Chikelu: Biological vs Ideological Age
Our people say that an experienced elder who observes the dance steps, and footsteps, of a young man who got the traditional Ozo title at the age of 20 will know whether the young man will live to old age. If the young man in question is so caught up with his self-celebration that he does not care whether he is stepping on people’s toes, or stirring up a lot of dust and making too many people to sneeze in the village square, then he has the wrong things coming for him, down the road.
It is also a well-known saying that “It is only the child who washes his hands very well that is allowed to dine with elders and titled men.” This statement is a metaphorical way of saying that the person who is biologically young, but who exhibits, or exudes, a level of maturity/personal grooming, that befits an adult of full value, earns himself the honour of being among the leaders and knowledgeable trendsetters in society despite his biological age.
The mantra: “Give the young ones a chance” is right. It is wrong when
“young ones” is defined strictly, and only, in terms of the biological age of individuals and groups – rather than the age of the ideas and aspirations people are aspiring towards. We must, therefore, re-examine the ideological orientation, guiding values and general motivation of many young people who aspire to leadership, or who are holding leadership positions in Nigeria today.
When we consider that largely the same people have been the principal actors in our national life for the last 40 years, the question we must ask is: ‘Is the leadership of the federal Republic of Nigeria some kind of hereditary chieftaincy for them”? Most of these people should have since given way to a well capacitated Replacement Generation that is properly situated within contemporary 21st century leadership, governance and developmental paradigms.
But before we hurry off to sweep everything ‘old’ away, we must ask and answer the following questions: (1) Can someone be biologically young in age, but ideologically old in his orientation, because of his beliefs and values? (2) Do we have ample evidence of a direct positive relationship between biological youth and great performance in public office in the last 23 years of democracy in Nigeria? (3) What should we do when the presumably young and newly bred re-enact with great aplomb the worst forms of malfeasance perpetrated by their elders?
I ask the above questions against the background of recent developments in our national life, wherein the supposedly young, intelligent and upwardly mobile do not espouse the 21st century leadership, followership and service values.
If, as the constitution says, the primary purpose of government is to cater for the welfare and security of the people, it should be the younger generation in particular that would demonstrate this at every opportunity; because it is their world we are talking about. If the primary business of anyone in public office is to focus on everything that would strengthen the welfare of the people and ensure a more secure nation, then it must also be expected that young men and women who have held, and/or are still holding, public office in Nigeria would be beacons of hope.
For the record, they once were. Think