismissive lest they are accused of being standoffish.
No effort should be spared at carrying everyone along including known
and unknown troublemakers.
are complaining about the high cost of governance especially in this
era of dwindling national fortunes. Many are telling us that we
persuaded them to vote APC because we flaunted the credentials of Buhari
as a frugal and simple man not susceptible to frivolous spending or
profligacy. They are taunting us that they have seen no evidence of the
reduction in the extravagant spending on presidential jets and the
upkeep of government personnel and their families. Again it may be
necessary to update and educate the Nigerian people on how government
has concretely worked on cutting costs in these austere times. It is
always good to talk to people who may not know the facts and those who
feign ignorance deliberately. The government communicators should,
please, not be so dismissive lest they are accused of being standoffish.
No effort should be spared at carrying everyone along including known
and unknown troublemakers.
Nigerians
are complaining about the religious sensitivity of this government.
They believe that Northern Christians are being studiously marginalised
and this should be urgently addressed. In a country where the President
was blackmailed in the past about his religious antecedents by being
described as an Islamic fundamentalist it is only appropriate for the
President to sensitise people and propagate his commitment to
secularism. A good example of this is the fact that whilst he may have
felt the need to pick Christians as his running mate in the past two
elections he was not forced to pick Pastors as his running-mates. It is
clear that he did this out of choice and to show that he was willing to
work side by side with Christian fundamentalists in the task of nation
building. Baba should not jettison the principle of religious tolerance
he has imbibed and displayed. It would be politically rewarding if he
gives every Nigerian that same sense of belonging. Nothing is more
volatile than religious conflagration and it is always a handy weapon in
the hands of enemies of State.
are complaining about the religious sensitivity of this government.
They believe that Northern Christians are being studiously marginalised
and this should be urgently addressed. In a country where the President
was blackmailed in the past about his religious antecedents by being
described as an Islamic fundamentalist it is only appropriate for the
President to sensitise people and propagate his commitment to
secularism. A good example of this is the fact that whilst he may have
felt the need to pick Christians as his running mate in the past two
elections he was not forced to pick Pastors as his running-mates. It is
clear that he did this out of choice and to show that he was willing to
work side by side with Christian fundamentalists in the task of nation
building. Baba should not jettison the principle of religious tolerance
he has imbibed and displayed. It would be politically rewarding if he
gives every Nigerian that same sense of belonging. Nothing is more
volatile than religious conflagration and it is always a handy weapon in
the hands of enemies of State.
Nigerians
are wondering what direction the economy is headed with the incessant
free-fall of the naira despite all efforts at arresting the kamikaze
plunge. Added to this is the deregulation of the price of petrol and the
pains being felt by these twin policies can only be described as untold
hardship.
are wondering what direction the economy is headed with the incessant
free-fall of the naira despite all efforts at arresting the kamikaze
plunge. Added to this is the deregulation of the price of petrol and the
pains being felt by these twin policies can only be described as untold
hardship.
While
Nigerians are highly impressed that Baba is fighting looters to
standstill they want to know what is happening to all the humongous cash
already recovered. Many states are still in financial mess, unable to
pay their workers. Like someone joked on Twitter yesterday, the hope is
that Baba would not keep the money in savings for the next government
that will come and redistribute to the looters again. That should be
food for thought.
Nigerians are highly impressed that Baba is fighting looters to
standstill they want to know what is happening to all the humongous cash
already recovered. Many states are still in financial mess, unable to
pay their workers. Like someone joked on Twitter yesterday, the hope is
that Baba would not keep the money in savings for the next government
that will come and redistribute to the looters again. That should be
food for thought.
It
would be fantastic if we can do what President John Dramani Mahama is
doing in Ghana, by investing heavily in legacy projects that will
definitely outlive his government and launch Ghana into the big league
of modern nations. Nigeria should borrow a leaf from Ghana by revamping
and upgrading our schools, hospitals, roads, airports, railways, oil
facilities, seaports, and so on. It would be sweet victory for Nigerians
and President Buhari if they can enjoy the fruits of some of the
recovered loot in the very near future.
would be fantastic if we can do what President John Dramani Mahama is
doing in Ghana, by investing heavily in legacy projects that will
definitely outlive his government and launch Ghana into the big league
of modern nations. Nigeria should borrow a leaf from Ghana by revamping
and upgrading our schools, hospitals, roads, airports, railways, oil
facilities, seaports, and so on. It would be sweet victory for Nigerians
and President Buhari if they can enjoy the fruits of some of the
recovered loot in the very near future.
Nigerians
are also talking about the spate of agitations for the breakup of the
Nigerian State, especially the renewed call by the pro-Biafra groups of
South East Nigeria to carve out an Igbo nation. While we may not
understand the exact mission of the Niger Delta Avengers, one of the
most lethal militant groups in Nigeria today, it is not likely to be too
far from that of the Biafrans ultimately. The groups must be delicately
handled. Their leaders may have personal and selfish ulterior motives
but what is clear is that they are echoing the sentiments and yearnings
of their people for self-determination borne out of frustration in being
marginalised in the Nigerian power game. At the end of the day, there
is nothing violence can achieve that dialogue cannot handle better and
faster. It is time to tone down the drums of war and set Nigeria on the
path of restoration, peace and progress.
are also talking about the spate of agitations for the breakup of the
Nigerian State, especially the renewed call by the pro-Biafra groups of
South East Nigeria to carve out an Igbo nation. While we may not
understand the exact mission of the Niger Delta Avengers, one of the
most lethal militant groups in Nigeria today, it is not likely to be too
far from that of the Biafrans ultimately. The groups must be delicately
handled. Their leaders may have personal and selfish ulterior motives
but what is clear is that they are echoing the sentiments and yearnings
of their people for self-determination borne out of frustration in being
marginalised in the Nigerian power game. At the end of the day, there
is nothing violence can achieve that dialogue cannot handle better and
faster. It is time to tone down the drums of war and set Nigeria on the
path of restoration, peace and progress.
There
are simply too many distractions and Nigerians are suffering as a
result. I have no doubt about President Buhari’s patriotism and zeal and
his desire to improve the lot of Nigerians. It is about time that he
demanded the same of his lieutenants and require them to put national
interest over and above personal or party interests.
are simply too many distractions and Nigerians are suffering as a
result. I have no doubt about President Buhari’s patriotism and zeal and
his desire to improve the lot of Nigerians. It is about time that he
demanded the same of his lieutenants and require them to put national
interest over and above personal or party interests.
