NIGERIANS! LET’S LOOK TO THE PAST AND WEEP, BUT
LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND HOPE
by D. Akinsanya Juliuson HonDBA, IOM
Power tends to
corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This was said by John
Acton, the famous historian. He did not go on to suggest that the
opposite is also true. Absolute powerless is no guarantee of absolute
impeccability. We don’t have as much power as we want, but we do have
some. To make the most of the power that we have, we need to act with
immense sincerity and sensitivity. We need to do the right thing and
we’ll get the right result. We can’t buy wisdom by the pint. We can
though obtain ignorance in this way. After a couple of glasses we will
know nothing about anything – even if we feel sure that we know it
all! Wisdom, arguably can be bought – but not with money. We have to
pay for it with experience and we certainly can’t measure the stuff.
So, how much wisdom do we have now in this country? In some nations
elections are never held. The same people hold the same positions of
power for decades. Are the citizens any worse off? They might or might
not be. We can’t ask them because they are not allowed to comment!
Democracy is not about efficiency. It’s about respecting the right to
disagree.
I believe a
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…just a single
step. Let’s close our eyes and think of a clear blue sky above us.
Let’s visualise a ladder, emerging from the top of our head. Let’s
watch it go upwards, ever upwards, into that wide blue yonder. Now,
let’s conjure up an image of us somehow climbing that ladder. We keep
climbing and now at the top, let’s look down. There is our situation
in Nigeria, the one that seems so big, daunting, urgent and
overwhelming. Seems small in the distance – doesn’t it? Grown ups in
our midst know what they are doing at all times. Kids just wander
around in a state of confused innocence. Or so at least, we are taught
to believe. There are though, many smart children in this world and
many dumb adults. In that latter group (the adults) the dumbest
of the lot are the folk who think they know what they are doing when
really they have no clue, no idea. I believe we (this generation) have
got that childlike urge to explore something different now and we
mustn’t dismiss it. It could change our world and our country for
better.
In
2007, The Most High will surely bless us with a God fearing Leader. A
leader who will appreciate how extremely important it is for Nigerian
leader to know the true meaning of leadership, security and
understanding. I said this before and by God, I’m saying it again. Any
President that's not guided by principle is not a President and I
repeat that person is not a president but a wishful thinker. The next
leader of Nigeria must be someone who embodies the best and
understands the ideals and value of communities and also hard-work.
God can and will give our country a better leadership and better
future. I'm sure we have more than enough intelligent leaders with
what it takes to lead the nation, let’s pray to God for guidance and
to lead us. In order for the next leader of our great country to form
a perfect union with the citizens of Nigeria, he must be prepared to
establish prosperity and well-being and insure integrity, also declare
himself free and independent from all bondage past, present and
future. He must be prepared to divorce himself from self-righteousness
and release the nation from poverty, lack and negativity. He must be a
consummate listener and be prepared to deal with serial blackmailers
and jobless character assassins that have destroyed many innocent
lives through their evil and unrepentant heart.
This
leader must be prepared to break free from acts of dependency,
self-denial, dishonesty, indecision and timidity. He must be prepared
to seek the common good, promote Unity and Justice, Disdain the
arrogance of power and provide moral leadership. He must remove
himself from working just for money and false security and commit
himself to adding value and making his heart sing in everything he
does. He must be prepared to rid himself of all that, he knows might
jeopardize his determination to succeed. He must be prepared to
dedicate himself to personal success and honesty. Also, must center
himself in the flow of truth, wisdom and inspiration. This leader must
be dedicated to helping and encouraging youths operate at their
personal and professional best. We must work together under the
leadership of a man of purpose, a man of vision and a man of
understanding. We do not need an immature political illiterate who
sell Nigeria in order to be accepted by the west and or disrespect
those who have sacrificed their lives for this worthy nation.
The next president of Nigeria
must learn how to mentor others to greatness and create a
self-propelled workforce. He MUST be more versatile and be sure of his
approach. He must share his vision more effectively and boost
productivity. The world belongs to passionate driven leaders, people
who do not only have enormous amount of energy but who can energise
those whom they lead. People don't want to be managed, they want to be
led, to be inspired to higher levels of excellence and they want a
leader who can develop their potential. This leader must understand
that, how well his team performs depends on his leadership. People are
not led by plans and analysis, creating inspiration, self respect and
a sense of excitement is what it is all about. The next president of
Nigeria must appreciate the fact that, his ministers, governors and
ambassadors might be very skilful, but what really makes the
difference between good performance and outstanding performance is the
WILL factor, commitment, energy and belief. An ability to generate
innovative ideas and pull it through. He must learn how to ignite the
will to win in his team, especially his ministers and ambassadors.
