Opinion I Leadership And The Monster Called Blarney (II)

LEADERSHIP AND THE MONSTER CALLED BLARNEY (II)

       

This endemic wave of sycophancy sweeping across the lengths and breadth of our political space with uncontrollable rage of inferno, prosecuting our god-sent democracy and fuelling several political movements, unarguably needs to be thoroughly considered as well as checkmated by any leader that bears ‘decency and transparency’ as his watchwords. It’s needless to state that, such way of life requires to be holistically thrown to the waste-bin, which is its rightful place, for eternity.  

        

Intriguingly, only but a few had openly condemned this monster that’s gradually, but steadily getting engraved in the psyche of most Nigerians, probably consciously or otherwise, while trading their sense of honour, candour and integrity on the platform of actualizing egotist gains.

        

We must note that, on the average, it’s sycophancy that breeds despotism in any democracy; this is why any leader who truly thinks good of the society or country he leads mustn’t in any way pamper its practice that’s flourishing unabatedly not just in Nigeria but across the globe.

       

The most worrisome, and perhaps amusing aspect of it is a situation where you would notice that those who never wanted Mohammadu Buhari to become the President of Nigeria are currently the prime ‘supporters’ of the present administration. How would you reconcile this? Of course, since their man had been defeated, they decided to take a U-turn to the other side of the road just to quench their selfish urge. Unequivocally, President Buhari needs to distance himself from this set of people who actually mean no good for his administration.

       

Similarly, on the part of the electorate; if we’re sincerely yearning for a positive change, then we must, individually or collectively, say no to all these partisan activities occurring daily across the federation. The youth that are widely reckoned to be the ‘leaders of tomorrow’ must steer clear from presentation of unmerited eulogy to any leader, so that, power would become theirs somebody as they earnestly anticipate; or like Esau, they ought to go ahead and sell their birthright just for a bowl of meats. If they don’t desist from such unwholesome attitude, the proposed town-hall meeting, if eventually observed by the Presidency, would as well be marred by sycophancy.

       

Another devastating phenomenon, which triggers the senses of anyone who understands the societal implications, is that most Nigerians have resorted to adopting it as a norm or their occupation having inured themselves to it, thereby relegating morality, modesty and integrity to the background. And pitiably, they have no iota of plan in the nearest future to abjure it, or even lose a bit of interest.

       

Against this backdrop, the President Mohammadu Buhari–led administration that’s anchored on a change mantra is expected to do everything within its reach towards ensuring that sycophants are not just shown the way out, but thoroughly prosecuted considering the fact that they are deadlier than highway robbers. Thus, as the said administration is strongly determined to wipe out corruption in the country in its entirety, sycophancy ought to be treated as one of its priorities.

        

It ought to be treated as a crime because it is highly criminal both before God and mankind. It doesn’t in any way deserve to be harboured within our various institutions cum communities. The damage it has caused thus far, if well estimated, is far more than the damage attributed to other vices to include corruption, graft particularly, kidnapping, robbery and what have you.

        

Sycophants not just in Nigeria, but the global community as a whole, have taken more than they could chew, hence shouldn’t be spared by any one or authority that truly intends to live up to the people’s expectations. We can’t fold our hands and watch a certain set of deceitful individuals hijack our common patrimony. It is our duty to safeguard our treasury for the good of all.   

        

This significantly implies that, there’s a compelling need to enact a strict law that would  adequately address the anomaly, which is observed in every such field of human endeavour as, but not limited to, trading, education, health, politics, governance, business, journalism, and what have you. Suffice it to say that, the cankerworm is found in our everyday social, economic, as well as political lives. Inter alia, our respective families aren’t exempted from the lingering can of worms.

        

Indeed, blarney, which remains a deceptive and fake gesture in any setting, is wicked, inhumane and deadly; hence, needs to be considered as such. Like cancer, it has conspicuously eaten up the soul and conscience of this country. While ending the lifespan of this dreaded monster, no one should be seen as being above the law or above mankind.

         

It has taken us aback, hence the need to truncate its unannounced and unlicensed existence. And, to actualize this, we must be truthful to ourselves at all cost. Think about it! 

 

Comrade Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

 

Opinion I Okorocha, Imo Pensioners and The Prolonged Wait

OKOROCHA, IMO PENSIONERS AND THE PROLONGED WAIT

        

The last time I checked, the teeming Imo pensioners who were looking hungry and weary were earnestly looking up to the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha to do the needful. This set of individuals otherwise known as ‘senior citizens’ could not at the moment fathom what actually their fate entails.

