FROM ME TO YOU

Show me an entity that is about to get its leadership right and I will show you a setting that is about to set the pace to do new things. It’s no rocket science. It’s either you are doing something new or you are doing old things in new ways before you can get new results, particularly if you are displeased with the results on your hands. Nigeria is on the march again, looking for Mr President. Events of the past few weeks have altered the political landscape. Politicking is in full swing and horse trading has almost gone full circle. The political atmosphere is charged. Tongues are beginning to wag and tempers are already rising. We are on the march again, looking for Mr Fix it. As we pitch tents and take sides, there are pertinent questions to answer. What type of President do you seek? An Ibo President or a Kanuri President? A Yoruba President or an Ikwerre President? A President who empowers his tribesmen or the one with the most admirable business acumen? One from the senior citizens club or “not too young to run” in modern language.

Some events do not need our permission to find a space in our consciousness. Like it or not, you cannot wish Valentine’s Day away even if you don’t believe in it. Irrespective of your faith, Christian, Muslim, Hindus or even if you are a free thinker, whichever of the stories about St. Valentine’s Day you choose to believe, one thing that is not controvertible is that love is at the centre of valentine. When love leads, there is less strive and more peace. The good thing is that it is more natural to love than to hate. This is why children are the best definition of love. Put children of different backgrounds together and you will see boundless love on display. They disagree, they quarrel but the next minute, they are together again. Children don’t usually know the meaning of hate until they are conscious enough to start adding meaning to words and actions. This they learn with age and from adults.

What really makes a place developed? Is it the skyscrapers? Is it the good roads? Rail lines? Or is it the provision of social amenities that guarantee minimum basic welfare for the citizenry? What makes a country developed? As I juggle with answers in my mind, I remember a movie I watched sometimes back where one of the actors said that “politicians don’t like people who do good just because it is right. They get nervous.” I ruminated over this quote and I began to understand why the rich protect their club from being crowded. It occurred to me that the more a society creates super rich individuals in material wealth at the expense of a greater majority with rich mindset, the poorer the society will become. A country is as developed as the vision of the leaders. Every other thing is an add on and a given. Wealth does not create vision, it is the other way round. Visionary leadership propels quality mindset of the citizenry.

Some people silently wish you well but you can mistake them for enemies because you don’t see them praise you too often. Some genuinely praise you from the depth of their hearts, but hear this - the open encomiums you get from some people are for reasons not connected to you. There is more to learn from honest criticism than disguised praise. Are you still there? ©️akinjnr2021

Truly, there are times you become overwhelmed but don’t ever be tempted to stop giving what you have more than others. The real value in it is when others benefit from your abundance. If you don’t give, the value diminishes. I’m not even talking about money. Think about what money cannot buy. Are you still there? ©️akinjnr2021

Don’t trust the person who encourages you to do anything immoral or illegal, even if to your advantage. Your secret in his hands is a silent weapon to his own advantage. That weapon can be used. An average human being is selfish. Are you still there? ~akinjnr2021