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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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El-Rufai, Lessons And Posturing
Domestic affairs took the back seat at the
Presidential Villa last week. Tuesday, President
Olusegun Obasanjo, as the chairperson of the African
Union, left for Oudagoudugu, Bourkina Faso, for the
conference on poverty eradication in Africa.
Wednesday, Vice President Atiku Abubakar moved to
South Africa. Journalists began the waiting game. When
outside the Villa, even when both are not around,
journalists still feel the discomfort of missing
out on a good copy. One then gets into the
journalists' most used lifestyle - hurrying up and
waiting.
Because there are no scheduled assignments, journalists come,
move round the usual ports of call, and then retire to
the Press Centre at the Banquet Hall. Journalists used
to scramble for space at the two or three-seater sofas
at the Centre. It offers an unusual opportunity to
doze off. But that luxury of a nap on a sofa
evaporated last week. The sofas were taken away for
rehabilitation and refurbishing. And the working seats
are antagonistic to any napping game. In the absence
of cable network, the regulars were forced to watch
the uninspiring and dead news stories on the largest
television network in the whole of Africa.
And it was not funny. This explained why they resorted
to monitoring news developments on other beats. And
the most sought-after update was on the travails of
the FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. Truth is, in
this imbroglio between el-Rufai and the Senate, State
House correspondents' sympathy lied totally with the
Minister. Don't ask why. But what is clear is that
this Minister is not given to doling out cash to
anybody. So, it is not about money. The reason may
have to do with what el-Rufai, despite all his
imperfections (we all have ours), represents. While
lamenting that the Minister has finally been caught in
the snare, they still knew that he is not the issue.
By the antecedents of the Senate, they know he is just
the symbol. But he fell for it.
On Wednesday, he formally went to the Senate, to the
woodshed, to have some of his chips chopped off. He
did eat crow before his adversaries. He ate the humble
pie. He apologised on two accounts. First, for his
GSM, which had the temerity to ring in the "hallowed"
chambers of the upper house. Second, for his
inappropriate choice and use of words. The way the
Senate reacted show they were dealing with him like
the "recalcitrant' son of a powerful father. They
raised hell. But in the end, they backed down. They
had to. After all, the Senators twice rejected the
apologies of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, PDP
party leader, etc. Despite their misgivings, it is
important they are still found in his good books.
All through the travails, the words of late Clare
Boothe Luce, wife of Time Inc.magazine owner in a note to
late President Richard Nixon kept resonating as akin
to the situation of the Minister. Known for her
straight talk, Mrs. Luce had told the embattled Nixon
to take comfort in the following words: "I am hurt but
I am not slain. I will lie me down and bleed awhile -
then, I will rise and fight again".
More than rising and fighting again, there are lessons
for Mallam el-Rufai. Though he is brilliant,
hardworking, focused and very useful to this
government, he ought to take quick lessons in
strategy. He ought to imbibe the truth that the sword
works best only when it is sheathed; that the mythical
giant up in the hill losses his power when he slumbers
down into the daylight. Discretion is always the best
part of valour. Again, even some truths are better
left untold.
The best two books for the Minister to read,
understand and imbibe are the ancient wisdom contained
in Sun Tzu's classic text, The Art of War and its
adaptation for corporate governance titled - Sun Tzu:
The Art of War for Executives. Both books would help
anyone navigate well, the political minefields, while
escaping the darts of enemies. Through the words
contained therein, one learns the need to keep a good
name and superior reputation and the virtues of being
humble. Also, you do not attack your adversary's
reputation unless you can profit from it.
El-Rufai would, through the teachings, which have
guided the greatest tacticians, internalize the fact
that impatience and direct attacks waste valuable
resources and energy, without accomplishing much. It
is disastrous. The minister is blessed with knowledge
and imagination. He should use these more instead of
resorting to head-to-head battles or wrong use of
words. Survival depends on one's own actions or words.
It depends on careful defence. Men of superior ability
are usually not those with extraordinary wisdom or
reckless courage. They are mainly those who learn
early how not to drive or control a situation through
confrontation or emotion. Enough said.
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