By JJ. Omojuwa
I was going to tweet this, I remembered that posting it here would require more from whoever engages it — a 5' read here versus the 5 seconds read on twitter for starters. So, even if you are going to insult me after reading it, you’d have taken your time to read my argument for 5'. Better here then, we can debate and even disagree without the vitriol that comes with doing it on X/Twitter.
I do not write this as a friend of anyone nor as an enemy. The positions I will be taking here are as I see it. I understand that my own biases and experiences will play a part in my views.
Most of those most critical of Bosun’s nomination aren’t wrong to take their stand. If you believe they are wrong, it is mostly likely because you agree with most of Bosun’s tweets they have been sharing. Which would mean you aren’t wrong to think they are wrong either. It’s one small bias versus the other.
I believe there is a telling difference between criticizing and even lambasting an administration or its leader and taking shots at the country itself. Bosun did both. The Aso Rock tweet is a case in point. I do not think he’d be proud of that tweet today, at least side by side with the fact that he’d now have to be attending meetings in that same Aso Rock, at least every week for the foreseeable future.
However, nothing he did or said in the past renders him ineligible for office, even if President Buhari — that he was most critical of — happened to be the president who nominated him. In the world of social media, especially Twitter (or X or whatever it gets to be called after it gets sold again) everything is black or white. You are either wrong or right. I am either evil or holy. Not me, I can never be considered holy. It offers no nuances or middle grounds. It offers no graces or benefits of the doubt. I used to be that person myself, especially in my early Twitter days. It took a lot of introspection and learning to become better than that. Still learning to be, it is why I am writing this too.
This is not in defense of Bosun. I know him personally and we have worked together on one or two things in the past. None of that moderates my views on this issue. I just would like to see a group of people who are able to see past their noses. You have a ministerial nominee who is most fit for the job — yet to see anyone say he isn’t on account of his ability — and happens to be available for your prospective criticisms and engagements, take it. Address your differences later.
The Nigerian system can be ruthless. Many microcosms of this vast country want representation, but for reasons beyond most of us and Nigeria itself, not everyone can be represented per time. When you have one of your own represented? Take it.
What do I mean by one of our own? Let me say what it is not. This has nothing to do with ethnicity. It even has nothing to do with demography. I would have called Mr. Tomi Davies — Tomi Dee — one of our own too. Or Leo Stan Ekeh. They aren’t our age mates Lol.
Bosun is one of our own because he represents the most critical and most powerful force of change in the world today. The world of technology and its capacity for disruption. He has lived that life; he has been that life. He is that life. Trust me, even if you considered him an enemy before that nomination but you care about the culture of disruption and the power of technology to disrupt our governance system and its ability to create wealth and opportunities for most — if not all — you’d still want a Bosun Tijani as your minister. This is me fairly assuming you care more about the whole than its various sub-units — APC, PDP, Kwankwasiyya, Buharists etc.
As a generation, we must learn to be pragmatic. Idealism is beautiful to look at and to carry in one’s head. It is great to look at the world in the way you insist it must be. However, because most of the things that’d help make that world you desire happen aren’t in your hands, you must appreciate everything that helps you to bring as much of that world into being. That’s pragmatism. An acceptance that you can’t control everything, and you can’t have all the resources you need, to then decide to work with what you have.
This is also the capacity to know that to build a world that is bigger than you, to do things that are greater than the sum of your intelligence, wisdom and power, you must be willing to work with even your declared enemies. It is just what it is. When the ministers meet, there’d be people in the room who’d otherwise never be seen in the same room but for the sake of Nigeria.
Personally, I did not enjoy seeing Bosun’s tweets at Tolu Ogunlesi. Personally. I think someone like him could have engaged Tolu to see things from the latter’s perspective. I generally do not publicly lambast people I can engage privately, except they leave me with no choice. I do not judge him for that. It is what it is.
And whether Bosun likes it or not, there’d be people who’d serve him what he served Tolu. It is not karma, karma is overrated and largely misunderstood. It is the world we are in. There will be those who’d never understand the limitations of your powers and would come for you publicly, even if they did. They could be doing it because of their beliefs or doing it to please their fans or some mama or papa mentor. They’d do it anyway. It doesn’t matter how well you are doing, even in a matrix of mediocrity that makes your excellence appear insignificant.
However, this is nothing to do with individuals. This is about Community. I am certain Tolu would prefer a Bosun as minister than some dude who gets nominated solely on account of their politics, irrespective of their lack of expertise. Better a Bosun than people who claimed they were innovating by collecting passport payments into their personal PayPal accounts. Government-preneurs posing as visionaries.
Bosun is not perfect, and this is not as per ‘no one is perfect’. No, Bosun is not perfect as per he has his shortcomings. If it were by shortcomings though, argh, no chance for most of us o. Certainly none for me. Especially if it is based on old tweets. Lol.
This is not a plea for anyone to sheath their sword — keep swinging it if it pleases you. No, it is a plea for everyone to be still and think. Be wise and practical. Pay attention to the bigger goal and leave these small differences at the door. It is also a moment for us to reflect. If we draw the line, nobody fit cross am o.
More so, if you genuinely support President Tinubu, whilst you may disagree with some of his nominee choices, you’d still accept his right to choose them, criticise if you must and keep it moving.
If ministerial appointments were solely based on capability and pedigree, Bosun would score in the 95th percentile. I’d say 99th but he’d soon come to appreciate the value of understanding naked politics when the work starts. Because politics rules everything, so you are unlikely to have a scenario where only competence decides these things. That is why when you get your square pegs in those square holes, let the big picture rule your mind. Nigeria is bigger than our biases and small social media differences.
PS: A friend reached out to me to intervene on behalf of Bosun. I said I had no reason to because I have never seen Bosun intervene on my behalf. One more time, this is not about the person. If it were, I would not post a tweet and this piece on account of the matter. Except the ‘me’ of before April 2021. Now, I defend big issues and then those who once defended me or are likely to defend me in the future. I make no apologies for this. That said, this one can be filed to ‘big issues’.
Post a Comment