Please, permit me to start with a few words on good leaders. Good leaders will often recognize that when to lead is as important as what to do and where to go. Timing is often the difference between success and failure in an endeavour. This article is to sensitize those in leadership positions at all levels of government including the private sector that there is the Law of Timing, which they must understand especially at a time when disaster is in the horizon.
When the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum was attacked in Maiduguri by Boko Haram (BH) insurgents, the news of the attack made many Nigerians tremble. Many public analysts asked, “What went wrong?” “Was the attack on Zulum’s convoy a mere accident?” “Or, was the attack orchestrated by some locals who are sympathetic to the BH agenda?”
I don’t have answers to these questions, but one thing is certain; the attack on the Governor of Borno State tells a lot about insecurity in our country. Bearing in mind the layers of protection around the governor of a state, the attack on Governor Zulum simply confirms that a common man is not safe in our country.
But beyond safety, one would have expected appropriate steps to be taken by those in authority whose responsibility it is to provide security in the state for all citizens. When the stakes are high, the consequences of the Law of Timing are dramatic and immediate. The Law of Timing mandates “Leaders to do the right things at the right time.” Period! Doing the right things at the wrong time, and doing the wrong things at the right time have negative consequences.
When about four or five major components of a six-structured country are calling for separate autonomies, the situation has gone beyond secession. Rather it is a call for dissolution of a union
Most states in northern Nigeria are already destroyed by insurgency of over ten years. While we thank the Creator of mankind for sparing the life of the Borno State Governor and his entourage, the following expressions were credited to him by the media: “I am not after second term, if God allows me to complete this tenure Alhamdulillah. But as a governor, I won’t keep quiet while 6 million population of Borno State perish. It is a covenant between me and Almighty God that I should be truthful to my people.”
As if BH attack on Governor Zulum was a mistake, then came media reports that Governor Samuel Ortom was attacked near his farm in Benue State. The governor had to run for safety, according to reports. We are thankful that Governor Ortom of Benue State is alive today. Ortom’s infamous attack was followed by gunmen attack on Prof Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor. Some of his security aides were killed, according to media reports.
Are governors the targets of terrorists now? Your guess is as good as mine! Most people including those in the government are sternly condemning these heinous crimes, but action is what the country needs at this stage, not lamentation. We must not allow criminals to be in charge of the polity. Most Nigerians are fed up with the abysmal level of insecurity in the past few months.
In reaction to the state of insecurity, some Nigerians have started expressing their feelings through words like “we want sovereignty,” “we desire self – determination,” “restructuring is the only way to go,” amongst others. But these are expressions by various political, socio – cultural and separatist groups, nationalist organizations including individuals that have been reverberating through the length and breadth of the nation.
Some public intellectuals have argued, however, that there is no threat of secession. In defence of their argument, they claimed that when about four or five major components of a six-structured country are calling for separate autonomies, the situation has gone beyond secession. Rather it is a call for dissolution of a union. So, what is causing tension in the country? Perpetrators of evil and those beating the drums of disunity!
I am convinced beyond measure that the security of our nation does not only depend on winning the war against BH and its demonic affiliates, but on the honor, courage and commitment of our leaders to secure the country. We have leaders at the highest level of government who swore to protect and lead us.
In fact, they promised to provide security, improve the economy and also, win the fight against corruption during their political campaigns. These promises now seem mere rhetoric of the highest order. The country is going through one of its worst time in history but we see politicians jumping from one political party to the other. I learnt that politicians are now strategizing for political offices in 2023.
As we approach the year 2023, insecurity is rising while the economy remains fragile. The war against corruption has not been won. The nation is in dire strait at this point in our national life. Can we go to the polls in 2023 under this level of insecurity and disunity? Maybe and maybe not. This is the time for our leaders to dialogue so that we do not lose our hard earned democracy.
Leadership scholars believe that if a leader repeatedly shows poor judgment, even in little things, the citizens will start thinking that having him as the leader is a real mistake. When the right leader and the right timing come together, incredible things will happen. Timing is everything. This is the right time to build bridges, not walls across diverse ethnic boundaries in the country. Those leaders who swore to lead and protect citizens of the most populous black nation in Africa should display honour, courage and commitment, and not outsource their responsibilities. Thank you.