        

During the last festive season, they were asked by the government to tender their particulars to enable the latter verify their eligibility. It’s noteworthy that the said verification had before the period in review taken place for the umpteenth time. Even at that, the hungry-seeming retirees never hesitated to do as requested, perhaps towards averting any iota of room to deny them of their individual rights.

       

Within the same era, the governor announced to the pensioners during their courtesy call on him at his country home, Ogboko that three months of their pension arrears had already been endorsed by his person, hence informed that the approved payment would soonest be received by them. They were consoled by his seeming fatherly words since they say a “hopeful hunger does not kill the bearer”.

         

Just two weeks ago, they were reassured by the government that the approved three months arrears would be outrightly paid to them as soon as the “ongoing verification” was over. The notice implied that the verification that commenced in December, 2017 was yet to be concluded as at February 2018, two months after.

       

What else did one expects from the retirees on hearing suchlike assurance than to remain calm, speechless and hopeful? It is obvious that only their optimism has hitherto remained their prime succour ever since the bitter odyssey began. If they have despaired at any time all these while, I’m afraid, the unspeakable would have occurred in their respective lives.

       

This is happening after they were promised in strong terms that their pensions would be paid regularly in full, starting from January 2017. Funnily enough, throughout last year, only three months were paid to these senior citizens who have sacrificed enormously for the Rescue Mission Government. Yet, they remain faithful to the government, probably owing to the perceived notion that only the number one citizen could determine their fate.

         

Acknowledging that those who meritoriously retired from service over five years ago till date are yet to receive their gratuities is enough reason to extend fathomless pity or sympathy to the people in question. It is apparent that they are not anymore bothered about their gratuity; rather, are only concerned over their monthly pension. It suffices to assert that they have inadvertently started seeing any of the above as privileges, and not rights; perhaps as a result of lack of immunity to fight for the latter.

        

Notwithstanding, this piece is coming from a different angle. It is informed by the compelling need to notify the governor that if adequate and drastic measure isn’t taken, these retirees might be dropping dead considering how hungry and devastated they appear at the moment. The piece is occasioned by the need to inform the number one citizen that these pensioners have been placed in an unnecessary prolonged wait, hence the need to expedite action with a view to averting doom.

        

Most times, some of these pensioners come to, or call, me to enquire the way forward or what the Rescue Mission has for them, believing I’m part and parcel of the government. Each time they did, I kept telling them that the government meant well for them, thus urging them to exercise more patience. I have been doing so only for the sole purpose of maintain peace and tranquility in the polity. But it seems they have started misunderstanding my stance or where I’m coming from; needless to say that they now see me as one who is against their welfare, or doesn’t care about their plights.

        

I want to use this medium to disabuse them of that notion. The least I would do or ever think of is to claim ignorance of their predicament. For crying out loud; their problem is glaring that only the blind could be pardoned if he claims ignorance of it. I have for the umpteenth time mediated between them and the government; such gesture of mine is enough indication that I sincerely care so much about their welfare. But as much as I truly feel their pains, as a stakeholder in Imo, I equally want peace to reign in the state.

       

I’ve in most cases made effort not to be emotional whenever I’m writing or speaking about the retirees’ lingering plight. This is the reason I’m immensely appealing to the concerned authorities not to push my humble pen or tongue to the wall; because if they do, the foreseen consequence won’t augur well for the entire Eastern Heartland, I in particular.

         

In view of the above, I enjoin Gov. Okorocha to please cuddle these pensioners toward giving them a sense of belonging. We ought not to allow them to feel abandoned or neglected irrespective of the circumstance. They should at all times be told, in practical terms, that they are truly senior citizens. Their patience has proven beyond doubts how much they love the government in spite of all odds, hence the need to sincerely cherish and adore them. 

        

The ongoing scenario becomes so confusing when realized that the Rescue Mission Administration was seemingly so keen to make the pensioners its beloved friends the moment it came on board in 2011. It would be recalled that the government outrightly cleared arrears of pensions accruable to the retirees within the said year.

       

But, thereafter till date, the reverse has been the case. How can we reconcile this? Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador              

    

ShortStory I Rough End (II)

 

ROUGH END (II)

         As time progressed, during Obiora’s second year in the university as the best student among the overall 200 Level students of Petroleum Engineering department, he vowed to sustain his current Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which was 4.75, with the aim of making his lovely parents proud just as he promised at the beginning of the journey. He continued with the tempo until he ran into Anayo, one of the students in the Business faculty.

