A Draft

One Government agency acquiesced on its Rights and Responsibilities, and another agency, least connected with issues of public health, rose to the occasion and surmounted the emerging challenges unsolicited. Those involved took the unexpected actions, not to line their pockets with public funds, but in the pursuit of happiness and the survival of their beloved nation-state. Today, the State of Israel remains economically strong, military impregnable, and technologically superior to its neighboring countries for obvious reasons. To every Israeli at home and abroad, the nation of Israel comes first and the interests of the country supersede those of individuals, tribes, or regions. All the intelligence agencies are headed by the best and the brightest, not whether you espouse Orthodox, Reformed, or Conservative Judaism. The attached story by the New York Times will blow your mind. 

A few years ago, in my country of birth (Nigeria), we forcefully retired some of the finest Officers within the Police Force, just to create an opportunity for the appointment of a lackluster and barely literate Officer from a particular region to lead the Police Force. And the outcome was an unmitigated disastrous. 

In a similar fashion, more than a decade ago, when the Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP) retired, the next four Officers in line to step into the position of the IGP were from the same state - Bendel State. Of these four Officers, three happened to be Lawyers. Of the three who are Lawyers, two have LL.M (Masters degree in Law). And the third one has an LLB. The non-lawyer among them was the no-nonsense light-skin and an irrepressible crack detective from Esan (Ishan) tribe.  These four Officers were not just well-trained and well-educated, they have unblemished record and they were prepared to lead. 

Unfortunately, the four of them possess one distinctive disqualifying credential - intimidating personality. The Military Boys leading the country at the time, won't have any of it. The action they took will astound you. They retired the four of them. (You remember Akagbosu?). And appointed a gentleman unknown within the force. And that is the history of our Police Force and our Intelligence Agencies. It is not about your training, your background, your fit for the job, but your tribe, your religion, and your geographical location. Above all, you must not be the type readily disposed to standing your grand on very important national issues and ready to quit or resign if disrespected. 

A few years ago, I was told to be low-key, don't hurt a fly, stay away from commentaries on national issues, and use your certificates to secure a plum job at the federal level and start enjoying the fruits of your labor. Well stated, but where are we today as a country? Are we moving forward because we have a bunch of low-key, obeying lying-low Nigerians heading our institutions? 

Today, we have a visibly physically infirmed President, and none of the Ministers or Advisers can take action or speak out in the Public on national issues without running to the master to secure his blessings. And here is a President who has little or no knowledge of the background, credibility, or identity of about 85% of those heading the Executive branch. Sorry, I don't want to be a part of those conniving low-key swindlers who are milking Nigeria and lining their pockets with public funds. 

In spite of the massive demands for accountability and probe of the disappearance or whereabouts of the public funds voted and released to the Aso Rock Clinic in the last five years, the Presidency remains unruffled by the scandal. Right now, whether you are low-key, irrepressible, flamboyant, or garrulous, we are in the same corona mess together. 

Anyway, all is not lost. Nigeria will regain its lost glory. Sooner or later, those who use religion and ethnic bent to appropriate power as well as their collaborators will account for every penny they stole or allowed to disappear from the national treasury.  The State of Israel is a definition of statehood - the nation comes first. Those who are using religion and tribe to divide and conquer us must not have peace. And we must not be afraid to identify them, mention their names, and subject them to public prosecution and ridicule. Nigeria comes first.