BUHARI’S GAFFE IN LONDON, A NATIONAL DISGRACE
We all seem not to be getting the main point. The problem with Baba’s London rhetoric about Nigerian youths is not wether it is true or false. The real problem is (and what should give us real concern is) how RELEVANT is that narrative to the purpose of his trip and the audience he was addressing. What good or prospect does that information potentially hold?
Imagine yourself as a business owner traveling abroad for business meetings and prospects. How relevant is anything you say that demarkets your workfoce or company, irrespective of how true it is? Some “truths” are negative truths, in the sense that they’re needless and fruitless. For instance, imagine a man in a business conversation with his friends saying “my wife has a mouth odour and my kids are perverts”. Who does that information add value to, irrespective of the context in which he says it?
I am very surprised that someone like my big bros Wale Ojo Lanre, who is an acclaimed tourism ambassador, will approve of such insinuations.
Bros, you and I were at the World Travel Market in London last November, where over 100 countries showcased their tourism destinations and potentials in grand styles. Sadly, Nigeria was missing in action. Because of the big Agabada you were wearing we were ambushed by a group of Nigerians in diaspora (about 10 of them) who were angry and disappointed that Nigeria didn’t have a stand. Apparently, they felt you were a politician because of the way you were dressed, I was so afraid they were going to beat you up. But surprisingly, you defended Nigeria so boldly and kept telling them, no matter what the issue is they dont have the right to speak badly of Nigeria publicly at that exhibition. You specifically stood up firmly to Oloye who kept saying “it is so shameful Nigeria is not represented here”. You said “there’s nothing shameful about it, Nigeria has been represented in previous years, and we will again in the coming years”. Bros, you won the fight. Those guys became our good friends and we all had a beautiful dinner party in the evening. Two of them are still in contact with me till date. Now, that’s how to be an abassador! That’s how to defend your country (even though they were 100% right over their disappointments). That’s what leaders travel abroad to do.
There are more youths in the UK and America than Nigeria who sit at home banking on social welfare. There are millions of no-do-good youths and retards over there. But, I have never heard any of their leaders include that “truth” as part of their rhetoric at international meetings.
Leaders don’t travel abroad to complain and lament; they go to say and do everything possible to come back home with new prospects and opportunities.
Quoting Buhari word for word:
“We have a very young population. More than 60% of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil-producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare, education free.”
Did you take note of the phrase “a lot of them”? A lot of 60% of Nigerian populace?? Wisdom would prompt any forward-thinking leader that any information you give out about 60% of your population is fundamental and can be generalized to the rest of them, it doesn’t matter if you even say “some” of them. The 60% you mention first sticks to everyone’s head.
Finally, are there some Nigerian youths who don’t want to go to school or work? YES. Are they more than those who want to be educated and are hard-working? NO? On that basis, Mr. President’s narrative neither represents an average Nigerian youth nor a “lot of” Nigerian youths, hence, it was totally clueless, baseless, thoughtless, needless and fruitless.
I wish some of us defending this man would do so with some conscience and our reputation in mind.
