NIGERIA; ANOTHER SHOW OF SHAME

NIGERIA; ANOTHER SHOW OF SHAME

The antecedent of a political office holder massively elected by citizens is synonymous to expectations from such individual after assumption of office. Many a times, most of such who find themselves in such opportunity do everything to work it out. At first, they might not have what it takes to assume full responsibilities of such office, but upon assumption, they speed up their learning ability and dogged agility. The likes of Late Nnamdi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memories are distinct individuals who are not just intellectually sound but dynamic, confident, courageous and possess the spirit of logical analysis with constructive criticisms. The imagination of these set of Nigerians towing the affairs of this country this day would have put the country in the class of developed nations and one of the giant-nation to compete with on all standards.

It is however unfortunate that the set of rulers directing the affairs of this country at all levels lack the onions of true leadership as imbibed by the aforementioned heroes.

The inception of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the President of this country might have come as a miracle, luck or chance, whatever the case is, he became the President. It is expected that he would have brushed himself up to the task ahead, in handling local and international politics and pressure.

Well, it is not arguable that the President’s flair for the media is questionable. A sharp reflection is the last National media chat he had with pressmen, he exhibited a complete show of timidity, fear and uncourageous. 

It is said that a society gets the kind of leader it deserves. . .this statement is debatable, with respect to the President’s executive cabinet, the level of intellectual and experience gurus in the President’s cabinet should have added to the President’s confidence, thinking and discharge of duties. The extent of President Jonathan’s intellectual faculty is inverse to the richness of his cabinet. Dr Nkonjo-Iweala will never shiver or speak out of contest in the face of any form of questioning, even at the heat of the fuel subsidy issue, she was up and doing. Her response might not do all well but her courage and charisma defeats challenges. Labran Maku (Minister of Information) is also fluent and has a sense of critical analysis, Olusegun Aganga, Allison-Diezeni Madueke, Princess Stella Oduah, to mention but a few.

These accolades of intellectual and academic gurus should have blessed Mr President with their exceptional skills.

As if the local show of shame called media chat is not enough, it is disheartening that Mr President went all the way to CNN, Switzerland in an interview to embarrass himself. Watching that session of interview, it was like the President was forced to hold that interview. He fell to a female reporter who does not live in Nigeria but does her work from diaspora. If the President is yet to recognize that he made a fool of himself in his capacity as the President, he should take a swift look into Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s foreign interviews. If that is file is missing from the shelf, Mr President should YouTube other nations Presidency foreign interviews (there is no harm in learning).

What then is the essence of the ministers’ educational and intellectual soundness if their President would be scrambled round like a die in a ludo game? Even if the President is actually working, his lack of charisma slaughters his achievement.

The President should wake up to responsibilities and stop this show of shame.

Jsakinyanmi

30-01-2013