On-the-subject-of-excellency-titles-and-other-titles-by-nigerian-governors-public-office-holders-and-nigerians
September 7, 2020 | News
ON THE SUBJECT OF ‘EXCELLENCY TITLES’ AND OTHER TITLES BY NIGERIAN GOVERNORS/PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS AND NIGERIANS
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Executive Governor of Lagos State
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently surprised many Nigerians as he reportedly announced his decision to drop the title, “Your Excellency”. According to the Governor: “The office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolizing an authoritarian disposition on the governed. It has deformed the orientation of elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serve the people.
“Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility - and sincerity. The office of Governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people. Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people that has brought us here. It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
“Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities. Thenceforth, I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy.”
Noble words you would agree. While we acknowledge the fact that the Governor of Lagos State has done well with this action, but let it not be to score cheap political point. Everything he has said about ‘serving the people’ should be seen in his administration, not by merely removing his title of Excellency. The truth is that the ‘Excellency’ title by Nigerian Governors is overly exaggerated and meaningless because the Nigerian politicians lack the spirit of excellence in their actions as serving and ex public office holders. What is excellent in most of the things we see them do? The only thing we have seen, that they are excellent in doing, is stealing/misappropriating our collective public wealth. They practically go into Government to loot and abuse their offices, as politicians that are power drunk.
Recently, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, appointed his daughter as one of his political aides. The Delta State Governor even said he owes no one apologies for appointing one of his daughters as a Special Aide to the Delta State Government, on Girl Child Education. Few days ago, Oyo State Governor, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, appointed his own wife as Chairman of Oyo State Aids Control Board. Are all these acts honorable? These Governors have made themselves lords and “Emperors”, who are not answerable to anyone for their actions. Even those that have left office like former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, who was jailed in the UK for stealing Delta State money, is still addressed by his followers/supporters as “His Excellency.” That is how Nigerian public Office holders love and relish on titles.
“I do not think the Nigerian Constitution actually recognizes these titles. And we wonder how it all emanated? Even Local Government Councilors refer to themselves as Honourable people and they want to be addressed as “Honourables”. Every Nigerian politician has attached one political title to his or her name. One dares not call any Nigeria politician without hailing him or her such titles like Your Excellency this, or Honourable that. These titles have been abused by Nigerians. Nigeria is the only country where such attached titles are seen as ACHIEVEMENTS. Nigerians like attaching to their names titles like: Barr., Prof., Arch., Pharm., Chief, Engr., Alhaji/Alhaja, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Bishop, Arch Bishop, Pastor, Prophet/Prophetess, Apostle, Rev., Esq., Surv., JP, Dr, Honourable, Deacon/Deaconess, Sir, Comrade, Ambassador, Senator, His/Your Excellency, Prince/Princess, Justice, Magistrate, you name it. Sometimes we wonder why the craze for all these titles? What has Nigeria as an entity achieved with all these titles here and there? Of what use and purpose have all these titles served us? Of what benefit are all these titles when we are without desired development? Where has all these titles taken Nigeria to? Of course, nowhere! These titles are useless and meaningless. Does not in any way add value to one, or elevate one to any degree of self and collective development.
The likes of Donald Trump of US, Boris Johnson of UK, Barack Obama of US, David Cameron of UK, Tony Blair of UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, Bill Gates of US, Theresa May of UK, Mark Zuckerberg of US, and other great men and women in the world are proud to have their names without titles. Even those foreigners with titles do not attach them to their names, or insist to be addressed with such titles like we see in Nigeria. Yet, these people are far ahead of us as a people and nations, in terms of development and global achievements. If you look at it critically, what is special about all these titles people attach to their names?
I am a Justice of Peace (JP) of Delta State. But I no longer attach that title to my name because it does add any value to my character as a person. It also does not make me a bigger person, or a special man more than what I am already. I prefer to be simply referred to as Zik Gbemre, with no title attached to my name because I do not see the need for it. All these attachments of titles to one's name are all unnecessary and meaningless I repeat. Just recently, I saw a friend in one of the Departmental Stores in Warri and he asked me why I did not wear beads in my hands? And I asked him why I should wear beads? His response was that it is a sign that I am a Chief. Then I asked him, of what value will that add to my life?
The Nigerian Governors have allocated to themselves to be called EXECUTIVE GOVERNORS. Agreed that they are the Chief Executives of their respective States, but there is no section of the Nigerian Constitution where they are referred to as EXECUTIVE GOVERNORS. They are only the Execitve Arm of Government. But they like and enjoy these titles and they relish to be hailed as Executive Governors and Your Excellency, obviously to please their egoistic and power drunk tendencies in Government. The craze for titles in Nigeria is simply alarming. Sadly, the emphasis on titles in Nigeria, is not the same emphasis these Nigerian politicians put in their statutory roles and performance in serving the people. In my own view, the emphasis on these titles is not worth it. IN FACT, THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THESE TITLES IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND INFERIORITY COMPLEX, and nothing more. I think many things are wrong in this country of ours that need to be put right. A situation where titles are more important than the pursuit for development, is clear indication that something is seriously wrong in Nigeria.
