One of the traits I find most interesting about law enforcement in the United States of America is the ‘Miranda rights’ or the ‘Miranda Warning’. ‘The Miranda warning is part of a preventive criminal procedure rule that law enforcement are required to administer to protect an individual who is in custody and subject to direct questioning or its functional equivalent from violation of his or her Fifth Amendment rights against compelled self incrimination’ (Wikipedia). If that long definition sounds a bit confusing please forgive me. In layman’s language the Miranda right is your right not to use your own mouth to put you in trouble. In streets lingo, it is your right to padlock your mouth so it does not get you into trouble. The Miranda warning is one of the benefits of dwelling in a nation where even the rights of suspected criminals are respected because it is assumed that every man is innocent until proved guilty.

Not many people are aware that the Miranda rights is entrenched into the Nigerian criminal justice system and that law enforcement officers are required to read the warning to every suspect before being questioned or made to write a statement. Unlike the US where a prima facie case can be jeopardized if the Miranda warning is not issued, it is treated with kid gloves by law enforcement in Nigeria. As beautiful as Nigeria is, it is a nation where no right is immune from being abused. So if our citizens are unaware of their Miranda rights, it is not a big deal. Like the Yorubas would say, there is no point trying to kill a snake with a long whip. Our Law Enforcement Officers are men of action and all suspects are guilty before being charged.

Anyway, back to the object of this article. Has anyone listen to the wise counsel of some of ‘our leaders’ lately? The Minister of Agriculture our own Dr. Audu Ogbe was reported as saying that the price of rice is going up because Nigerians eat too much rice. Hmmm! Mr. Minister what should they eat? Grass from Brazil? No. Potatoes he suggested. Like Potatoes sell for one a penny. Another Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun in her bid to play down the Economic recession in Nigeria claimed that recession is just a mere word. Yes it is Madam Minister! There is no point for the Honorable Minister to move around with armed escorts anymore. After all ‘death is a mere word. The Minister of Sports, the red beret wearing one, Mr. Solomon Dalung while applauding the performance of Nigerian athletes at the Special Olympics stated that athletes do not need to train to win medals, they only need determination. Wow! That is like saying students do not need to study to pass exams but only need determination. And to top it all, the President of the Senate suggested that teachers’ salaries should be included in budgets as capital expenditure. How? Doesn’t the fact that it is called wages mean that it is recurrent? Is anyone unaware that capital budgets are never implemented in Nigeria? Perhaps Mr. Saraki wants teachers salaries to be treated the way of abandoned projects like the terminal building of Port Harcourt international Airport, Abuja/Okene Highway, the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, and several other such capital projects. Seriously, from which planet did these leaders emerge from? Aren’t we so blessed to have such collection of honorable men (and woman) at the helm of affairs of our nation at the same time?

In an article posted on this page about six moths ago, I complained about the problem of communication amongst Nigerian leaders and Government officials. Then I assumed it was just the problem of communication. From what has transpired since that article was written it is no longer in doubt that the problem is deeper… One would be justified to conclude that there is an obvious disconnect between the leaders and the governed or an apparent lack of emotional intelligence (EQ) among our ‘big men’. EQ as it is now popularly called is that part of the human faculty that enables man (in generic terms) to have empathy for others. From the beginning of the 21st century social scientist have discovered that socialization and human relations are more affected by emotional intelligence than Intellectual intelligence called IQ or Intelligence Quotient. So is it a coincidence that most of the spokespersons of our Government seem to be deficient in EQ or is it a sign of how much disrespect they harbor towards the citizenry?

Perhaps it is the fault of journalists and other gentlemen of the press who thrust leaky microphones towards the mouth of our ‘benevolent’ leaders even when they are ill prepared to say anything that makes sense. Perhaps the gentlemen of the press are taking the issue of press freedom a bit too far. Can they please respect the rights of our leaders to remain silent? Perhaps Government should organize a retreat for its officials to articulate a common vision that every official can take ownership of, Maybe then they will be able to speak with confidence and a self assurance of knowing in what direction Government is heading. Until that is done my humble advice is…silence please!

I love Nigeria. I pray everyday that things would turn around for the better. I pray for good leadership and a discerning followership. I believe fervently that this nation will be great in my lifetime. Like they say in my part of Nigeria ‘When ones masquerade dances well one beams with pride’. I wish our masquerades are dancing well but they are clearly not well choreographed now to be great performers. But it is not too late to teach them some majestic steps. I watched Arsenal play Paris Saint Germaine on Tuesday night and they conceded a goad in the first minute. Within the first half they were run ragged by a PSG team that was strolling round the field in majestic splendor. However when play resumed after the interval what I saw was a new team. After a change of one or two personnel, the team that played like amateurs in the first half began to look like potential champions. They took the play to PSG, equalized and almost scored a second goal to steal victory. That is life. Like Arsenal, the Present Government is approaching the half way mark. At this point I am sure the coach would have identified the weaknesses in the ruling team, like the seeming lack of energy, the absence of synergy within the team, and the communication disconnect between team members. Perhaps the coach may have identified the need for a greater sense of urgency, the need to infuse younger competent and more vibrant players into the field of play and the need to allow the players freedom to express their abilities in a manner that enhances the capacity of the entire team to deliver the goals. I am certain that if that happens the growing cacophony of angry men will be drowned by the ovation of satisfied people. Then all those who were witnesses to the dressing of the masquerade will beam with pride at the majestic dance steps of the earthly spirit.