Leaders Or Rulers -By Akinyemi Akinola

So many Nigerians have a warped understanding of what their relationship with their elected or appointed public officials and leaders should be. As a Yoruba man, I totally agree with the general belief that you should respect your elders, as a citizen too, I know that as part of my duties, I should respect constituted authorities but i also know the difference between demanding accountability and disrespect.

Many of us were brought up to believe that we cannot query an elder’s decision even if it threatens our future. So, we grow up and also expect not to be questioned or held accountable by the younger ones or the people we lead. The only thing we have achieved with this approach is an unfair society where leaders simply see themselves as lords.

Only a few elected leaders in the present day Nigeria have demonstrated the understanding that they occupy their respective offices to serve the people. The situation is made worse by ignorant citizens in suit and tie with certificates misinterpreted as proof of been educated, these set of semi literates berates anyone who dare to demand accountability or try to remind these leaders that the citizens are the employers while they are the employee. They are only entrusted with power to make decisions and to apply our collective resources for the benefit of all.

The condescending manner leaders in this part of the world and Nigeria especially address the citizens shows the depth of the knowledge gap we are suffering from. It goes further to confirm that our leaders lack the basic understanding of what leadership really entail, for them, it means power and the ability to wield it at will. When a fellow citizen tells you boldly that the president may choose not to address the nation even at critical times or that an aspirant can decide to ignore an opportunity to sell his or her candidacy to his employers . A government official uses official resources for unofficial business yet a fellow citizen will say such leader owes us, the employers no explanation. This shows that the most educated amongst us are still lacking when it comes to civics and citizenship education.

In all fairness, most of these leaders are simply a product of the society, they also grew up with a believe that political offices are just about power without responsibility, they were also probably scolded for trying to demand accountability and they were made to believe that elected officials are doing them a favour by providing roads and other basic amenities, so, they should be worshipped. Hence they also expect people to roll out drums and sing their praises whenever they manage to provide some lacking basic amenities, they make it sound like we are lucky to have them and it is most unfortunate that a large population of the citizenry help them push this narrative.. I have tried so hard to understand Why I should worship and the praises to high heaven of someone who simply does what he is employed and paid to do. I agree that everyone needs to be encouraged, applauded and acknowledged when they do their jobs well but it ends there, this culture of praise singing is borne out of lack of understanding of our various standings and roles in a democratic setting like ours.

Nigerians need a total value re-orientation, a well designed and robust citizen’s right/ duties education spare-headed by the civil society organisation. We need education on how our relationships with our leaders should be. They are elected to serve, not rule or dictate to us. It is a privileges for them to occupy those offices, we -the citizens are the ones doing them a favour and giving them an opportunity, not the other way round but indeed, mediocrity has blinded a lot of citizens. Ironically, it is the supposed educated ones who are always the first to create the impression that these leaders can’t be asked questions, they will go ahead and list building of roads and bridges as reasons should celebrate them. It’s a shame!!