Chronicles of my weekend with Baba (1)
I have always treasured learning from “elders”, you know that yoruba saying that what an elder sees sitting down, a young person cannot see even from the top of a tree? I believe it strongly.
There’s a wisdom that comes with age which is actually attributable more to experience than age itself. The longer you’ve been around, the greater the likelihood that you have experienced or watched other people experience certain things. We become experts on various aspects of life simply by being there for a friend or relative or even work colleague.
I always tell people I’d rather learn hard lessons from other people’s experiences, I’m not Oprah 😂
So back to the issue gan, I am deeply grateful for my time with General Obasanjo this weekend went. I got to ask the ONE question I had and that I’m sure many Nigerians would love to ask him; “Sir, Your performance as President was superlative but many have criticized you regarding your succession. With the benefit of hindsight, would you have done differently?
A deep sigh from Baba and then he gave what I class as a “political answer”, that you can only know the true intent and measure of a man by giving the job to him. That even your own child, you cannot tell if they’ll perform or not until you test them with responsibility.
I beg to differ because even as parents or leaders of organizations, we tend to have an idea of who would or is not likely to perform certain tasks.
I am making plans to take my children and others to the Presidential library and if they are lucky, to meet Baba while he’s still around. There’s a Nigeria 🇳🇬 out there nestled on the hills in Abeokuta that the next generation needs to discover. Maybe it will spark something in them that will make all the difference.
I am deeply troubled by the younger generation of Nigerians being raised in Nigeria. Patriotism is birthed and nurtured in my opinion by two things: a practical experience of nurturing yourself by your nation and deliberate orientation.
Nigeria 🇳🇬 is not nurturing its young, they feel abandoned, sabotaged, shortchanged, and rightly so. There is a dearth of positive experiences and their fundamental rights are not protected.
Neither is there any orientation in patriotism going on. In England, children from about age 9 to 11 are taught “good citizenship” as a subject. They are also immersed in their history through primary and secondary school. We have abandoned the minds of our young to Netflix and Nollywood.
The EndSars riots showcased something, the young Nigerians that have schooled abroad have learned the concept of patriotism from those various countries and have gifted that patriotism to Nigeria, deserved or not. The ones at home don’t have the same privilege. Life for them is nasty, brutish, and many times short.
I have to stop here for now because it’s Monday morning and I’ve arrived at work.
Stay tuned.
God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬
©️IfeOluwaF
24012022
