We Write What Leaders Read - A Short Story!

Each time I publish a thought-provoking essay on my Facebook Timeline, friends and family members would always suggest that I send the piece to any of our daily newspapers for publication. I would just concur and let the discussion die. Sometimes, I would tell them, I have a blog where I publish my views. But when they persist, I would take a step further and tell them that I know who I write for, and they know where and how to find my views on a given issue. And I am emboldened the more by that understanding. So, the more knowledge I gain of my audience, their influence, and status in the larger society, the more I strive to refine my craft and the more I embrace the solemn real estate maxim to wit, if you build it right, buyers will come. The goal, therefore, is to find ways to maximize our intellectual capital with a view to maximizing the returns on our investment - expressed, not in the reading of our earnings statement, but on the quality of the satisfaction, you enjoy on your visit.

As I have always maintained, I took to Blogging because I have one or two stories to tell - common sense-related stories, most often, told in unique ways. Stories likely to generate profound impacts in the politics of nations worldwide. Thanks to Google and the Internet, I am able to tell my stories my own way and at my convenience - making invaluable impacts in the way we live, the way we govern and the way leaders manage changes at home and abroad. It is about change anchored on progressivism.

For instance, exactly three days after I published the previous post on US Military support to Cameroon, the US Special Envoy and Coordinator for Communication and Counterterrorism came to town. And he had an audience with the Vice President. He stated inter alia "we are having so many challenges but we are hopeful that under the leadership we will be able to establish partnerships and be able to make a strong difference going forward."  Yes, indeed "... so many challenges ... but ... hopeful that under the [new] leadership ... establish partnership ... make a strong difference going forward."  Go back and reread the preceding piece. "Why Not Nigeria: The US Military Support To Cameroon."

If I may add, a few days later a delegation of top UK Military Officers came to town as well. The met with some of our top Military Officers, among others.

I did not start yesterday. 

I wrote my first Op-Ed piece in the mid-eighties, when an Italian Ship dumped toxic waste at Koko - very close to the city of Warri, in the present Delta State. I was a School Certificate holder (Grammar School graduate), when I wrote the piece. I mailed the first copy to the Daily Times office in Lagos and hand-delivered the other copy to the office of the Nigerian Observer along Airport Road in Benin City. Both newspapers published the piece a few days apart of each other. It was, titled "Toxic Waste Terrorism", and it catapulted into prominence the hazardous import that the Military Government then was initially clueless about and which none of our Diplomatic Missions in Europe thought fit to alert their home Government about. It later became a global scandal.

It wasn't about the vocabulary or name recognition, but more about the substance, the novelty of the subject matter, and the fluidity of the language. A ship laden with toxic materials was at the high sea for months, roaming and fishing for a vulnerable harbor to deposit the waste materials, and none of our Diplomatic Missions in Europe had knowledge of it or saw it fit to place the home government on the alert. It was a huge embarrassment. And we spare no one. That's part of what we do here - drawing attention and proffering solutions as appropriate.

I have been around the newspaper industry in Nigerian and abroad since my teenage years, starting with the Nigerian Tribune and Time Magazine. For the five years I worked at my first job out of Grammar School, I had access to the Daily Times, The Guardian, the Nigerian Observer, the New Nigerian, Sketch, Tribune, and the National Concord at my office every morning. I remember one of the senior guys in the same room with me, said jokingly: "I stop buying The Guardian, because Alex reads, not just the Op-Ed, but every line and every word in the paper, and I don't have that kind appetite." He was right; being the youngest dude in the room, I would wait for all the senior guys to skim the paper, and when they have all done, I would appropriate it and have it with me until 5 PM - the closing time. It was fun. I was simply untouchable. 

In no time, I became acquainted with the writing style of most of our established writers. My favorites were Dr. Stanley Macebuh, Dan Agbese, Ray Eku, Nosa Igiebor, Sonala Olumhense, Dare Babarinsa, Odia Ofeimun, Lade Bonuala, Olatunji Dare, Hasan Mohammed, Chief Duro Onabule, Dele Omotunde, as well as Professor Ojetunji Aboyade writes occasionally for The Guardian. Most often, I brag about the fact that I bought the first copy of The Guardian, Newswatch, Tell, The News, and all the major brands that came out in the eighties and early nineties. So, I have a good understanding of what the expectations of the readers are.

From the pages of the Nigerian Tribune, I learned the difference between news analysis and an opinion piece. So when I was growing up, it didn't take me time to realize that what most of our Columnists do is just news analysis - regurgitating issues in the news as an opinion piece.

I also noticed a fundamental difference between an opinion piece written by a writer at the Kaduna-based New Nigerian newspaper and an opinion written by one from the Lagos/Ibadan axis. From the very first paragraph, you know what the New Nigerian writer is talking about. You cannot say the same of most of our writers from down south. You have to wait until you get to the third paragraph.