        Anayo was a very notorious guy on the campus; it was only a new or academic minded student like Obiora that was yet to hear of him. The former who was a final year student of Business Management department was a member of one of the most dreaded secret confraternities in Spectrum University – the Red Vulture, and he happened to be one of the leaders of the cult; it seemed his eyes had been on the latter from the moment he was recognized as one of the best students in his faculty.

        That fateful day after lecture period – in the evening precisely – having been exhausted, Obiora thought it wise to chill himself with a bottle of cold soft drink and a snack in the university café. He wanted something that would sustain him till he got to his lodge where he could prepare a meal for himself, unknowingly to his person that someone had been spying on him all along.

        The moment he entered the café, the kingpin followed suit after a few minutes and sat directly opposite him at the white plastic table he was making use of.

        On his part, Anayo requested for a plate of fried rice and a soft drink as well. That was the first time he would be taking a meal with soft drink rather than beer, his usual brand; perhaps he never wanted his incoming prey to realize he was actually sharing a table with a nonentity or a party to a riffraff – a deceptive countenance indeed.

       “Hi guy!” Anayo cheerfully greeted as he began to devour the meal.  

        He was dressed in black three-quarter jeans, blue T-shirt, black face cap and white canvases. He seemed to be in his late twenties.

       “Hello.” responded the unsuspecting prey that was clad in blue jeans, green and white double-coloured shirt and a pair of black plain shoes.

       “Are you in this school?” He enquired in false pretences.

       “Yes, of course.” replied Obiora.

       “You must be a new student, I guess?”

       “Why do you think so?”

       “Because you look so fresh.” the fair in complexion and innocently-looking kingpin who was plump and about 5.4-foot tall remarked.

        Obiora smiled broadly. “You must be kidding.” said the slim, about 5.6-foot tall and chocolate-skinned young man who was in his early twenties, amidst the grin.

       “Honestly,” Anayo added. “I am not joking.”

       “Okay, thank you.”

       “You are welcome.” quoth Anayo, paused. “I mean, always.”

       “So, what do I call you?” Obiora inquisitively enquired.

       “Anayo.” he replied, placing his heavy right arm on his guilty chest. “But they call me Whiskey.”

       “They?”

       “Ya, my friends.” Anayo cleared the air.

       “Alright.”

       “And you?”

       “Okay,” Obiora said. “I am Obiora.”

       “That makes us brothers then.”

       “How?”

       “We are both Igbos, of course.”

       “Oh,” said Obiora. “You are absolutely right.”

         In spite of his dangerous nature, Anayo was undoubtedly a gifted clown. He had all it takes to win the heart of anyone that came on his way, and Obiora wasn’t exceptional.

        Obiora was yet to make a close friend since he found himself at the four walls of university. And coming across Anayo whom he saw as a saint, gave him an opportunity to mingle with someone he could address as his confidant on the campus.

        After their stay at the café having exchanged all the needed pleasantries as well as contacts, they departed for their respective residents.

       Within a few days of their first meeting, they became best of friends. Those who knew Obiora too well especially his course mates became overwhelmingly astonished over his abrupt relationship with a dude who was regarded by all and sundry on the campus as a ‘monster’. They couldn’t believe their sight; initially they were of the view that they were daydreaming till the friendship metamorphosed into a more obvious and inseparable union.

       While these scenes were unfolding, Obiora started declining in his academic performances due to the reluctant attention he was giving to his studies, which was totally contrary to his real self. In regard to this, his class adviser who had witnessed the drastic drop in his commitments confronted him in his office but Obiora lied that he had been sick and promised to improve soonest.

       After one month of coming across Anayo after severe and several persuasions, he made up his mind to join the Red Vulture confraternity. At this point, Obiora became a completely different creature socially, mentally, and otherwise. Little did his parents know that their cherished and only son had been transformed into something else.

       Unfortunately, or fortunately for him, the first armed robbery operation he embarked on in the company of the gang landed him into a big mess. The intended criminal outing, which took place at night, was aborted by the police on their way to the proposed destination. Subsequently, they were charged to court while in the police net.

        On receiving the information, they were all expelled from the university.

        Obiora’s parents couldn’t believe their fate. The rough end was the least they could imagine ab initio. After one month of the ordeal, Chief Okeke fell stroke in which he remained in coma for the first six consecutive weeks. 

        The rest is history, please.

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador