I meet government officials all the time, from America to Ghana and beyond. But I have NEVER met more simpler political leaders than those that serve Rwanda. I am pulling this photo because I just spoke with a minister in an eastern European country; he was waiting 5 minutes ahead of schedule, and not the usual I get in Abuja (the minister has an urgent message from the President, and you need to give him time. Check – there was no message from the President; he was simply reminding me that he was the Oga).
In Rwanda, I had flown from the US to Kigali as Carnegie Mellon University was setting up the African campus. We did the ceremonies and the minister was excited. You know what? Went to an eatery; he drove himself with no security or any protocol. As we walked, citizens were waiving and greeting – and shaking hands. I could not believe that I was in Africa!
During lunch, we had a table like others; no security zone was created. You see an emerging society. My question daily is this: how did Nigeria miss our old amazing trajectory which even in 1976 was seen as a benchmark of decency, service and values that the world waived visas and treated our passport as pure diamond? What happened and who brought the culture of bigman-ism?
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The mafias got hold of power, after spending over a decade shouting military regime was corrupt, with democracy touted as the best after slice bread; now you know the real criminals.
We created things that defy logic and remain some sort of aberration: His Excellency, Distinguished, Honourable, who brought this misnomer into our political lexicon? It makes no sense referring to unconscionable creatures with such noble titles, it’s not in the interest of the wise to praise fools.
This criminal enterprise we call government is self-serving, nobody deserves a security details, and if you are afraid of moving freely, then quit government, once we start having men and women of the people at the corridors of power, there won’t be need for ridiculous security details, everyday people will keep them safe, because they are all compatriots.
Again, the idiots that always believe that wasting someone’s time after a scheduled meeting shows relevance or big personality also need proper education, a lot of nonsense is celebrated here, just because people with zero talent sit in sacred places, but you can reduce them to size by ignoring them.
The first step is to stop celebrating useless and irresponsible people, a lot of them dwell here.
Interesting perspective “We created things that defy logic and remain some sort of aberration: His Excellency, Distinguished, Honourable, who brought this misnomer into our political lexicon?”
I know Honourable Salisu spoke to Architect Adeyemi about Engineer Okeke’s proposal. But the challenge remains.
I think it’s a personal choice how one wants to be addressed, but then again the power distance element identified in the seminal work of Geert Hofstede looms large in Nigeria. That mindset surely needs to change.
Look out for my post on Rwanda and its exploits as one to watch in Africa.