By Terfa Naswem
I have read, listened and watched many criticisms of political leaders
from Nigerians that in most cases sounded like they who criticise are
sanctimonious beings. Such criticisms in most cases take the form of
most political leaders being denigrated.
No leader in the universal is either completely good or completely
bad. There is just no leader who has done nothing worthy of
commendation. Even the worst leaders in history had their good sides.
The difference is in the level which such good has been done not the
matter of if any good has been done at all. Even in the military
regimes of Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida,
Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar, there were some good things
worthy of appreciation these former dictators did in spite of the
level of corruption and human right abuses in their respective
regimes.
In our present democratic government, many people insult and cast
aspersion on political leaders while some of such people will also be
political leaders tomorrow. When you insult or cast aspersion on
political leaders today, will you be happy or tolerate it if people
insult or cast aspersion on you when you become a political leader in
future? When you denigrate or unfairly criticise political leaders,
will you be happy or tolerate it if you are denigrated or unfairy
criticised if you become a leader in future? When you see nothing good
in any political leader even when they have done some good things,
will you be happy or tolerate it if others see nothing good in you
when you become a political leader in future?
Some people criticise and pour streams of invective on the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, President Muhammadu Buhari, Gov Samuel Ortom
of Benue State and others as if they have done nothing worthy of
commendation. This is unfair. We should know that some of us will
become political leaders tomorrow too so let us learn to appreciate
them where they have done well and criticise them where they have
failed to deliver and call them to order in such areas. This is the
best form of criticism.
Some Nigerians, no matter how you advise, encourage and motivate them,
they are still ignoramus, gullible and strong-willed to swim in
ignorance, dogmatism, bias and negligence.
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