The Yorubas have a saying that goes thus:

“Amukun eru e wo, oke le nwo…e o wo isale”.

Contextual Translation: A distorted state of affairs can often be traced to an equally distorted foundation on which the affairs are being conducted”

This 670 word piece is my “contribution” to recent debates about President Buhari’s performance so far in office. I argue that Buhari’s seeming reluctance to proceed with RAPID governance may be a reflection of distortions he’s having to deal with in establishing RELIABLE systems to ensure success.

Today, I visited the Nigerian head office of an (over 50 year old) international organization, with branches across the world.

They’ve been in Nigeria now for about 11 years or so.

My purpose was to investigate certain assertions/allegations made by some individuals I’d interacted with about the transparency and integrity of their business operations.

Some claimed the company was unethical in its rewards and recognition scheme implementation – denying them of worthwhile financial rewards for their efforts.

Others claimed the opposite was the case.

By the time I left ONE hour later, I’d gotten a VERY clear impression of what the actual problem was:

Those who had failed to ACT in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations of the organization, had over time forced the company to modify the manner in which it administers its rewards and recognition scheme differently from what obtains across its other branches across the world.

The top officer I spoke with gave me graphic examples of how individuals/groups employed crooked tactics to reap undue rewards for themselves to the detriment of the company’s finances and image.

This included trips organized for them to travel abroad. Nigerians were doing things that people from other countries had NEVER done. That forced the management to change its rules for NIGERIA!!!

Now if I had any doubts about all that he told me, the various WARNING notices I read pasted on the walls as I walked out of the premises helped to lend credence to the defense he put up.

One that stuck clearly in my memory had to do with members of the organization being warned against making false claims to their banks about payments received. Basically, these individuals connived with others to make false claims designed to get them unmerited product issues!

I share the above to point out something that I have seen even in religious organizations as well as across Nigerian society.

There is an unwillingness to put the team, or group or organization’s interests ahead of the individuals.

Each person, no matter how much “preaching” is done to him/her continues to THINK “self” first and actively explore opportunities to rewards him/herself FIRST (or ONLY).

This is why Nigerians are difficult to lead. It is also why it can be very difficult to find people who can lead selflessly to work with selfless others in a government that is committed to delivering change.

I have learnt the hard way from 7 years of working in a large corporate manufacturing multinational that “politics” can cripple the most talented assembly of achievers.

All it takes is one negatively minded person who decides to ONLY act if/when his/her vested interests are taken care of, to SPOIL the efforts of the others. I saw a lot of this in the corporate world.

And I saw just how skilful those who did these negative things were at concealing their actions, and making others who were innocent look either guilty or incompetent or both!

Now, consider the fact that the corporate workplace is still a CONTROLLED environment with rules enforced more firmly than is the case in the real dog-eat-dog world we live in outside paid employment….

Maybe then we will begin to understand the scary variables/dynamics that political office holders with honest intents may have to deal with, in order to build and manage a WINNING team to deliver the promises rewards – and that, over a 4 year period or longer.

I personally believe Obama, when he took over at the height of America’s economic crisis had LESS to worry about on the HUMAN RESOURCES front (in terms of people to choose to work with him) than PMB is having to deal with.

This is why I believe it’s still too early to demand much from Buhari…

But that’s not to excuse what is being called the snail pace at which he seems to be moving. Instead, I feel it may be better to move at snail pace and get it right, than move faster and fall flat on your face.

All of the above is of course MY opinion.

Having said ALL of the above, it is worthwhile to add that NONE of what I’ve said above is to be taken to imply I support a perpetual snail’s pace to governance by Buhari.

What I’ve instead tried to say here is that I feel it would be good to give him MORE time to settle in.

PS: It goes without saying that you do NOT have to agree with me…that’s the way the world is – sometimes we have to AGREE to DISAGREE!