by Usman Rabiu

When a predecessor acts like a jezebel by handing over an almost sinking ship to you as a captain, you assume the devil by sinking the ship completely. Our solution lies in simply rising above the strongholds of problems created by a predecessor as a leader, and justifying their lack of foresight in curbing them to the barest minimum.

It was the inaugural meeting for the elected Nigerian governors forum chairman (NGF), after the landslide victory of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, all attendants and guest were filled with joy because it was yet another success in the nation’s electoral exercise. Dignitaries, while delivering their speeches began with praises and congratulatory messages to the president as it has become a norm in Nigeria’s culture-political heritage to do so.

After Rv. Dr Mathew Hassan Kukah had finished his speech, Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule (Dan masanin kano) was ushered to the podium for his speech, everyone listened with keen interest and nostalgia to hear his mastery and creativity in literature. Unlike other speakers, he was more than aggressive in his remark by beginning with the word “Mr President, I’ll not start by congratulating you, but rather, I pity you”.

He pitied the president because he deserves no congratulation with the state and condition the baton of the nation’s affair is handed over to him. He already knew the daunting task and many hurdles he’d have to cross to deliver (if he has such intention and qualities).

Nigerian rulers are fond of exonerating themselves from a menace they couldn’t mitigate and that has begun before them (even though they’ve promised to solve during campaign). As the commander in chief, you automatically inherit all the problems either before or after. There won’t be enough crutches to all the lame excuses in the world afterwards, because, excuses (like there is power failure before me) are the nails used to build a house of failure.

You become hostile of yourself by refusing to deal with grey areas in your government while many indices have pointed to the decay. Refusing to remove a rotten egg from a basket full, pave way for more spoilt ones, thereby generating a poisonous foul smell instead of the supposedly fresh air that was promised.

In the past couple of weeks, it has been a blame trading foray between a predecessor and a successor which has further depicted Nigeria in Africa as still stocked in delusion of grandeur as a nation. Technological advances along with other African leaders developing their nation, while its advance in our clime with new scandals and jaw-dropping corruption cases like weekly journals in an institution.

When a predecessor acts like a jezebel by handing over an almost sinking ship to you as a captain, you assume the devil by sinking the ship completely. Our solution lies in simply rising above the strongholds of problems created by a predecessor as a leader, and justifying their lack of foresight in curbing them to the barest minimum.

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past, we shouldn’t wait to procrastinate, and we should handle the situation before the situation handles us. Can we achieve that with the new political landscape? Time shall tell.

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This post is published with permission from Abusidiqu.com

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