This is a comment in response to a topic on NaijaBlog dealing with possible candidates for the presidency of Nigeria and an interview with one of the prospects – Professor Pat Utomi.
In my humble opinion, I am getting fed up of people who try to express their earnest desire to lead their people through words of martyrdom.
It is part of the martyrdom rhetoric used by President Obasanjo in his inauspicious quest for a third term to finish what he has not started to properly to date.
Just because you are ready to die for your country does not make you any more earnest or more patriotic than those who are want to preserve their lives in service of their country.
They say; a good soldier is not one who unfortunately dies for his country, but the one who makes the soldiers of the enemy die for their country. It however does not obviate posthumous honours.
That is the logic of winning battles and wars, I would presume.
I am getting wary of multi-lettered technocrats who for all intents and purposes can be good portfolio ministers but be completely unable to translate that ability to the position of an executive presidency.
More so these people willing to die probably have not set their houses in order, they die suddenly without having mentored protégés or successors plunging the country into chaos.
I think there is a lot more to this thing of seeking to lead a country than desire and death-hugging desperation to prove a point - else we would end up with a Clinton brain/Bush delivery president.
If running for the presidency of the great country of Nigeria diminishes you or the presumed office of sage and visionary you hold, then you are definitely not worthy of leading people of Nigeria.
Leaderships and governance that does not appreciate the honour and privilege of leadership cannot do well by its people and would be given to hubris and arrogance.
A microcosm of this lack of appreciation has been evident many times in footballers that have exacted and demanded the right to play for Nigeria on their own terms rather than defer to the honour and privilege of being called up to the service of their country.
Hence, Nigeria would be spectators in the 2006 World Cup event, probably with lessons learnt from understanding service in the pursuit of national honours than self-aggrandisement at the expense of national duty.
That said, we definitely do not need Pat Utomi and those of his persuasion as president, no, not for a second.
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