Zik Gbemre.
November 8, 2019
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Executive Governor of Lagos State
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently surprised many Nigerians as he reportedly announced his decision to drop the title, “Your Excellency”. According to the Governor: “The office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolizing an authoritarian disposition on the governed. It has deformed the orientation of elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serve the people.
“Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility - and sincerity. The office of Governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people. Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people that has brought us here. It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
“Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities. Thenceforth, I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy.”
Noble words you would agree. While we acknowledge the fact that the Governor of Lagos State has done well with this action, but let it not be to score cheap political point. Everything he has said about ‘serving the people’ should be seen in his administration, not by merely removing his title of Excellency. The truth is that the ‘Excellency’ title by Nigerian Governors is overly exaggerated and meaningless because the Nigerian politicians lack the spirit of excellence in their actions as serving and ex public office holders. What is excellent in most of the things we see them do? The only thing we have seen, that they are excellent in doing, is stealing/misappropriating our collective public wealth. They practically go into Government to loot and abuse their offices, as politicians that are power drunk.
Recently, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, appointed his daughter as one of his political aides. The Delta State Governor even said he owes no one apologies for appointing one of his daughters as a Special Aide to the Delta State Government, on Girl Child Education. Few days ago, Oyo State Governor, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, appointed his own wife as Chairman of Oyo State Aids Control Board. Are all these acts honorable? These Governors have made themselves lords and “Emperors”, who are not answerable to anyone for their actions. Even those that have left office like former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, who was jailed in the UK for stealing Delta State money, is still addressed by his followers/supporters as “His Excellency.” That is how Nigerian public Office holders love and relish on titles.
“I do not think the Nigerian Constitution actually recognizes these titles. And we wonder how it all emanated? Even Local Government Councilors refer to themselves as Honourable people and they want to be addressed as “Honourables”. Every Nigerian politician has attached one political title to his or her name. One dares not call any Nigeria politician without hailing him or her such titles like Your Excellency this, or Honourable that. These titles have been abused by Nigerians. Nigeria is the only country where such attached titles are seen as ACHIEVEMENTS. Nigerians like attaching to their names titles like: Barr., Prof., Arch., Pharm., Chief, Engr., Alhaji/Alhaja, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Bishop, Arch Bishop, Pastor, Prophet/Prophetess, Apostle, Rev., Esq., Surv., JP, Dr, Honourable, Deacon/Deaconess, Sir, Comrade, Ambassador, Senator, His/Your Excellency, Prince/Princess, Justice, Magistrate, you name it. Sometimes we wonder why the craze for all these titles? What has Nigeria as an entity achieved with all these titles here and there? Of what use and purpose have all these titles served us? Of what benefit are all these titles when we are without desired development? Where has all these titles taken Nigeria to? Of course, nowhere! These titles are useless and meaningless. Does not in any way add value to one, or elevate one to any degree of self and collective development.
The likes of Donald Trump of US, Boris Johnson of UK, Barack Obama of US, David Cameron of UK, Tony Blair of UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, Bill Gates of US, Theresa May of UK, Mark Zuckerberg of US, and other great men and women in the world are proud to have their names without titles. Even those foreigners with titles do not attach them to their names, or insist to be addressed with such titles like we see in Nigeria. Yet, these people are far ahead of us as a people and nations, in terms of development and global achievements. If you look at it critically, what is special about all these titles people attach to their names?
I am a Justice of Peace (JP) of Delta State. But I no longer attach that title to my name because it does add any value to my character as a person. It also does not make me a bigger person, or a special man more than what I am already. I prefer to be simply referred to as Zik Gbemre, with no title attached to my name because I do not see the need for it. All these attachments of titles to one's name are all unnecessary and meaningless I repeat. Just recently, I saw a friend in one of the Departmental Stores in Warri and he asked me why I did not wear beads in my hands? And I asked him why I should wear beads? His response was that it is a sign that I am a Chief. Then I asked him, of what value will that add to my life?
The Nigerian Governors have allocated to themselves to be called EXECUTIVE GOVERNORS. Agreed that they are the Chief Executives of their respective States, but there is no section of the Nigerian Constitution where they are referred to as EXECUTIVE GOVERNORS. They are only the Execitve Arm of Government. But they like and enjoy these titles and they relish to be hailed as Executive Governors and Your Excellency, obviously to please their egoistic and power drunk tendencies in Government. The craze for titles in Nigeria is simply alarming. Sadly, the emphasis on titles in Nigeria, is not the same emphasis these Nigerian politicians put in their statutory roles and performance in serving the people. In my own view, the emphasis on these titles is not worth it. IN FACT, THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THESE TITLES IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND INFERIORITY COMPLEX, and nothing more. I think many things are wrong in this country of ours that need to be put right. A situation where titles are more important than the pursuit for development, is clear indication that something is seriously wrong in Nigeria.
Zik Gbemre.
November 8, 2019
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes