In the last few weeks, I have been on a soul searching reflection and re-wiring of my personal eco-system. It has been an opportunity for subtle reboot of innate environmental intelligence. The year 2024 is winding down and it is only fitting to do some deep introspection. As an avid writer, I have been able to publish several articles this year which has been read globally. Some of the piece centred on themes around human capital development, business, governance, and leadership. Some of the eye catching titles were What You Do Speaks So Loud, Ecology of The Vegetarian Wolf, Lion in Winter, Father Time is Undefeated, The Economy of Attention, The Elephant in The Room, Medusa Imperium, The Nigerian Situation and a Philosopher’s Audacity, Snakes and Ladders to mention but a few.
These write ups along with my many television appearances on national and international media were avenues to engage, push the narrative, deepen conversations and frontiers of human capacity and development for the building of a just and egalitarian society. I took considerable time to go through all comments and feedback received from viewers and readers across the world. As daunting as this exercise was, I had to do it as it is a necessary tool for the regeneration of the mind, body and soul. As the year 2024 rolls to a crescendo, I have had to also take ample time for stock taking, self-appraisal, forward thinking, as well as creating room for tactical and personal strategic planning.
During this period of literary hibernation, a lot of events has transpired on both the national and global front. The United States of America had their elections and a new POTUS-elect, Donald J. Trump is waiting in the wings to assume office in January 2025. Like or loathe him, President Trump was able to defy all the odds to stage a comeback to the White House after a four-years hiatus. The Russia-Ukraine crisis is assuming a new dimension as both the US and United Kingdom gave permission for the Ukrainians to use their ammunitions inside Russia. The Russian strongman, Vladimir Putin has raised many eyebrows with his stern warnings to Western powers over that permit. On their part, the West are pointing to the use of Iranian-made fire power and alleged involvement of North Korea military personnel by Russia in the war. The mudslinging goes on as to who is right or wrong while a big moral question hovers over everyone. Also, in a surprise twist of events, Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad was toppled ending over 50 years of the Assad’s family grip on power in the Mediterranean nation.
In Nigeria there hasn’t been shortage of ‘wonderments’ as the country grapples with economic challenges. The federal government continues to maintain that its two major reforms (painful as it is) is the only way to ensuring the viability of Africa’s most populous nation. The country’s currency has been floated thus stopping the dual FX (foreign exchange) market trading system. Also, the removal of subsidy on petroleum products has remained. In my region of Nigeria, Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt. Hon Dennis Idahosa was elected Governor and Deputy Governor respectively. As expected, and coming from a rival political party, the new governor has hit the ground running and settled down for governance. He has also beamed his searchlight on some of the activities of his predecessor in office. Going back to the national level, there has been some startling events that are shaping our landscape. These happenings are shaking the foundations of the very corpus existence of our societal fabric.
First, the fiery human rights activist, cerebral intellectual and polyglot, Dele Farotimi was picked up in a gestapo manner by the police from his office in Lagos and transported extempore to Ekiti state. He is facing trial at a magistrate court for an alleged defamation of nonagenarian legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola SAN. The latter was only granted bail (after 18 days) as at the time of this piece going to the press. More legal fireworks are expected on the case in the new year. Not sounding sub judicial, the outcome of the case will carry a huge moral burden on Nigeria’s justice system. It is certainly going to further shape the perception of Nigeria judiciary either positively or negatively.
Second has been all the rhetorics surrounding the comments made by Nigerian-born-British Kemi Badenoch, leader of the U.K Conservative Party. Before that has been the outpouring of top music star, Davido in an interview granted to an American radio station. Both comments have elicited varied reactions from Nigerians in all walks of life. None of the reactions to Kemi Badenoch could be higher than that of Vice President Kashim Shettima. Again, the issues when viewed from its pre-context, context, and post-context carries so much moral currency.
