Truth as a missing link in Nigerian Leadership

Truth as a missing link in the leadership of Nigeria

Author: Emeka Esogbue

It is difficult to tell why governmental policies are often interpreted differently by the ordinary Nigerians and the Nigerian leaders. Our leaders never see anything wrong in the policies being implemented by the government even as they affect the ordinary masses. These issues continue to trouble the nation with solution not found anywhere on earth, this is because our leaders make it so. Past leaders of the nation always shy away from telling present leaders the truth which he must hear whether they like it or not.

President Yar’Adua has exercised his constitutional power to reshuffle his cabinet in which new ministers have been appointed. There was nothing new about this anyway since the press had already prepared the minds of the people on those expected to withhold their positions, return or remain. Moreso, the people have become inured to the use of same hands in the administration of the nation.

It stimulated my feelings indeed as an ordinary Nigerian to read Duro Onabule article in the Sun Newspaper of Friday, January 30, 2009 captioned “A Cabinet Beyond Expectation” Chief Onabule tried to make series of endless points to justify the appointment of old and recycled hands as ministers which to me is one major reason the nation will never move ahead. To him, there was nothing wrong if Prof Dora Akunyili as a Pharmacologist was appointed to head the Ministry of Information since her talent will be ustilised to publicise the Federal Government the same way she publicized her activities at NAFDAC.

Chief Onabule, it is not the duty of Dora Akunyili to publicise the Federal Government although you sounded like a “Government man” we must acknowledge that it is only in Africa that we publicize governments something close to re-branding. A good government with genuine policies will positively publicize itself. Good policies targeted towards the well-being of the citizens publicize the government.

I am yet to hear anyone else tell the country what Rilwan Lukman achieved at the Petroleum and Energy Ministry. How many more refineries were constructed in a nation with more than 144 million people? Did Nigerians cease to experience fuel scarcity and increase? Was there ever stable power supply in the country? Surely, there are more competent individuals that the nation can try. I sense that our aged fathers do not believe that the youths as leaders can also contribute towards the development of the nation. This is African culture but a bad one.

There was no reason enumerating old and men like Bola Ige, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sunday Afolabi, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Obafemi Awolowo to push home an argument on why Lukman must return. All we say is that Nigerian are tired of their leaders past and present because they have been unable to move the nation forward. Surely, we need to try some changes, helpful ones at that.  

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About the Author:

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a Historian, International Relations Analyst and a Reporter