By Henry Ewunonu
Today, the leader of the Tory Party and Prime Minister of Britain Mr. Boris Johnson finally resigned as the Leader of the party and consequently, as the Head of Government over sundry accusations some of which include flagrant violation of the lockdown measures he prescribed for the whole country, mishandling of criminal accusations of friends and partners and shabby implementation of the BREXIT project.
Those that resigned said that they are no longer comfortable with the Prime Minister’s handling of the affairs of government. Shame, as it is said, belongs to the relations of vagrant psychotic, and not the sufferer.
This however did not come quite easy. Despite suffocating opposition, Mr. Johnson managed to escape humiliating disgrace from his colleagues severally. Two weeks ago, he survived a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons.
But that was not to last long as the agitations for his ouster stimulated an unprecedented wave of resignations by cabinet ministers- men of conscience who valued self-image and love for country higher and better than immediate political gains.
As at this morning, the BBC revealed that about 50 members of cabinet have resigned because their leader was not performing well.
What does that tell us concerning the way many of our own legislators in Nigeria and strong men around government have sold their souls in their attempt at defending the indefensible brazen low performance of the present administration, especially at the Federal level? Many of them would do anything human to defend the administration despite obvious evidence of colossal failure. Yet, the nation drifts closer daily to tipping over.
The highest burden of the present-day setting is the leadership of the National Assembly which without asking confessed its unfailing love for the President and vowed that even with the threat of a gun to their heads, they will pass every and anything sent to them by the President.
Their usual oversight functions died unnaturally as did the distracting parliamentary probes that led to nowhere except in providing our disillusioned citizens sessions of comic relief since they say that laughter is the best medicine. Democracy is what it is because of the people’s voices. Because the 200 million citizens cannot become legislators and sit in sessions, this is why we have elected representatives as senators and honorable members. Our voices got lost in them because of the “Kings bread and wine”.
The highest gift to a person in power is constructive criticism. Even when considered unduly antagonistic, the principals in power should take in the message and ignore the unbecoming posturing of the messengers or the mode of delivering the messages.
It has proved almost difficult for humans in governance to internalise this counsel.
Those that listened and changed the narrative live to tell a different story.
Just a few days ago, another ugly scenario played out at the highest shrine of justice in Nigeria the Supreme Court where the Chief Justice was also forced by the now born again 14 other Justices of the Court to throw in the towel. How come issues get to the bursting point before being addressed or redressed and save the country increasing number of very embarrassing situations?
The value of open rebuke is immeasurable. It deters further wrongdoing as it provides a gauge for future actions.
Those who would prefer being “advised” inside their bedrooms and shut out opportunities and benefit from public opinions, always end with regrets as power is only transient.
In the health sector, many in leadership positions of health facilities are severely allergic to criticisms. Yes, criticisms as there’s no better word to substitute it. It’s said that those who are intolerant to heat sensations should stay very far from the kitchen. These new Lords of the manor lose their close friends and colleagues while in office as they prefer praise singers who are more junior colleagues better and above those who can look straight into their eyes to say “nay, you should have done it better this way”.
The system suffers because of the ego of men. In the health sector, people die because of ego and mismanagement. The superman self-absorbed egomaniac suddenly replaces the hitherto ideas collector and synthesiser, and the end result is predictable.
Pre-2015, many hailed Sai Baba but today, few now, if at all, murmur it with a time of melancholy. Oh, what a way to squander the public goodwill. The voices of such notorious choir members who shouted hosanna are now shouting crucify him. The voices that suffer a form of Stockholm syndrome are getting drowned out on daily basis by the crushing poverty and worsening insecurity in the land. After following the price of a loan of bread from N250 In 2015 to N900 today, they needed no teacher to learn a new song. Learn from him and them.
As the nation embarks on another frenzy to elect her leaders in 2023, let’s look well and critically examine the anatomy, physiology, and psychology of the contenders.
Let’s not blame God again for punishing us with wicked rulers who look aside as the country burns.
Let’s select those that will have the courage to do what men do- accept responsibility for both achievements a day failings and throw in the towel when public opinion suggests so.
Let’s elect those who have shame in them as the late Chief Abraham Adesanya prescribed as the number one quality of a leader. That a man has kept on parading himself as a leader when there is no more country to govern is pitiable. As a leader in your right, do you notice when the voices of praise singers are diminishing by the growing dissatisfaction occasioned by your fast diminishing performance ratings?
Have you noticed that your true friends are reducing and are in fact no more as you fence-wall yourself and badly managed government?
Look deep and you’ll see who your true friends are.
Henry Ewunonu , a Health Rights Activist and Public Commentator, wrote from Abuja
