By Frank Meke
In our clime and like in all ages, a messenger is a marked man. He bears the truth and its consequences, sometimes, blackmail, scuffles, irritations, harm , imprisonment, and, in some extreme cases, death. The messenger is fearless and must deliver his message(s) , the content in the baggage that bears also the pain and burden.
We are so afraid of the messenger than the message(s) he bares, a kind of transferred aggression against the person who volunteered or appointed to bear the truth we hate to hear. That message of change, a repentance from our measured steps of deception and malfeasance, a kind of unpatriotism that could potentingly bring our people down in pains and agony.
Thank God, for the free air, we breathe, men and women, the very wicked and uncaring amongst us, if given any chance, would readily recommend that we are denied the grace to partake in the global free oxygen supply system from the almighty. And if you must ask for what and why, na because someone dey tell them the truth and ehn dey pain them.
There’s one Obi Asika at the National Council for Arts and Culture ( NCAC) as Director General. The difference between between him and famed Humpty Dumpty is that he is just walking around doing nothing. Humpty Dumpty is a fable, and so Obi Asika is in NCAC. I have refused to bear the tale of truth to this man from my “area” so that some people will not accuse me of being sent to pull down my brother.
Since he took over in NCAC, our cultural tourism stories have changed narratives, and I must add in the most confusing grand deceit. Obi Asika is certainly and evidently confused. The history and pedigree of achievements he met on the ground are too big for him, and like Humpty Dumpty, obi is heading out for a big crash.
I really don’t have issues with the NCAC boss if he wishes to put his “musical” or whatever reputation to risk. It is his business and, if I may add, his stew, but I shiver at the thought that Nigeria rich cultural and heritage competitiveness and values would have to go down with obi Asika ‘s pranking and pranting at NCAC.
No doubt Obi Asika has a gift with words, the type that King Herod manifested as if he was God and got anglic slap for his pranting. Now, that brings me to tell those who hide and lie with statistics to confound and confuse Nigerians that their games are over.
I read of lai Mohammed’ s tourism arrival statistics generously shared with hoteliers across Africa who met in lagos at the historic cross-border meeting in lagos last week.
The old man forgot that he did nothing as Nigeria’s former minister of culture and tourism and to boldly approach the ” experts ” in hospitality sector who knew their customers and where they came from, with banal submissions on industry arrivals, does not speaks well of a man who will not ask God to forgive him for doing a bad job for the country and the people when he had eight years of unhindered opportunities to turn Nigeria into a beautiful tourism destination.
Honestly, i don’t understand the politics of United Nations Tourism. Imagine the secretary general picking or was begged to pick lai Mohammed as special assistant, and we ask in Nigeria, for what? These people dem no dey tire ? When shall we begin to think about Nigeria first and not ourselves alone. It is benubbing to me, ooo!
That brings me to the Annual General Meeting of the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators ( Natop) in the ilorin this week. The delectable Ime Udo, President of the association, has done two years, so the members will gather to decide how to navigate further. What I don’t understand and wish to ask if I am opportuned to be there is why the Board of Trustees members are struggling to share the podium as moderators at the conclave ? This is demeaning and a climb down from the position of grace and honour to which trustees hold in any organisation.
Now, I must, however, agree that a trustee can present a position or an idea that can guide the younger generations, and there are many of such hard-working, brilliant young trade facilitators in natop who needs heads start ups on the way to go but I won’t dance to drummings of trustees sharing the podium to ” moderate” activities at the event which can be better done with young persons who have made their marks and must be given opportunity to explore their understanding of issues in the business. Our problem in Nigeria is that we find it difficult to hide ourselves and give others opportunities to serve. We, like showmanship, and na me sabi pass everyone!
Now, that brings me again to ask natop to explain to us in Nigeria why Lola Ade John deserves its award. I do understand that there are different kinds of awards that Nigerian give out to encourage or recognise certain metrics and considerations. So this award for lola Ade John is for what? For merely bearing a minister of tourism or appreciating her for attending the event and speaking to nothing?
For crying out loud, can’t natop just welcome her and allow her to sit out to learn about the prospects and challenges of the business rather than give her an award for just coming to learn. Shebi, she say na student ehn be!! Student wey never graduate dey get award?
Now again, if I talk about Nura Kangiwa , the outgoing DG of nihotour, some people will call me a troublemaker. He’s the one that began all the mess in the industry since lola Ade John came as minister of tourism inaction, dividing the entire structure of the industry for the sake of a second term tenure ambition.
Lola Ade John can’t keep this sector together, and as the good books say, anyone who can not keep his or her household together is an infidel. In fact, I pray that my eyes like that of biblical Job shall not see corruption !
I wish natop well on its kwara state gathering. The Ekiti version was a stimulatant, and I honestly love the excitement and passion of the young tour operators, but the industry certainly needs a family direction where food is cooked for the weak and strong to share.
Watch out for the messenger part two and learn to appreciate the message. Don’t kill the messenger. It is just a tough job for the intrepid.