In addition, they are more into style and polemics, and not as direct, practical, blunt, and issue-oriented as the New Nigerian columnists. Why must you devote an entire piece, repackaging a developing story in the news as opinion? I don't have much problem with that. But I do have problem if you don't have an opinion - a personal opinion on how to do it differently. It is still the trend these days.

A columnist should be able to look beyond the news - creativity. That thinking informed the style of this Blog. It's all about the fresh perspectives - looking beyond and seeing beyond the routine and the jejune. If you are still at a loss on why Nosa Igiebor, Dare Babarinsa, Dele Omotunde, and Osifo Onome Whiskey left the Newswatch to float the Tell Magazine in the early 90s, now you know better. That is the spirit I brought to bear on this Blog - going ahead of the news, influencing the news in the process.

"Run, Barack, Run", that was the title of an opinion piece written by the irrepressible Mr. David Brooks of the New York Times, a Republican, on October 19, 2006. At the time of the piece, Mr. Barack Obama was a first-term US Senator, while Mr. Brook was and still an unrepentant conservative. But he was a writer, a columnist for the number one newspaper in the world. He saw something in the freshman Senator from Illinois worth unraveling. He didn't hesitate to urge the Senator to rise up to new challenges, even though the conservatism in him is in total conflict with the liberal philosophy of the man he is urging to take a step of faith for the Oval Office. And the rest is now history.

But in the beginning, it was a treacherous part to traverse. 

In mid-eighties, I sent an article to a National Newspaper, they did not publish it, but a few days later, the gist of my essay was the theme of an editorial published by the same newspaper. In other words, they crafted an editorial based on my opinion, using my materials, without actually publishing my opinion. The Internet or the Social Medial changes all that. Now I have control over my intellectual property, dispensing it gratuitously at my pleasure.

That's by the way.

Still on the general public, I wrote a piece, titled "Nigeria is at War, We Should Stand With Our President" and I emailed it to two national newspapers, but none of them publish it. Just take it in a stride, Alex. I counselled myself. A few days later, seeing a disturbing news item at the Punch newspaper, I embedded the same story at the discussion section following the news. To put it mildly, the outcome, the reception, the response from Nigerians at home and abroad was explosive - overwhelmingly explosive. It was as if a major earthquake was happening on social media. As at the last count, we had more than One Hundred thumb-ups - profoundly unprecedented. I can boast that there is yet to be another piece in the history of our involvement in social media to enjoy such overwhelming approval and a unanimous endorsement. 

The outpouring of encomiums, of prayer, and goodwill messages on me brought out the best about Nigerians - happy and very passionate people, searching and yearning for real heroes. The mature language of those who responded was indicative of the caliber of Nigerians who came to that discussion forum that very day. I will never forget one particular comment and those of few others. The guy wrote: "I am speechless and amazed at your write-up. Well articulated and very vast too. We need more people like you on this forum who are Objective, intelligent, constructive, and Organised. Keep it up, Bro." Another wrote: "I am glad more Nigerians are beginning to look at issues objectively. God bless you." And another wrote "Woooooooooooooooooooooow, I Luv you, man. You are a true citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria. what a comment." This man of God wrote, "God bless you right-thinking Nigerian, may you live long." And another man of God wrote, "Thank you Sir for speaking the truth. God bless you" These guys did not know who I am, because I did not sign the comment with my real name. 

By the way, the piece put an end to the debate on whether or not President Jonathan was right in proscribing the Boko Haram sect and declaring a State of Emergency in Adamawa, Yobe, and Bornu State. See "North Kick against the ban on B'Haram, Ansaru" and the lead comment NonAligned Progressive - Punch, June 6, 2013.

Yes, I have been tested. Never had any course to doubt my conscience and the weight of the views I hold or share in the public space. What you are reading here is just the tip of the iceberg - of what we have accomplished with the power of the pen in the past three years. Not just in Nigeria, but all over the world.

 I am not there yet, but as Peter would say in Acts 3:6-16 (KJV) "Silver and cold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

Indeed, I write, not because it is a trade or passion, but because I strive for what is pure, noble and achievable. Indeed, it is practically impossible to place a value or a price tag on any of the essays on this blog, but then, those who benefit have the course to be thankful to God. It is their time.

I am not perfect, and I am not by any shape or form laying claim to perfection. Simply put, I am amenable to change. If you are persuasive, that is, being able to marshal convincing and superior arguments, trust I will listen and make amend.