On the part of the people, a lot of moral questions have been raised recently over a few occurrences. First, is the discovery by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) of some outlets where a range of fake and adulterated products, including wines, whiskey, yogurt, carbonated drinks, chips, dry gin, and other beverages at Eziukwu market Aba, Abia State. This was discovered during a lengthy operation led by Martins Iluyomade, Director of NAFDAC’s South-East Zone. These items were found either being produced in unsanitary conditions within the market or stored in sections where expired products were re-labelled with new dates for redistribution to unsuspecting consumers. This discovery (not the first time) shows the wickedness and dastardly nature of citizens to their fellow citizens. That perpetuators of this criminal enterprise have no human feelings or conscience is a reminder that the moral currency of the nation has taken a flight beyond the galaxies.
The challenges facing our country Nigeria is often put at the feet of the political leadership, albeit successive leadership. We are often very quick to point accusing fingers at politicians. It is true that politicians have not done themselves proud. They certainly do not deserve our flowers, however as a people we also have a role to play. In terms of ascension to political office, our current system will continue to throw up money-bag candidates. In the Nigeria of today, and as things stand even in the 2027 General Elections, it will be a Herculean task for candidates outside the two major political parties – All Progressives Congress, APC and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to win elections at local, state and federal levels. The third alternative, the Labour Party, LP which many thought would give the ‘big two’ a good run seems to have fizzled out due to internal divisions within its ranks. What really is it that has punctured values and moral principles in our clime? Is it tribe, religion or culture?
World renowned management consultant and author, Peter Drucker once said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Drucker in speaking about a business organisation, posited that no matter how great your business strategy is, your plan will fail without a company culture that encourages people to implement it. Great company culture is when the majority of employees and their managers can deal with pressure, respond creatively and positively to any challenges, and treat each other and their clients with respect and integrity. Juxtaposing this to a society, all members of its component parts must be ready to contribute their quota to the common good.
Solid and healthy cultures emerge in a society when people at every level feel a true purpose in their collective identity and aspirations. This is why, business experts will tell you that no matter how brilliant your company’s strategy is, the plan will be difficult or impossible to implement without a healthy culture. The numerous social, political and economic challenges facing Nigeria is not for want of plans on paper. Our statutes books are well decorated on shelves, but our bane is always the lack of will to implement them. An old adage says, ‘when there is a will, there is a way’. When you travel around the world, Nigerians would obey traffic rules and other norms in those places unsupervised or without coercion. However, some of these folks would do the opposite once they set foot on motherland. Why is this so? The answer is simple – culture. Over the years, our society has been breeding a culture of impunity which unfortunately has cascaded down all strata of society.
The Nigerian political class must understand that the country cannot develop if basic moral standards are not maintained. The political leadership must wake up to their responsibilities. The mantra of leading by example has to be the watchword. The stupendous and extravagant lifestyle of the political class must be tampered down. Political positioning must not be a ticket to criminal accumulation of ill-gotten wealth. The younger generation are watching and except the current moral malaise is bucked, the next generation would be morally bankrupt and far worse. It is often said that those waiting to loot our commonwealth are more than those fleecing it now. If that is the case, then we may not have a country to call our own in the future.
As for the followership, it is time for everyone to get up the backside and throw their hats into the political ring. Continuous yelling, wailing, ranting, moaning and complaining on both traditional and social media is not enough. The spasmodic political events of the last 2023 General elections were an indication of what can happen when citizens come together for the common goal. The outcomes may not have been far-reaching, but a few borders were crossed. The followership must realise that they actually call the shots. In a country of over 200 million people, the political class, with all their retinue of appointees and associates at the local, state and federal levels cannot be more than 100,000 people. This is a `protonic` number which represents only about 0.05% of the population. The citizens make up the remaining 99.95%. This high numerical advantage when properly harnessed will give citizens the power to determine their destiny within the ambience of our democratic space. In conclusion, let no one be under any illusion, no nation can develop beyond its level of moral authority and currency. The major difference between developed and underdeveloped countries is a function of a simple mathematical kinetic – ethics, adherence to the rule of law, reward and punishment, as well as moral values. See you on the other side of 2025.
Dr Tony Agbons is Lead, Institute of Good Governance and Leadership
