Nigerian-political-leaders-should-be-seen-for-who-they-really-are-as-people-that-are-deceptive-and-without-integrity
September 7, 2020 | News
NIGERIAN POLITICAL LEADERS SHOULD BE SEEN FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE – AS PEOPLE THAT ARE DECEPTIVE AND WITHOUT INTEGRITY
Without a doubt, integrity is what distinguishes one’s character and actions from the others, and it should be the focus first in building one’s reputation. Sadly, majority of the Nigerian elites, particularly our Nigerian political leaders, are more interested in their ‘public reputation’ than in their integrity and character. I believe that the issue of integrity, is the one vital ‘leadership ingredient’ which is always missing in majority of Nigeria political leaders, and which has made the nation to have public office holders, who more often than not; say one thing and then do something else entirely in carrying out their statutorily functions. Which is why it is important for the Nigerian masses to start seeing these politicians for who they truly are, so as not to allow themselves to be deceived, or waste their energies and times in singing the praises or supporting these politicians.
Recently, I was amazed when I saw a circulated letter said to have come from the Office of the Government of Rivers State under Governor Nyesom Wike, which was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari. The said letter, with the subject: “Thank Your Our Dear President”, was dated 28th June, 2020, and it was to appreciate Mr. President, “for graciously approving the refund of the sum of N78.9billion to the Rivers State Government as cost of execution of Federal Government road projects in the State. While there is nothing wrong with appreciating the President for what he did, but one would have expected the tone of the letter to be quite official, especially when we consider how Governor Wike has painted a picture to the Nigerian public of his distaste and loggerheads with the Presidency on so many issues. More so, the Federal Government is expected to refund to States any money spent on Federal roads. But we needed to see how the same Governor Wike, praised the President, and expressed how his Government is “very willing and ready to cooperate and partner with the Federal Government to advance the development of the State and our nation.” It did not end there, the same Governor Wike in the said letter, “appealed to Mr. President to kindly oblige them a State Visit, when invited.”
Now, I believe you understand why I said these Nigerian politicians do not deserve, or are they worth the noise and praises that some members of the public give to them. After all the noise, boasting and even threatening that they portray in the public domain, to obviously divert/distract and deceive the Nigerian public, they still go behind the scenes to reconcile. After which they still come out and tell the masses, including the ignorant-educated elites, more lies. Who does not know that Governor Wike of Rivers State is today known as one of the greatest critics of the President Buhari administration? Yet, here he is begging for a State Visit by the President. What a shame!
This brings to mind a song by Tony Wilson, a new York based musician in the 70s, who in his album: I-Like-Your-Style, sang a song with the title: The Politician (A man of many words), which practically describes the reality today about the character of Nigerian politicians. Some of the lyrics of the song notes: “He’s a man of many words – He paints a picture but he’s not an artist. Tries to make you see his point of view, all the while there’s nothing much that is changing. Cos what he says today, he never dos. He’s a man of many words…” This perfectly describes the typical Nigerian ‘Patricians’ who constantly deceive the ‘Plebeians’, that end up following them like ZOMBIES, just like Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s song explained. They have refused to grow up to demand for accountability from the patricians/emperors of this era that are in various Government levels.
Just like how they are before, and during any election year; where they are often known to say hundreds of things just to deceive the plebeians and have their way into various public offices, but always end up failing on their campaign promises – that is a reflection of who they truly are in person and character. Men and women that are without any iota of integrity. As such, they should, and can never be trusted. But the saddest part is that majority of Nigerians, especially the Elites, still blindly praise, support and even defend these politicians that are without integrity.
This reminds me of a picture I saw recently online, showing about four men trying to forcefully push in a huge cow into the back seat of small salon car. And you cannot help but wonder how stupid can one be. The picture had a caption of an African proverb that say: “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” Sadly, this is how majority of the Nigerian educated elites and masses are. They are so ignorantly daft, that they have allowed ‘few politicians’ and their fronts, to continue to deceive and cheat on them. They are easily excited by the evident tussles and loggerheads between these same ‘few politicians’ who are fighting to divert the public’s attention from asking them to be accountable. For instance, the ignorant-elites are busy right now sharing online, videos of Adams Oshiomhole to suggest that Oshiomhole is being fought by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for refusing ‘godfatherism’ in Edo State politics. Is this not shameful of our elites?
These Nigerian educated elites, are busy arguing and confronting one another unnecessarily, without knowing that these few politicians are the ones fooling them. What a shame of a country. What is the difference between the Nigerian educated elites and those in the picture described above of men who want to ignorantly load a big cow in the back seat of a small car? The majority of Nigerian educated elites, especially those who have refused to grow up, are nothing but worthless men and women that are of no added value to the society. All the efforts and energies being put in to praise and drum support for these few politicians, are enough for them to hold the politicians accountable.
I recall some months back when Kaduna State Governor. Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was asked whose fault is it, as to evident anomalies within and outside Government spaces? Is it the leaders or the people? He responded by noting that: “It is a bit of both. But it is the fault of the elites in my opinion, I won’t say the people. In every society, the elites, those that are privileged with education, money or influence, are the ones that ought to sit down and set the tone for the structure of that society. If our elites have chosen not to go into politics and set that tone, as I said there’s a vacuum; the bad ones will take over. We have seen that in Nigeria… the people must be able to speak out. They must complain. The elites must come and say this is not acceptable. But in this country, you have a conspiracy of silence by the elites. Everybody, just keeps quiet because everybody is just waiting for his turn. It is not taking us anywhere.”
