Realist | Planner | Economist | Political & Public Analyst | Author
It is not easy to carry the light of freedom or to be a freedom fighter.
It is quite shameful that many people who have nothing meaningful to offer often engage in pettiness, distractions, and baseless criticisms aimed at demoralizing those who dare to think beyond the ordinary.
Education is not the same as common sense. However, being educated does not automatically guarantee that one has common sense.
The kind of civilization we have built often brings us more harm than clarity. Instead of showing us the pathway to posterity, it subjects us to hardship and a culture of mediocrity. This forces us to constantly battle for rationality — the very foundation of our collective achievement and progress.
Year after year, our society becomes more complex and harder to live in. There is deterioration and decadence everywhere because we are careless about the true meaning of existence. We expect different results while repeating the same patterns and ideologies.
We are often too carefree to think critically and secure both our present and our future. Different logics and perspectives on how to build a happy society and a habitable economy are attacked — sometimes out of jealousy, and sometimes because people lack the critical thinking to know what is right.
Till date, it is unfortunate that many people still defend absurdities as though they are normal. We cannot be part of the problem and still fail to resolve it if we truly desire a quality life.
Most of us have been conditioned to accept hardship, discomfort, and a failing economy as our portion. We have accepted the identity given to us instead of pursuing transformation to become our true selves.
Education that does not encourage self-reflection or constructive criticism means nothing.
Leaders must be challenged and interrogated regularly so they know that the people are not docile. Questioning our representatives — directly or indirectly, reasonably or firmly — is necessary to demand greater effort toward development.
Pressure on government, whether through civil action or personal advocacy, is key to ensuring that governance works effectively. Any leader who is not prepared to listen to and serve the citizens is not a leader.
Leadership is not just about controlling resources and managing governance for record purposes. It also entails educating and enlightening the society.
In summary, anything that is too good or extraordinarily excellent is often talked down in the African context.
The attempt to ridicule a bold, educated, reasonable, and courageous journalist like *Rufai Oseni* is an indirect attempt to drag us back to the dark ages.
The painful reality is that many of us cannot see beyond what is in front of us. That is why a valuable, forward-thinking mind like Rufai is not encouraged by a shortsighted few.
If visionary, productive, dependable, and inquisitive people had been adopted and supported at the right time, our world would not be experiencing what it is going through today.
Addressing diverse views and tough questions should not be difficult if leaders had truly performed to the point of applause.
The hostility toward sincere criticism, constructive arguments, questions, inquisitiveness, and bold journalism is proof that leaders have not done enough.
These should not provoke trauma, pain, or insensitive reactions. Instead, they should serve as a wake-up call to ensure our collective advancement, development, and the secured posterity of our dear nation through diligent leadership.
Ade'Tope Adeniji, JP
08037184404 | [email protected]
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