“Yomi”, did you hear about the bribery scandal involving Hon Farouk Lawan and oil magnate Femi Otedola?,I answered and said “I heard ooh”, but I trust Farouk Lawan, he can not be involved in such, he is one of few trustworthy lawmakers I have followed his progress in the House of Representatives since the inception of the fourth republic, “aw”, I do not trust anyone, but my husband not even you!. This was a conversation which ensued between a sister and I, some days after the news of the bribery scandal broke out. After the conversation, I was forced to religiously follow the story and make sure I got the facts as they are being revealed.
As a youth,desirous of being a leader with a difference, in the murky waters of the Nigeria political landscape.I had always look out for young politicians, who exhibit traits of great and selfless leadership we most times read about but are unable to find in our society.When I see resemblance of good leadership I tend to follow the progress of the individuals.
Farouk Lawan, an eloquent and brilliant lawmaker, who had over the years showed traits of confidence, independent mindedness,consistency and sense of purpose. He impressed me the most with the role he played during the furniture saga of Nigeria’s first female speaker of the House of Representative, Patricia Etteh, he was a member of the Integrity Group which championed the course of the call on the speaker to resign. He is one of those who seemed different and outstanding, who did not behave as if he was craving for power, and then the bombshell! The news boke Farouk had been indicted by Femi Otedola of demanding for bribe put at an amount of 620,000 USD!.
Our nation has a fast growing population with a significant number of naïve young population. Unfortunately, the adult population is not any better, being schooled by a system which in theory has rules and laws but in practice is mediocre and keeps its product below their potential.
This condition has brought about a disconnect between the older and the younger generations, with the latter considering the former irrelevant in the “scheme of things”, and the former observing with contempt, a teeming population of misguided and largely unproductive youth, who are following the same path that they treaded without the desired result.
This is where we need mentoring. Mentors are needed in various spheres of life. According to the encarta dictionary 2009, a mentor is someone usually older and more experienced,who advises and guides a younger, less experienced person. A second definition says ,a mentor is a senior or experienced person in a company or organisation who gives guidance and training to a junior collegue. I would like to apply the latter definition within the context of mentoring in leadership and representation of citizens in a country
I and some of my collegues while at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife as undergraduates serving as Students Union officers were selfless and idealistic believing that there could be sanity and decorum in public service.This made most of us look up to young and successful politicians, some of those we looked up to include Ghali Na’aba, Frank Nweke Jr. Smart Adeyemi,Abike Dabiri,Dino Melaye,Femi Fani-Kayode and some others not mentioned here. It should be noted that almost all these people we have tried to look up to have been indicted in one corrupt charge or the other.my question is this,why can’t we have these people standing tall and impeccable?
Some would say to me that Farouk Lawan is yet to be proven guilty by a competent court of law, I would respond thus, at first Lawan said that he did not see any money,24hours later,his statement was different.This act shows a level of culpability on his part in this quagmire. A lawmaker who spoke to a Punch newspaper correspondent said that members were pained by the fact that it was Lawan who went to Otedola’s hose to collect the money .My comment to that is; so it is public knowledge that he visited Otedola’s house, he is not an sss official or an undercover agent who carries out investigations of this nature, his investigative powers have been defined by the Nigerian constitution which he had aleady exercised through the oil subsidy probe panel.
He claimed that Otedola’s companies (synopsis enterprises limited and zenon oil)be expunged from the list based on the fact that the two companies were not on the pms scheme,with this move of his, I do believe that it was a result of the bribe received that led to his move for motion of amendment of the list,which the House unanimously agreed to based on his ability to convince other members.He further went on to state that he had given the money to Mr Adams Jagaba who is Chairman of the House committee on drugs narcotics and financial crimes.My question is, why did he not go to the law enforcement agency? why did he remit the said money to Mr Jagaba? The end to this saga is not in sight and am secretly wishing my earstwhile mentor is exnorated ,but i would rather prefer that justice is served or seen to be served.
The sad story is who will the youths look up to for leadership mentoring? will the youths be smarter fraud and corrupt representatives and public officers? Are they expected to change from the status quo of self enrichment through public treasuries?,Leaders and public figures should know that they have proteges in different parts of the country who try to emulate their lifestyles and make heroes out of them.
We will not give up,we will pray, work, fight, educate, enlighten, persevere, critique,protest,rally occupy until the desired Nigeria is in sight.If the living leaders will not avail themselves the opportunities of being mentors then we will turn to the dead by studying their leadership styles.We will be the change we crave for!.
YOMI AKINSOLA