Once, I pulled a story I wrote about Dr. Ahmad Gumi, yes, the bombastic Gumi, following series of emails between me and an unknown sender who expressed reservations over the content of my essay about the man of God. Initially, I edited the story and expunged the contentious paragraphs, because the person was very polite. However, after further discussions with this person, I realized that he or she meant well, not necessary for my safety or related issue, but for the fact that I should not, through anger, become part of the same shortcomings that I condemn in others. That was the gist of his or her protest or argument. It was a polite exchange - nothing profane. A few days later, I deleted the entire story, crediting the guy or lady for my decision. And I got a thank you note from the unknown soldier.

Parting Shot:

As a closing up, I have made a purposeful stride redefining and influencing coverage of public affairs in Nigeria, proffering common sense solutions as appropriate. But for Social Media, the number one article on this Blog ("Immunity the Scope and Extent of Section 308 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria") would not have made it to the public space.

(1) As I write, someone somewhere is reading it, making an informed judgment on what has become of our justice system. That is the story since its publication about three years ago.

(1) For close to a decade now, Nigerians have been lamenting about the corruption in the judiciary, without someone actually identifying the nature of the corruption, its pattern and dimension, until we wrote the number one article on this Blog - the essay on the Immunity Clause. In it, we indicted influential lawyers and judges for their deliberate derailment of the course of our justice system through the use and abuse of discretionary power - adjournments and injunctions. Today, the two words are now on the lips of every lawyer and every public affair commentator. You hear it here first.

(2) On the issue of immunity from the trial, those who ought to know didn't know the difference between Speech and Debate Protection enjoyed by members of the National Assembly and the immunity protection under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution dealing with Executive protection. So, it was a culture for former thieving Governors to buy their way to the Senate, claiming immunized from prosecution for past offenses as Governors. Thanks once again to the number one article, that perverted notion has been debunked. Today, it is general knowledge that Section 308 does not extend to members of the National Assembly. In light of that understanding, they are now scheming to expand the boundaries of the Speech and Debate protection that they enjoy to include criminal offenses and prosecution similar to what is obtainable under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

(3) Indeed, we have come a long way, helping to define new approaches to complicated national issues. For instance, those in position to act didn't appreciate the enormity of the social malaise inherent in the purposeful abandonment of the Almajiri population and how to overcome it, until I developed the Integrative Model - western education on one hand and Quran on the other on this Blog. All thanks to social media, and kudos to President Jonathan for experimenting with the idea. Also, the essay on the education imbalance between the northern region and southern region and how to bridge it is the number two essay on this Blog.

So, it is not the number of articles that you have written or how many speeches you have made. But have you changed a life? Can your audience identify with your work?

What about the leadership and the political leaders? Do they have any cause to be apprehensive of your opinion or welcoming of your opinion on a given issue? It is about the weight and the content; the credibility and goals of the author. 

Yes, my conscience is clear, my content is weighty and I write what leaders read. And I am the author of "Obama: Citizen United, Invincible Resistance and the Hacking of American Democracy", posted June 08, 2012, about five months to the last US Presidential election. One day, just one, that essay will make the news and get the credit it deserves. Thanks to the progressive pundits at MSNBC who wholeheartedly embrace it and made it their main talking point from the very day it was published, until the election day. As I said somewhere else on this Blog, the piece remains my greatest achievement, yet. The piece didn't make me rich, but the outcome was inspirational, a reminder that the training, the sacrifices, and the reading through the years were not in vain. That effort was like going for a driving test, without first, learning or having to drive any car prior to the test, but acing the test like a pro. 

First, my talking points competed against the verbal instructions from a Mayor who is a Rhode-scholar, who dictated in unequivocal terms some no go areas in the campaign that the Obama's team must not dare, followed by a memo by two first-class, and of course, tested political consultants/operatives, repeating condescendingly the no go areas as instructed by the Mayor, and lastly, a stern warning by a former Governor, reinstating in a defeatist tone the calamities associated with venturing into the no go areas vehemently counseled by the previous three gentlemen. But we said no - a vehement no. Arguing that the Obama's team do the exact opposite - focusing directly on the enumerated no-go areas. And they did and my talking points won. Then, came the second round: my talking points were put to test against the opposing candidate, and the impact was one of devastation. It revolutionized the campaign and the polls were unanimous - the talking points successfully defined the opposing candidate, casting doubt at his candidacy and projecting him as a quintessential Wall Street guru, without a trace of human kindness. And the outcome was a sweet victory. Yes, I am not a field worker; I write policies.   

Finally, to those of you established writers who have taken the pain to write about and condemn the Immunity Clause, you don't have to buy into my arguments for the retention of the Immunity Clause, but you will agree with me that there are many Nigerians, known to have openly embezzled public funds, but who are going about unperturbed, in spite of the fact that they do not enjoy immunity protection. So, it is not the law, but the enforcer.

Alex Aidaghese

alexaidaghese@gmail.com
0708 695 1511