Watch and pray, but be very careful
For the “Seventy Senior Elders from Nigeria” who are in Rome to celebrate our 70th birthday by praying for peace and prosperity in our fatherland, we could not believe what we were hearing on Vatican Radio. The “Breaking News” was brief and to the point – we had a surprise visitor. He turned out to be none other than the bespectacled and bare-shouldered Dalai Lama.
Without much ado, the saintly Dalai Lama went straight to the point: “You must not only pray for your country so that you do not become like my country Tibet which has been taken over by the Chinese; the governor of your central bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has warned you, you must be very careful.”
He was quick to remind us that if we want to solve our problems, we must go back to the beginning (not start in the middle). He proceeded to quote from Michael Omolewa, former permanent delegate and ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO: “When the British government pleaded with Lugard to return to Nigeria in 1912 from Hong Kong for the purpose of amalgamating the Northern and Southern parts of the country, the government literally gave the very seasoned, aggressive and hardworking master strategist and empire builder blank cheque to do whatever he wanted with the country. He had a track record of gallantry, determination and courage. His country to which he was also unwaveringly loyal and dedicated also trusted him.
“As Lord Harcourt, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, informed the House of Commons when presenting the report prepared by Lugard on the proposed amalgamation: ‘I have been able greatly to the regret of Hong Kong, to induce him (Sir Frederick Lugard) to leave that post and to take up what will shortly become the governorship of the combined Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is in the truest sense the product of his foresight and genius.’
“Lord Harcourt then added that memorable declaration: ‘We have released Northern Nigeria from the strings of Treasury. The promising and well-conducted youth is now on an allowance of his own and is about to effect an alliance with a southern lady of means. I have issued the special licence and Sir Frederick Lugard will perform the ceremony. May the Union be fruitful and couple constant.’
“It was within this context of the political decision to release the governance of Nigeria to a trusted empire builder that a capital city was chosen for Nigeria.”
Not long after the Dalai Lama departed, we were pleasantly surprised to see our brother and friend John Edozien, former permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Planning, former deputy governor of Bendel State and ex-MD of Afribank plc. His 70th birthday was only last week.
He said: “I have always argued that the civil service is the engine of a vehicle and if the engine is dead, the whole vehicle is grounded. I will even say that it is in the interest of a reasonable government to have a virile civil service because then you are sure that you will succeed. Where the civil service is not working, the government is not working.”
There was no stopping John. It was as if all the stuff he had bottled up all these years would explode. He proceeded to answer questions. Example:
(i) Q: At 70, how do you feel in a stressful society like Nigeria?
A: I feel blessed because it is only God that can make it possible in a society like this. The whole lot also has to do with one’s lifestyle. There is so much stress in this country and you don’t want to deliberately add to your stress. I think part of it is to have peace of mind; peace of mind in the home, at work, interpersonal relations and those things that count and that bring stability to one’s life. You need that stability as well as good health and faith in recognising right from wrong and always being conscious of bringing a smile to another man’s face; then a happy home where one retires to after the day’s work. I thank God for all this.
(ii) But has life in this country been this stressful?
No, it has never been stressful. In the Nigeria we knew, the value system and the institutions were strong. When you have a good value system that guides society and if you do wrong, the institutions are there to sanction you, then people appear to keep boundaries. But what we are seeing is progressively the weakening of these institutions and values and the result is impunity.
We are also joined by Peter Awelewa Adebiyi who served as the vicar at Archbishop Vining Memorial Diocese of Lagos West Africa, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion for 46 years. He attained the age of 70 on April 27, 2013. He wasted no time in declaring his gratitude to God Almighty: “It is only God that has been protecting me since all these years and I know the same God will see me through.”
As for Alexander Opeyemi Akindele, former minister of information and culture and chairman, National Reconciliation Commission, he never minces words. He is celebrating 75 years on earth.
“As for Nigerian politicians, if you put money down and put Nigeria down, they will destroy Nigeria and take the money. The president is surrounded by bad advisers…. It is either some people are giving the president bad advice or the president himself is goofing (sic).”
It turns out that not everybody is angry in Nigeria. The Vatican was surprised to learn from residents of three communities on a heap of garbage in Ajeromi Local Government Area of Lagos State, better known as the “Dustbin Estate”, that they are enjoying what they choose to call “life more abundant”: “Life in the ghetto is very sweet. We do what we want. Even the rich men envy us the way we live.”
As confirmation that Nigeria is an amazing nation, here is the headline from Saturday Tribune of April 20, 2013: “Grandpa, 86, divorces wife, 70, over sex”.
J.K RANDLE
Randle is a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and former chairman of KPMG Nigeria and Africa Region. He is currently the chairman, JK Randle Professional Services.
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