Here's to the crazy ones - the misfits, the rebels, the trouble-makers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. And the only thing you can't do is ignore them ... because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones ... we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world ... are the ones who do. - Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011)
Sunday, December 6, 2015
The Role of The Press in Overcoming Mediocrity in Nigeria!
During the screening of the Ministerial nominees, it was widely reported that Mr. President told his subordinates and the emerging Ministers to always tell him the truth, no matter how unpalatable. Specifically, I saw Barrister James Ocholi (SAN), one of the Ministerial nominees, emphasising that demand from the President, while speaking with a TV Reporter. In light of the not-so-encouraging developments surrounding the appointment of new Ministers, I would like to ask what would happen if those in a position to advise the President as per the truth, lack the intuitive capital to read and interpret the situation on the ground and advise the President accordingly.
When that happens, as is always the case in Nigeria, the President is denied useful information. In that case, there is a vacuum in the system that no one in the Presidency is aware of. And that is the evolution of mediocrity - our bane as a society.
For instance, there was a noticeable improvement in power supply immediately after President Buhari came into office. Thanks, of course, to the much hyped "body language." Today, the power supply is at its worst since my arrival in Nigeria about six months ago. As I write, the lines at the gas pump are getting longer. Boko Haram is once again on the rampage with brazen bravado, undaunted. And it is undoubtedly worse than it was six months ago.
For instance, there was a noticeable improvement in power supply immediately after President Buhari came into office. Thanks, of course, to the much hyped "body language." Today, the power supply is at its worst since my arrival in Nigeria about six months ago. As I write, the lines at the gas pump are getting longer. Boko Haram is once again on the rampage with brazen bravado, undaunted. And it is undoubtedly worse than it was six months ago.
Indeed, we did embrace the new slogan in town: "no more business as usual." Yet, nothing has changed. In hindsight, the solution is not just the rejection of the culture of "business as usual," but defining a new benchmark for performance evaluation and raising the standard of engagement across the board.
In other words, what is the nature of change desirable at the present time? That leads us to the next question. It is about benchmarking - evaluation of the benchmark and the standard of engagement.
How do you raise the standard of engagement or define the new benchmark when those who are strategically placed to define new policy frameworks (make changes) are ignorant of the existence of a lacuna in the system? That is the problem. That is our problem as a nation-state. And that is where the press must step in. Yes, the press, through constructive criticisms, supported by the people, through mass protest.
In other words, what is the nature of change desirable at the present time? That leads us to the next question. It is about benchmarking - evaluation of the benchmark and the standard of engagement.
How do you raise the standard of engagement or define the new benchmark when those who are strategically placed to define new policy frameworks (make changes) are ignorant of the existence of a lacuna in the system? That is the problem. That is our problem as a nation-state. And that is where the press must step in. Yes, the press, through constructive criticisms, supported by the people, through mass protest.
On the other hand, if indeed the President has credible and audacious Nigerians around him, with the requisite background to read and interpret the situation on the ground and advise the President accordingly (telling him the truth), but the change as understood by the President and acceptable to the President and his core counsellors is inconsistent with emerging trends or what obtains in advanced climes, then we have a problem at hand - the making of a dictator. It is the same as not having advisers at all.
By the way, President Jonathan, honest as he might have been, didn't grab the mood in the country and the expectations of a modern Nigerian nation-state. And that should have been the responsibility of his kitchen cabinet, which turned out to be a bunch of local DJs.
By the way, President Jonathan, honest as he might have been, didn't grab the mood in the country and the expectations of a modern Nigerian nation-state. And that should have been the responsibility of his kitchen cabinet, which turned out to be a bunch of local DJs.
And that brings us to the second question: how do we eliminate a vacuum created by a recalcitrant President? First, the Advisers should remain steadfast and be consistent in standing for what they believe is right - the truth. They should not be docile about confronting the President's kitchen cabinet openly with facts and figures on issues where there are differences. However, in the absence of any substantial improvement on the part of the President (unwilling to be convinced), the affected Advisers should not hesitate to do the ultimate: resign.
Given the fact that resignation by Advisers or Ministers is not a Nigerian corporate culture, the press, once again, must step into the void, through consistent and constructive criticisms, supported by the people, through mass protest. Yes, for the Change to be meaningful and result-oriented, the Press and the Nigerian people must be ready to reject packages clothed in deceit aimed at suffocating informed views.
So, it is my conclusion that raising the benchmark shouldn't just be about slogans. It is about actions and the nature of such actions. And that is what this essay is about - defining a purposeful benchmark, with the support of the press. It requires vision, audacity and creativity. And that's why President Obama is a success story today.
He started by asking a question another President would not have asked. How come ordinary Americans cannot afford quality and affordable healthcare? And what must we do to ensure availability and affordability? How can we simplify educational funding to make it accessible to poor American families? What is more important to do: fight two wars and deplete the national resources, and be lauded and vilified at the same time as the Policeman of the world, or stay away from war without end and invest the saved resources at home? You know the answer. And today, the American economy is better off for it.
Still on Obama - he did not bail out American State Governors or support them in paying any outstanding workers' salaries and wages, as President Buhari just did in Nigeria a few months ago. His bail out was to the Auto Industry, the Wall Streets and the Mortgage sector, knowing full well that a vibrant auto industry and a buoyant, but regulated Wall Street, will go a long way in creating synergy that will spiral to other sectors of the American economy and catalyze sustainable growth along the chain. And it happened. That was common sense integrated with a daring will to act and to succeed. First is the ability to know that something isn't right, and then ask questions. Awareness matters. Visions matter. And audacity matters, as well.
So, it is my conclusion that raising the benchmark shouldn't just be about slogans. It is about actions and the nature of such actions. And that is what this essay is about - defining a purposeful benchmark, with the support of the press. It requires vision, audacity and creativity. And that's why President Obama is a success story today.
He started by asking a question another President would not have asked. How come ordinary Americans cannot afford quality and affordable healthcare? And what must we do to ensure availability and affordability? How can we simplify educational funding to make it accessible to poor American families? What is more important to do: fight two wars and deplete the national resources, and be lauded and vilified at the same time as the Policeman of the world, or stay away from war without end and invest the saved resources at home? You know the answer. And today, the American economy is better off for it.
Still on Obama - he did not bail out American State Governors or support them in paying any outstanding workers' salaries and wages, as President Buhari just did in Nigeria a few months ago. His bail out was to the Auto Industry, the Wall Streets and the Mortgage sector, knowing full well that a vibrant auto industry and a buoyant, but regulated Wall Street, will go a long way in creating synergy that will spiral to other sectors of the American economy and catalyze sustainable growth along the chain. And it happened. That was common sense integrated with a daring will to act and to succeed. First is the ability to know that something isn't right, and then ask questions. Awareness matters. Visions matter. And audacity matters, as well.
Friday, December 4, 2015
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