You see the problem with me, is not that I don’t know what to do, indeed I have been shouting at the top of my voice for more than 50 years. I know you have heard me and you have been listening and waiting for me to “walk the talk”, as we all know I am an expert at “talking the talk”, at banging my chest and pontificating; no one does this better than I do.
You see the problem with me, as a wise friend tried to point out to me, is even beyond that, it’s beyond my not delivering on what I say I will; after all, we have been setting our leaders such low standards, and worse still they don’t even meet these low standards. It begins he said from my not fully understanding and addressing the fundamentals that will enable me have any chance of delivering. This is of course if I intended to deliver in the first place. Being socially and economically pragmatic, he educates me that the way the world is going now for the discerning observer is three pronged,
1). The gap between the haves and the have nots must be closed, directly and indirectly. Survival-linked out-of-pocket expenses need to be drastically reduced, disposable income should exist amongst the various economic strata of our society etc etc. One must remember always that you cannot enrich the poor man by impoverishing the rich man, but you must create the enabling environment that ensures that the sky is the limit for the diligent citizen.
2). The issue of diversity needs to be embraced. We should celebrate our diversity, respect it and create lasting sustainable values from our differences. We must not be afraid to be different. As a doctor i know that it is the diversity of our various organs that makes life possible on an individual and collective basis for all of us. The rule of law is the fabric within which our diversity can be maximised.
3). The principle that I call “Total Governance”. This refers to a Government that is inclusive, that builds family and community, that is listening, that addresses what the people need and possibly want, that enables the citizens, looks after the vulnerable, amongst other things. This thereby builds a secure and inclusive peace and creates a better standard of living for us all.
Each of these three areas and subjects are thesis in their own right, but that’s not why I’m writing this piece today. I am writing this piece because I want you to see the problem with me.
You see the problem with me my wise friend said, is that I am polluted, and the pollutants are many. “Greed” is the first, I am greedy. I don’t seem to understand he says, that the more a man craves personal and material satisfaction to the detriment of community; the lower his soul is on what he calls the ladder of spiritual evolution. Community, rather than individualism is the key. He reminds me of a quote credited to Mahatma Ghandi, that “there is enough in this world to satisfy everyone, but not enough to satisfy the greed of one man”.
You see the problem with me he goes on to say, is that whatever happens is “not my fault”, it is always someone else’s fault, and that whatever I want I take. I see it as my right and just take it. Surprisingly no one seems to want to really stop me. In fact they hail me. I am “a taker” and it is alright in the eyes of the majority.
You see the problem with me he continues, is that I am “insatiable”. I cannot seem to get full, no matter how much I eat, I have been described as a basket being filled with water.
I personally don’t mind, I am having a great time, but I sometimes wonder if anyone is going to stop me, is anyone going to help me and save me from myself? My wise friend tells me this is inevitable, but I am very good at ducking and diving, so I’m not too worried at this point. But I do remember a quote by a chap called Sir Walter Scott, he wrote, “o what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”. That web worries me, will I get tangled in it, I wonder?
You see the problem with me, is not that a prophet is not valued in his home, it is that I see myself as a god and I do not really value my home. Most of what I am worth is not here at home. I keep it far away with my “friends” who then loan it to my relatives and partner me in keeping them in perpetual bondage. The simple truth is that not only do I have all that I need, I don’t need 99% of what I have.
You see the problem with me he further points out, is that I don’t like to see any one else prosper if I am not at least reaping from them directly, I would rather “pull them down”.
To be honest for a change; I am suprised that people seem to allow me get away with being a local champion, in fact for what falls from my table, they enable me do so enthusiastically. This would be really quite amusing if it was not so developmentally dangerous my wise friend says.
You see the problem with me he continues, is that I like to enjoy life too much and too “selfishly”, I like to consume, puff out my chest, look down on others and lick my lips. He says I am not too keen on productivity, and that I am not so interested in creating wealth, that I am a creature of immediate gratification but that I seem to understand being rich.
He is right there, I like money and shiny things, conspicuous consumption is the name of my game, invidious comparison and percuniary emulation govern my modus operandi. I am very good at spending on things my people do not make nor benefit from. In fact I don’t really like what my people create, the quality is very poor, so why should I support local creativity and innovation.
That is why I don’t really spend my money within my community, in fact the wider the disparity between me and my people the bigger I feel, I don’t want any rivals, I am a god father, albeit a primitive one.
I don’t see why I cannot just take, borrow and spend our common wealth when I need to. Why should I be prudent, live within my means and uniquely develop, when I can beg, borrow or steal money that my descendants will have to pay back, and i can spend the money now on quick fixes, patronage and unsustainable investments. Why should I think things through when I can act on short-sighted instinct, when I can just do what I want to do. Doesn’t everyone just do whatever they want ?
But you see the problem with me also is that I know my behaviour will lead to my eventual demise but I seem unable to help myself, i find it difficult to care about anyone or thing other than self. Who will help me, will you help me? Who will stop me, will you stop me?
A gentleman called Alexander Hamilton once wrote that ” the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without restraint”. As I don’t seem to have it in me to conform on my own, I suppose I’m waiting to be restrained to do so.
I hope you see the problem with me and will help stop this problem with me.
I hope you will you save me from me no matter what it takes.
Dr. Aderemi Desalu mni.
Retired Permanent Secretary Lagos State.
Strategic Health and Development Consultant.
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