Zik Gbemre.
July 1, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Without a doubt, integrity is what distinguishes one’s character and actions from the others, and it should be the focus first in building one’s reputation. Sadly, majority of the Nigerian elites, particularly our Nigerian political leaders, are more interested in their ‘public reputation’ than in their integrity and character. I believe that the issue of integrity, is the one vital ‘leadership ingredient’ which is always missing in majority of Nigeria political leaders, and which has made the nation to have public office holders, who more often than not; say one thing and then do something else entirely in carrying out their statutorily functions. Which is why it is important for the Nigerian masses to start seeing these politicians for who they truly are, so as not to allow themselves to be deceived, or waste their energies and times in singing the praises or supporting these politicians.
Recently, I was amazed when I saw a circulated letter said to have come from the Office of the Government of Rivers State under Governor Nyesom Wike, which was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari. The said letter, with the subject: “Thank Your Our Dear President”, was dated 28th June, 2020, and it was to appreciate Mr. President, “for graciously approving the refund of the sum of N78.9billion to the Rivers State Government as cost of execution of Federal Government road projects in the State. While there is nothing wrong with appreciating the President for what he did, but one would have expected the tone of the letter to be quite official, especially when we consider how Governor Wike has painted a picture to the Nigerian public of his distaste and loggerheads with the Presidency on so many issues. More so, the Federal Government is expected to refund to States any money spent on Federal roads. But we needed to see how the same Governor Wike, praised the President, and expressed how his Government is “very willing and ready to cooperate and partner with the Federal Government to advance the development of the State and our nation.” It did not end there, the same Governor Wike in the said letter, “appealed to Mr. President to kindly oblige them a State Visit, when invited.”
Now, I believe you understand why I said these Nigerian politicians do not deserve, or are they worth the noise and praises that some members of the public give to them. After all the noise, boasting and even threatening that they portray in the public domain, to obviously divert/distract and deceive the Nigerian public, they still go behind the scenes to reconcile. After which they still come out and tell the masses, including the ignorant-educated elites, more lies. Who does not know that Governor Wike of Rivers State is today known as one of the greatest critics of the President Buhari administration? Yet, here he is begging for a State Visit by the President. What a shame!
This brings to mind a song by Tony Wilson, a new York based musician in the 70s, who in his album: I-Like-Your-Style, sang a song with the title: The Politician (A man of many words), which practically describes the reality today about the character of Nigerian politicians. Some of the lyrics of the song notes: “He’s a man of many words – He paints a picture but he’s not an artist. Tries to make you see his point of view, all the while there’s nothing much that is changing. Cos what he says today, he never dos. He’s a man of many words…” This perfectly describes the typical Nigerian ‘Patricians’ who constantly deceive the ‘Plebeians’, that end up following them like ZOMBIES, just like Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s song explained. They have refused to grow up to demand for accountability from the patricians/emperors of this era that are in various Government levels.
Just like how they are before, and during any election year; where they are often known to say hundreds of things just to deceive the plebeians and have their way into various public offices, but always end up failing on their campaign promises – that is a reflection of who they truly are in person and character. Men and women that are without any iota of integrity. As such, they should, and can never be trusted. But the saddest part is that majority of Nigerians, especially the Elites, still blindly praise, support and even defend these politicians that are without integrity.
This reminds me of a picture I saw recently online, showing about four men trying to forcefully push in a huge cow into the back seat of small salon car. And you cannot help but wonder how stupid can one be. The picture had a caption of an African proverb that say: “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” Sadly, this is how majority of the Nigerian educated elites and masses are. They are so ignorantly daft, that they have allowed ‘few politicians’ and their fronts, to continue to deceive and cheat on them. They are easily excited by the evident tussles and loggerheads between these same ‘few politicians’ who are fighting to divert the public’s attention from asking them to be accountable. For instance, the ignorant-elites are busy right now sharing online, videos of Adams Oshiomhole to suggest that Oshiomhole is being fought by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for refusing ‘godfatherism’ in Edo State politics. Is this not shameful of our elites?
These Nigerian educated elites, are busy arguing and confronting one another unnecessarily, without knowing that these few politicians are the ones fooling them. What a shame of a country. What is the difference between the Nigerian educated elites and those in the picture described above of men who want to ignorantly load a big cow in the back seat of a small car? The majority of Nigerian educated elites, especially those who have refused to grow up, are nothing but worthless men and women that are of no added value to the society. All the efforts and energies being put in to praise and drum support for these few politicians, are enough for them to hold the politicians accountable.
I recall some months back when Kaduna State Governor. Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was asked whose fault is it, as to evident anomalies within and outside Government spaces? Is it the leaders or the people? He responded by noting that: “It is a bit of both. But it is the fault of the elites in my opinion, I won’t say the people. In every society, the elites, those that are privileged with education, money or influence, are the ones that ought to sit down and set the tone for the structure of that society. If our elites have chosen not to go into politics and set that tone, as I said there’s a vacuum; the bad ones will take over. We have seen that in Nigeria… the people must be able to speak out. They must complain. The elites must come and say this is not acceptable. But in this country, you have a conspiracy of silence by the elites. Everybody, just keeps quiet because everybody is just waiting for his turn. It is not taking us anywhere.”
Zik Gbemre.
July 1, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes