I think one major reason why this country is in such a sorry state is not because we don’t see the problem. We do. The issue is, no-one sees himself as part of the problem, so we look to correct the problem “outside” when the problem is actually “inside”. We readily point to those we see as the culprits while presenting ourselves as victims, or helpless onlookers at best.
You only need to read the newspapers and you’ll come across those who shamelessly put themselves forward as arbiters of knowledge; ironically proffering solutions to problems they directly or vicariously created. Quite nauseating really.
This disconcerting trait of only seeing others as the problem is by no means restricted to the political sphere however. It’s everywhere. You’re just as likely to come across the common man who constantly rues his position in life and the decadent state of society but who sees nothing wrong in “chancing” his compatriot at every given opportunity. It’s a fundamental problem which stems from a propensity to judge others purely by their actions but judging ourselves by our “noble” intentions, even if our actions are the same.
The media was recently awash with the story of the Slapping Senator. Just one of a plethora of oppressive actions the generality of Nigerians experience every day, either from those in “power” or even from one of their own. Forgive me for saying this, but this oppressive mind-set merely reflects our aggregate character.
Second thoughts, whether you were ready to forgive me or not, I would have said it anyway. The truth is, the man without a kobo in his pocket, the downtrodden for want of a better word, if he was to fortuitously find himself elevated in status, would do same, if not worse. It’s not enough to just condemn the Senator; he deserves to be prosecuted and made an example of, as a deterrent to the rest of us who are currently enjoying the opportunity to lambast him but who are really not any different.
All over the world, it’s expected of people in leadership to set a good example. This case of the Slapping Senator in many ways mirrors that of the alleged rape by Pastor Fatoyinbo of COZA. It reeks of people of position and influence lording it over others; believing they have the right to misbehave and deny others of their right to dignity. I say enough of impunity.
The Policeman, employed to uphold and enforce the law is the last person who should be seen to affirm the generally perceived view of “might is right” in our society. By failing to apprehend the culprit turning instead the law on its head by so often apprehending the victim, he unfortunately gives some semblance of justification to those who quite disturbingly feel they’re better off taking the law into their own hands.
Trust in our law enforcement agencies to do the right thing and to toe the path of justice is perhaps at its lowest, even for our chequered history. Policemen are seen to be anything but your friend, literally preferring to force rather than to serve.
From my observation, many of our youths have little interest in us having a more egalitarian society where all benefit. Their desire is for God to “bless” them so they too can occupy positions of power and enjoy what has been generally accepted as the perquisites of power or for God to bless them with billions overnight so they too can operate at a level over and above that of we lesser mortals. Their ambition is to become a “big man” as it were and to automatically join the ranks of the untouchable, which usually comes with the territory. Free to get away with just about anything and a licence to oppress.
A question I often ask myself and am still asking is: who actually does the leading, the leader or the supposed follower? I make bold to say that many times, the leader follows the lead of the followers. A little cryptic, yes I know but humour me a little.
A man is fortunate to be given a government appointment thereby placing him in a position of leadership. For now, let’s put aside the obvious fact that our country’s problem is not that it lacks leaders. We have plenty of them but that it suffers from an embarrassing dearth of leadership. Like I said, we’ll leave that for now and instead face the issue at hand.
So, this new government appointee is both excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to serve his fatherland, at last. But before he has even stepped into office, his family, his friends, his acquaintances as well as his clan have made both subtle and not so subtle overtures to him, as to their expectations. In an environment where people will abuse you and label you a fool if you make the “mistake” of vacating office as broke as when you went in.
The appointee may be compelled to fulfil their expectations. An overpowering temptation to follow the lead of their body language may at times prove too much to withstand. It’s my belief that our leaders generally do what they believe most followers expect them to do when they assume positions of power because it’s what they would do given half the chance. So you could say they are merely dancing to the tune they perceive the piper is playing.
It was William Wordsworth who said, “The child is the father of the man”. So profound. The value system you deposit in your child is what will determine his character even when he becomes a man. The societal mould that produces the ordinary citizen is the same that produces the leaders So, just as the child is the father of the man, so is the follower the father of the leader. And if that’s true, I’ll leave you to decide who you think is actually leading; the supposed leader or the follower.
Dapo Akande
