Guest Column

  
Custom Search

Nigerian
News

'Bisi Ogunwale, MSc Finance
 Finance & Management Group
Cranfield School of Management
Bedford, MK43 0AL
United Kingdom
E-Mail: bisi.ogunwale@gmail.com
 

 

 

AGENDA FOR GEJ
by 'Bisi Ogunwale

Mr. President the choice is yours and also remember the saying “to whom much is given much more is expected”. Nigeria and Nigerians have given you this golden opportunity not because you are the best Nigeria had or can ever have neither is it because of luck as your name connotes but I want to believe it is because they think you deserve a chance. A word they say is enough for the wise. A good name (REPUTATION) I understand is better than the riches of this world. I pray God lead, guide and guard you as you discharge your duties. Nigerians are watching and waiting.

I set out to further understand how Moses dealt with his assignment of leading the skeptical, unbelieving and hungry Israelites on the joining to the promise land but I was taken aback with what I found. The Bible tells us that when the Israelites were leaving Sinai and the people were complaining about their hardship just as many do in Nigeria today.

 

Moses went to the Lord (Numbers 11:11-17) and sought His face saying “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant?.…. Did I give birth to them? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries infant, to the land you promise on oath to their forefathers?” He went further to say “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me”. But God in His wisdom and Majesty answered saying to Moses “bring me seventy of Israel’s elders WHO ARE KNOWN (emphasis mine) to you as leaders and officials among the people”.

That Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was sworn in as the Fourth Executive President and Fifteenth Head of States of Nigeria on May 29, 2011 is no news. As our President read his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square, Abuja that fateful afternoon I sat patiently listening to GEJ as I would expect millions of Nigerians and non-Nigerians in their respective homes – both at home and abroad. The world was watching!

Your Excellency, your aspiration of giving “hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless” is laudable so also idea to grow “the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people”. I remember Mr. President saying “Over the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality education and improved health care delivery.  We will pay special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people”.

While swearing in the new Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) you highlighted that his selection was based on pedigree and “his records of public service”. You went further to say "our nation needs men and women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to learn and lead at the same time. We must alleviate the sufferings of our people; we must create jobs, provide electricity and deliver on our electoral promises”. You have asked for “sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector” in a challenging time in which you are “calling on all Nigerians to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country”. Mr. President I do hope and want to believe you would not let the politics of the office dissuade you from living these words.  I say this because history will judge you accordingly!

Mr. President, I need not re-write your speeches lest I lose focus of my objective. However, I must say that if only the speech can end the woes and lamentations of our people I would have given you and your speech writers a 100% pass mark but alas speeches are mere words which need to be put into measurable and sustainable actions aimed at reducing the sufferings and impoverishment of the people and improving the socio-economic well being of the country. Only then can your speeches be meaningful. Mr. President, I know this is not necessary but I shall remind you, just in case you are still in euphoria of your presidency that your current mandate is only for 4 years (it ends May 29, 2015). Whether you will come for renewal of the mandate is left to be decided by the electorate when the appropriate time comes!

The main focus and most importantly the pinnacle of the steadfastness (if there is) of the administration must be to deliver as promised else President Goodluck would have come like many of his predecessors who came and made so many promises only to dash the hope and aspiration of unsuspecting Nigerians. Goodluck Jonathan your REPUTATION is at stake. I sincerely hope you understand the meaning of that word in the real sense of it. If I were GEJ the following are some of questions amongst many others that would be resonating on my mind: How can I go about achieving the goals that I have set out to achieve? What do I need to do to get to the set targets? Who and where can I turn to for help and assistance? Just as Moses did!

My dear President, please let me unequivocally say this that you are not Moses neither will you ever be Moses but you can learn a great deal of lessons from his sojourn as the leader of the lots of Israelites. Another point I must bring out is that Moses did not promise the Israelites anything but you have given to many promises to Nigerians and the world. You are in trouble if I may say that because Nigerians do not forget and forgive things easily. Again I repeat your REPUTATION is on the line. God asked him to bring elders who possess the qualities (emphasis on this word) of leaders to stand by him and saddle the responsibilities of the people together. I besiege you to carefully and painstakingly look into your selection of cabinet members, advisers, assistants and other aides. Remember the word of God said “who are known to you as…” my understanding is the elders to be chosen must have demonstrated that they are worthy. It is not enough to appoint anyone because of his/her tribe, religion, ethnicity, geo-political zone or political affiliations.

People that you will appoint to man Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must be men and women of impeccable characters, credible and of outstanding REPUTATION who have demonstrated over the years that they are result-oriented and a known to have delivered in their previous endeavours across the sectors of economy. Only the serious and business-minded people who have shame and understand the meaning of the word called ‘REPUTATION’ should be found around your Excellency. It takes the understanding of REPUTATION for Toyota or Honda to recall millions of units of their cars reported to have had problems all over the world in order to get them fixed thereby protecting the organization’s name and business. Some Nigeria will only consider the immediate cost of that decision to the business but these organizations have foresights and regard for the name they have built over decades. Your aides must be people who understand the enormous tasks that lie ahead of you. They must be people who understand that their actions and inactions determine the future of this country.

Your Excellency, Nigeria and Nigerians have suffered several heartbreaks from many disappointments to the extent that many have lost hope. Many will judge the expected performance of your administration from the set of people you appoint as your co-pilot to keep the Nigerian Aircraft in the air and at least navigating it towards the ‘promise land’. Remember that we need to tell ourselves and maybe the world also that Education can still work in Nigeria, that it is not only about dispensing drugs and admitting people to the clinics but that we can have proper and sustainable healthcare delivery system, that we can through the development of our agriculture sector provide food security, that stable and constant electricity is possible and not a dream we will continue to have, that businesses can thrive and compete favourable with peers all over the world, that we can build a Nigeria wherein we all can be proud of carrying our green passport without having to look over our shoulders when in another man’s land simply because we are Nigerians.

Mr. President the choice is yours and also remember the saying “to whom much is given much more is expected”. Nigeria and Nigerians have given you this golden opportunity not because you are the best Nigeria had or can ever have neither is it because of luck as your name connotes but I want to believe it is because they think you deserve a chance. A word they say is enough for the wise. A good name (REPUTATION) I understand is better than the riches of this world. I pray God lead, guide and guard you as you discharge your duties. Nigerians are watching and waiting.

May God bless Nigeria!!!
 
 

 

  Unique visitors: 365