Weeks ago, I got carried away on YouTube. While at it, I was fortunate to stumble on a video interview that had former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a guest. In that interview, the man on the other end sought the former president’s opinion on the recently miraculous claim by the NNPC on fuel production at the Warri and Port Harcourt Refinery.
Not one to shy away from brute talks, the former president told a story about a farmer who had planted a hundred yam seedlings but went about telling everyone that he had actually planted two hundred tubers. When it was time for harvest, the farmer harvested a hundred tubers of yams and a hundred tubers of lies.
Sometimes, I feel sorry for the President Tinubu-led administration. This is because most Nigerians have no natural tendency to play by the laws. The year 2024 had too many sorry tales of how difficult it is to lead Nigerians. Amongst the tons of tales, ranging from the cabals in the oil sector and so on, it would be unfair not to mention the yoke placed upon the citizens by Christmas chicken sellers.
There is really no thin line between politicians alleged to have stolen millions of naira or dollars and the predatory Christmas chicken sellers. Perhaps the only difference has to do with location. Popular opinion often demands that our leaders be men and women who would devote themselves to our cause
On the flip side of things, we are people with a resolve geared towards gratifying self rather than others. If I am thirty or hungry, I know it. I do not need an outsider to inform me about me. I suppose that we are only asking our leaders to become what or who we are not willing to become.
Interestingly, I adore the Bible story of the woman who was caught in adultery and thereafter brought over to Jesus for judgement. There was never a judgement because none had the right standing to do so. When most Nigerians curse at leaders, I wonder if they have the right standing to call a kettle black.
The story of the farmer who harvested a hundred tubers of yam and another hundred tubers of lies reflects the state of things. We can go on and on criticising and maiming the country, our country, but deep down, we are in no way different from the farmer.
To be different from the farmer, we must stop the lies and sell the truth only.
– Olayinka Kayode
Jibowu, Ogun State.