African Leadership Tussle

NATURE OF LEADERSHIP TUSSLE IN AFRICAN SOCIETY


Brethren, I can’t seize to greet you or recognize your presence each time I stand on this podium; or, whenever I face this noble congregation. Because, no doubt without you, there wouldn’t be me. Needless to say that, I indeed love you all. Suffice to say; each time I remember you, I grin.

Last night, I unusually encountered a very horrible dream. I won’t disclose to you the real content of the said dream but the factual point remains that, the true nature of it was horrendous. Also, I won’t tell you whom the dream concerns or is related to. Maybe I’m trying to be discreet.

Lest I forget; whenever you have a nightmare, the first thing you must do as soon as you wake up is to search your conscience. Yes, at that point, you would be expected to ask yourself some certain vital questions. By thoroughly searching your conscience, you would ascertain if your person deserves the reality of the nightmare. Then having done that, the next thing you would do is to totally submit yourself to your creator. Only you knows whom you call or regard as your ‘creator’. Having submitted yourself to your creator, the last but not the least thing you must do is to ensure that you abstain completely from anything whatsoever that has the tendency of attracting the wrath of the nightmare. Thus, you must in subsequent time, be extremely careful and as well apply deep caution. But mind you; some nightmares are hallucinations. The treatment of such anomaly is related to psychotherapy rather than religious or physical means.

Few weeks ago, a friend who used to be my colleague called me on phone from Canada where he presently resides. Amazingly, instead of asking me of Nigeria in particular, he came up with the issue of Africa in its entirety. His first question after the usual exchange of pleasantry was, ‘How is Africa?’ To be frank, initially I expected him to commence with Imo State which I know he also hails from, but on the contrary, he derailed. Though I wouldn’t say he derailed because I’m of the view that, he was deeply touched and concerned over the issue of African polity in general. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I would do same; or would I say, I would have ‘derailed’ too.

In respect to my friend’s enquiry, firstly I hurriedly informed him that the African society as a whole was still battling with her usual ‘bloody’ nature as regards leadership tussle. I further told him that, that of the recent time has been quite alarming and more bloodier, instead of being less due to the unfriendly experiences encountered in the past. Finally, I candidly disclosed to him that, we’re the cause of our plights because we’ve failed to embrace sincerity coupled with transparency. Let’s ride on!

Frankly, I unequivocally state that from my singular view, we Africans are the sole cause of the ongoing predicament that has been predominant in our polity. If not, how can someone in his/her ‘right senses’ continue to adore self-deceit, which I had earlier tagged as one of the most psychological problems being faced by mankind? Maybe you don’t seem to comprehend the above critique that might seem harsh; so, let me make the picture more clearer.

How can a person who rightly knows that ‘A’ is the sole answer to a given question continue ticking ‘B’ from the option provided regardless of the damages such lackadaisical attitude is bringing to his/her person? Isn’t it abnormal or sort of ‘mental disorder’? In other words, our problem is strictly psychological. Take it anywhere, and I shall prove it to you in a language you would understand easily.

It’s no longer news that, my parents hail from Africa, I was born in Africa, and presently I reside in Africa, Nigeria to be precise. Therefore, at my age and status, I’m in the right position to know fully the actual origin (genesis), features, and fate of the universal polity of the African society with regard to the nature of her ongoing leadership tussle.

Africa is a continent specially created and blessed with enormous human and natural resources. Inter alia, it’s blessed with various human and agricultural friendly atmospheric conditions. Still, it remains one of the most poorest continents across the globe, which is not unconnected to the manner in which the respective countries that constitute the continent elect their leaders. Though, I sincerely thank God that, in spite of the level of the decadence, her (African) subjects seem to remain hyper-exuberant and tireless.

Brethren, at this juncture I tell you, it’s high time for holistic deliverance. Yes we have collectively sinned greatly, thus, we must all rise for this long awaited thorough penance and psychological deliverance because this is the rightful and ripe time for it. Mind you, we might not be opportune to embrace a second chance. On this note, I say, Africa arise. Think about it!

______________________

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Scenic Scenarios: A Book Every Nigerian Needs

‘SCENIC SCENARIOS’: A BOOK EVERY NIGERIAN NEEDS
Brethren, I sincerely welcome you once more for another wonderful gathering of this blessed congregation, as usual. For those of us who would be coming late, you might not be privileged to receive and absorb my ever lovely welcome address. Nevertheless, whenever I say “You are all welcome”, the latecomers are inclusive.

Honestly, I had a very powerful and remarkable dream yester-night, just as it has always been. I must confess, having or embracing a good and memorable dream strengthens my level of optimism as regards my personal, communal, or national target as the case may be. Mind you, never you pursue a rat as your dream simply because you dreamt of a rat in the previous night; not unlike I’ve invariably warned you in the past. The warning might sound a bit confusing, but try to unravel the mystery yourself. It’s an unavoidable assignment to you all.

Lest I forget; penultimate week, Wednesday January 15 to be precise, I encountered an old time friend in one of the commercial banks situated in Owerri metropolis. Amidst our prolonged discussion, he hurriedly told me that after the series of expenditures during the yuletide season, hunger follows. I absorbed the notice as a joke, but he meant it. Of course it’s a fact, because I’ve often observed that virtually all, don’t eat to remain when it calls for festivities. It’s a common syndrome in our society.
But, my candid question remains; how can one ‘lousily’ forget the future because he finds himself in a joyous mood? Does it mean that, the future has nothing to do with the present, or that, the future can plan for itself? A question yet to be answered, but must be answered. Let’s ride on!

