Buhari’s Independence Day gift: ‘It makes no sense’

No one can function effectively in leadership in this day and time without empathy, no matter who the person is. This is the most important intelligence that is needed in leadership in 21^st century. If you do not have this kind of intelligence, then you are unfit to lead. You can have either a first-class or 2^nd-class brain and still be a dullard, when it comes to the leadership issue of emotional intelligence—in a context of empathy.

When leaders sit where their followers sit, there are so many things they cannot say with their mouth, but when leaders lack empathy, they consistently derive joy from using words to beat those within their spheres of influence. I am talking about followers that economic harshness has already succeeded in beating blue-black, gasping for inhalation!

On the 1^st of October, 2020, we became 60years old as a nation! And as usual, whoever is the president of Nigeria is expected to address the precious and great citizens of Nigeria, taking them down memory lane, adeptly unveiling what his government has done between the last Independence Day celebrations, tackling all our national problems and the current one and skillfully pointing our people to what the future holds for them.

It is important to mention here that I stopped listening to national broadcasts on Independence Days, because those in power only come out to say what they do not believe and what they know they can never do. And most times, while the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is giving his speech, there is usually power-outage. And it does not make sense, burning one’s fuel to listen to words that will not see the light of day.

A few hours ago, I went online to read through baba’s speech and I was not disappointed a hoot. All the presidents before him did the same thing and this year’s speech is the 5^th one since he got to power. On the 1^st of October, 2020, Buhari said and I quote: “Sixty years of nationhood provides an opportunity to ask ourselves questions on the extent to which we have sustained the aspirations of our founding fathers. Where did we do the right things? Are we on course? If not where did we stray and how can we remedy and retrace our steps?” To start with, it is clear that our leaders have gone astray. And as long as we keep pushing the blame to the citizens, we will never move beyond where we are as a nation. In nation building, everything begins and ends with those in leadership. It is clear that Nigeria is hated by those in leadership. And when leaders hate Nigeria, you do not expect followers to love her. Even if one uses a magnifying lens, it is impossible to see patriotism amongst those in the corridors of power. Today’s leaders talk about unity, but everything they do spell disunity. Not one in the corridors of power is serving because of love, but because of money.

We began to go astray on the day we started putting forward, the worst of us to lead the best of us, playing politics with every fiber of our national life. We began to go astray when money became the yardstick for all we do. Not one project is done by those in the corridors of power, because of love, but because of money. This is why our roads do not last. This is why absolutely nothing is working in our country. Those in the corridors of power are daily worshipping money, so why are we wondering that we are witnessing all kinds of evil in our country? In a nation where leaders worship money, you cannot but have in abundance: kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and corruption.

Also, PMB said and I quote: “Today, I am aware that our economy along with every single economy in the world is in crisis. We still face security challenges in parts of the country, while our society suffers from a high loss of moral rectitude which is driven by unbridled craving for political control.” To be sincere and truthful, our economy has always been in crisis, so painting the picture that it’s just happening now as an effect of covid-19 is not true. It is not debatable that the common man has never enjoyed any abundance in the history of Nigeria!

In addition, no matter what happens in Nigeria, the lurid and ostentatious lifestyle of those in the corridors of power does not change. Or have you heard that President Buhari, vice President Osinbajo, Ministers, Senators, House of Reps members, local government chairmen and governors have reduced their salaries, allowances and security votes by at least 30%?

We only identify with the rest of the world when it comes to crisis. This is the only gospel those in the corridors of power are very good at preaching in order to continue to pacify and mollify about 90% of our people that’s swimming in the pool of poverty. We do not build good roads like the rest of the world. Our politicians are not collecting salaries and allowances like the rest of the world. Our citizens are not being respected and valued like the rest of the world.

Also, President Buhari said and I quote: “Supporting the enthronement of the rule of law, demanding accountability of elected representatives and contributing to good governance…” While baba was addressing Nigerians, saying they are free to “demand accountability of elected representatives,” journalists and citizens of Nigeria are being beaten and arrested by policemen for protesting. I may not support those protesting, but it is their right as enshrined in our constitution. If we are truly practicing democracy, then the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are supposed to be entirely free to stage protests, without taking any permission from anyone! During protests (non-violent ones), policemen and soldiers are supposed to protect those protesting, not beat and arrest them.

While PMB was addressing Nigerians on the 1^st of October, 2020, he deliberately did not say anything on the issue of electricity tariff hike; he mentioned the only commodity that is undoubtedly still keeping all our politicians together, justifying his recent decision to further punish Nigerians economically: “Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.” Buhari said that it makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than Saudi Arabia, but he never said that it makes no sense for quality of life to be better in Saudi Arabia than Nigeria. He never said that it does not make sense for minimum wage in Saudi Arabia to be higher than that of the one we are having Nigeria that some states are still struggling to pay. The governors of those states are collecting their security votes, though!

Lastly, what exactly makes sense in Nigeria today? Everything political leaders are collecting as salaries and allowances across the planet earth and are clear as water to their people, but in Nigeria, it makes no sense for Nigerians to know. Also, it makes no sense for every state in Nigeria to make public how much comes in on a monthly basis and how each kobo is being spent.