Nigeria deserves cultured, sensible, sensitive, mature ambassadors,
consuls and representatives. We need embassies with efficient
commercial, cultural and public diplomats. Nigeria is an independent
country not a village or town. Nigeria is a leader of leaders. Nigeria
needs a mature and energetic leader who is not a recipe for disaster.
In life some
obstacles are opportunities. If we seek a way past them, we will
eventually find success. Others are impenetrable. They are too big,
too broad, too high or too deep. No matter how much effort we make, we
will be wasting our time. How are any of us supposed to know the
difference between these two types of difficulty? There’s only one way
we can find out. We have to try for a while and see how far……
But what if we
choose the wrong thing? What if we reach the wrong tomorrow? What if
we wind up lost, sorely regretting our weakness or lack of insight?
When we are thinking like this, let’s remember the words of Franklyn
D. Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear in life….is fear
itself.” We must never allow defeat to defeat us in Nigeria. As we sow
seeds for the future by our own actions, let’s ask ourselves, “Are we
acting out of nervousness or enthusiasm?” If it’s the former, let’s
please forget it. If it’s the latter, let’s let it lead us! As long as
we are clear in our hearts, our brains can think whatever it likes.
However, we must remember that, yesterday’s perfect solution is
today’s irrelevant idea. Life moves on and we must move on too. We
can’t keep repeating tried and tested formulae – nor can we assume,
just because something once suited us, that it will be perfect
forever. We don’t necessarily have to alter our situation but we do
have to look at things from a different angle. Are we overlooking the
potential value of something (so far) unfamiliar right now in this
country of ours?
In this
country of ours, we must always understand one thing and that is,
success is dangerous. Failure is valuable. Success gives rise to
arrogance, overconfidence, pride and prejudice! Failure by contrast,
produces humility, wisdom, cautious and a willingness to learn. At the
moment, we have a reason to feel triumphant and a reason too, to feel
deflated. Understandably, we want to focus on the factor that makes us
feel good. The greatest benefit is going to ensue from a good, hard
look at our most pressing problem. What isn’t working? Why isn’t it
working? What can we do now to make it work? It takes courage to ask
questions like these but if we can now summon that strength, we will
come up with answers that inspire and uplift us. No matter what you
and I think or believe, even the Lord Almighty Himself forgives us of
our trespasses. How many of us forgive those who trespass against us?
We must in this country understand that, it is our lack of forgiveness
that always lead us in Nigeria into temptation, so now, who is going
to deliver us from the evil we have created with our mouth and our
actions, if not the Most High to whom kingdom, power, glory and
authority belongs. Let’s be glad of the unexpected. Let’s embrace the
unusual, the innovative, even the downright disruptive. We surely can
soon put things back the way they were if we really want to – but the
likelihood is that with the help of the enemies of progress, we might
not want to.
Let’s recall,
the last time we said “ Right, that’s it, we’re never ever going to do
this (or that) again.” Let’s dwell, for a moment, on how pleased we
are that we made such a decision and how different life has been since
then. Now, let’s face facts. We are back in a situation which looks
suspiciously like the one which led us to that choice. Do we, on point
of principle walk away? Or do we give it one more try, to see if we
can get something constructive out of it? That decision, soon, I
surely believe, will be made for us. We can argue with the past as
much as we like. It won’t respond. It can’t change. It can not even
argue back! Happily, we don’t have to resolve our differences with it.
We can remain uncomfortable about anything that has taken place before
now. This as far as I’m concerned won’t do us any harm as long as we
don’t carry the dispute forward. The future does not need to be argued
with. It needs to be cajoled, coaxed and persuaded. We can talk it
into something we really like and enjoy. Let’s look to the past today
and weep but look to the future and hope.
As said
before, we can’t start with a clean sheet. There‘s already something
written on it. Even if we try to erase it – or paint over it – it will
continue to show through. Let’s not, therefore, try to make a break
with the past. Instead, let’s try and make an agreement with it. Let’s
offer it some way to fit comfortably into our future. Let’s take its
legacy and turn it into something we can feel proud of and pleased
with. I am not talking here about the part of the past we already
like. No! I’m talking about the part we are not so sure of that we can
now make peace with. We might say, if only we had known, back then,
what we know now…perhaps we would never have done what we did. But
then, if we had never done it, we’d never have gone where we went. And
then, we’d never have found out what we have discovered. Let’s not
bother travelling down the road of “what if? It leads nowhere. Let’s
head, instead, along the path of “what’s next?” And be glad of the
lesson we have just learned. It’s yet going to help us ensure that the
next destination we reach is a deeply pleasing and rewarding one.
Whilst doing this, let’s not forget to appreciate our government and
the President’s achievements so far. Let’s give glory to God for
blessing us in this country and for His love for Nigeria.