As a concerned citizen, and social analyst, a certain young man looked inwards and found out that Nigeria as a republic and as a country, was fast decaying. On this note, he decided and concluded to come out with a piece that would perpetually settle the whole plight being faced by the Nigerian society in its entirety. The piece in question is Scenic Scenarios. In a nutshell, ‘Scenic Scenarios’ as the title implies, is a book every Nigerian needs irrespective of age, background or status.
‘The Way Forward!’ which is the caption of the book, as it was written by the Author, Fred Nwaozor, duly edited by an impeccable editor Ken Uwasomba and thoroughly published by Solotech Press Limited, lays emphasis on the six major sectors that ought to be considered by the Nigerian government with the object of solving the ongoing socio-economic and political crises in the country. Each of the chapters that extensively discussed a particular sector candidly emphasized on the steps or remedial approach to be taken to ensure that the lingering predicament(s) in the sector in question is/are duly eradicated. The challenges that await the government while taking any of the steps, were foreseen and tagged by the author as ‘unavoidable’ if the noble dream of the nation as specified by ‘Vision 20:20:20’ must be wholly actualized.

Prior to the compilation of the book, the contents had earlier been published in parts by the author on the Newspaper column, Fancy Facts, handled and regularly maintained by him. The book/omnibus comprises of six major chapters that exclusively discussed Power, Health, Education, Refineries, Security, and Labour respectively. The Author, FDN Nwaozor – a prolific writer, media commentator, motivational speaker, social analyst and activist who hails from Awo-omamma in Oru-East LGA of Imo State, is a patriotic Nigerian that truly understands the plight of the nation to the fullness.

The book, which was published in the year 2013, can be obtained/purchased in most recognized Bookshops across the federation. Besides; for those of us who are research oriented, you can grab a copy of the book in the Imo State Library, and the National Library of Nigeria situated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – Abuja and Imo State; also, the libraries of some of the Campuses in the aforementioned state, such as Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University (IMSU) and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) are not left out. It can also be found in some of the State Libraries in Lagos State. Above all, its softcopy could be read on the internet, via www.frednwaozor.blogspot.com. Mind you; do not download or print any of the pages/contents from the Net, without the consent of the Author or the Publisher. ‘To before warned is to before harmed.’

Believe me, keeping a copy of the piece (omnibus) in our respective individual libraries would convince us that, the long awaited Messiah in respect to the Nigerian socio-economic and political problems, has come in form of a book. Let’s take an apt action to salvage the future of our dear country because, it lies in our respective hands. Let’s not allow this persistent phantom override our entire creative ingenuity. Think about it!

_____________________

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

New Year Resolution

ESSENCE OF NEW YEAR RESOLUTION


Brethren, never give up on something you really want; it’s difficult to wait but worse to regret. Mind you, as your urge remains persistent towards actualizing your goal (aim), courtesy demands that you take a second look of the goal in question and ascertain how worthwhile it would be to possess such thing because, a worthless thing doesn’t worth waiting for.

In the same vein, as you wait to receive your heart desire, you are also expected to reconsider the kind of life you live and see if it’s worth living, or if such life can be of help towards attaining your desired height because, most of the lives we live don’t deserve worthwhile goals.

Few weeks ago, I was privileged to be in the midst of a certain group in Port-Harcourt Rivers State that was debating the significance of being steadfast in one’s pursuit towards success. I was listening with keen interest, so along the line, the members of the group got confused and derailed as regards their sense of judgement. I candidly used the avenue to educate them on the real essence of steadfastness or persistence, and what’s expected of someone who embraces it. And at the end of the discussion, they unanimously appreciated my concern.

Persistence, according to the context of this edition, simply means the situation in which one continues to do something with determination in spite of difficulty or opposition. But we must know that, there are certain questions we’re required to ask ourselves whenever we persist to do or expect something. First and foremost, you must ask yourself how useful and relevant would that thing be to you, and what impact would it unleash on the people around you. Thus, in anything you do, you’re not meant to consider only yourself but others as well.

Secondly and most importantly, you’re meant to ensure that the life you live deserves what you’re anticipating. This might sound a bit vague, but the fact remains that, most lives we live do not deserve to behold the fruit of most of our aspirations. In other words, if you really want something good, bear it in mind that nature requires something good in return prior to the procurement of that which you expect or want. And don’t forget, no one has ever cheated nature. Therefore you can never cheat nature, rather, the reverse would become the case. Let’s ride on!

We are discussing the prime essence of New-Year resolution. To start with; abiding by the context of this very edition, a resolution in a concise term is a firm decision taken by someone to do something or not do something. Apparently, a New Year resolution is a decision taken by someone to do something or not do something at the beginning of any calendar year, within first days of January precisely.

Many people see the above phenomenon as a worthwhile scenario; on the contrary, several others despise it. But the most appalling and devastating aspect of the phenomenon is the situation whereby most persons merely take the decision without sticking to what the so called decision requires in subsequent time.

Frankly speaking, new year resolution is a worthwhile gesture required by mankind regardless of age, status, background or religious affiliation. It is a point in our respective lives at which we’re expected to make a U-turn or reconsider our lives so far, and see where that should be amended and where we’re meant to sustain. This is the reason the great philosopher, Socrates of the blessed memory said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And I concur with him.

Having examined our life, we are expected to take a very firm and tangible decision that would enable us sustain the worthwhile part, and amend the porous part. Therefore the decision is meant to be seen as an oath, and ought to be kept sacred. I bet you, if the decision is kept sacred, it would fortify us and enable us actualize our respective goals.

So brethren, at this juncture I urge you to sincerely embrace a genuine New Year Resolution as we embrace another long awaited year 2014, and you would see how effective and efficient the tool is or has been. Or, do you wish to wait till next century before you abide by it? The ball is right in your court. Think about it!

______________________

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com