By SUNNY IKHIOYA

AS I was writing this piece, there appeared a news flash credited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC:  ” Nigerians insulting people online are criminals, they will be jailed.” If this is true, then it is very unfortunate, the EFCC has metatasised into a behemoth, far beyond its core mandate. It is said that good critics turn out to be bad and reactionary leaders. Is this true of the strong opposition, now turned leaders? Is freedom of speech about to be gagged? Time will tell. 

The day was supposed to be a great day for our democracy. It was June 12, representing all the great struggles to free the nation of high-handed military dictatorship and coups,  sending our autocratic military leaders back to the barracks, and allowing the will of the people to prevail. It was supposed to be a victory song for all of our dynamic civil society organisations, including the Students Union and Labour, true democrats who risked their lives, and all they had built to send the military back to their core roles. 

Some have died in the process, whilst others have trudged on, including the present occupant of Aso Rock, the Presidency. It was a day to commemorate 25 years of unbroken civilian rule, though fraught with ups and downs, but was, however, worthy of celebration. It is said that the worst democratic government is better than the best military and autocratic rule. We have seen our leaders demonstrate the worst form of leadership any country could have, but the people have continued to endure. 

So, even if there was nothing to celebrate , the people came out with cautious optimism to see what the leadership had in stock for them. And, then came President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, symbolising all of the power, splendour, and glory of the biggest Black nation on earth walking to the podium to address the people, and he fell. A senior colleague called to ask me if it was a slip or a fall. My response was that a fall is a fall. What caused the fall of our president? Did he step on the overflowing agbada dress he was putting on? Was it a genuine slip on the ladder that is common to everyone of us? Or, was it as a result of challenges associated with ageing? To put the record straight, this is not the first time that a head of state will be falling or slipping while performing official functions.  

Indeed,  the President of the most powerful country on earth,  Joe Biden, has fallen so many times, which has led to many debates about the appropriateness of a man of his age to continue to be on the saddle of leadership. That has always been the debate here in Nigeria right from the campaign period. Coincidentally, the United States has decided to go along with two gentle men advanced in age beyond the retirement cut-off mark. In Nigeria, we have chosen to go for one in that category,  despite having younger and vibrant candidates asking to be given a chance. Are there consequences? We would soon find out. 

If the President had slipped on his flowing agbada attire, it is normal. It happens to a lot of people on a daily basis. That is why the people in charge of his wardrobe should begin to consider what the man wears to functions. The agbada is becoming a burden and appears too heavy for him. They should consider smart wears shorn of those overflowing robes that depict ancient hegemonies.  

Traditions and cultures are dynamic, and the handlers of his wardrobe must move with the times and the demands of the present circumstances. I went on a search to find out the impact of ageing on leadership performance, and this is the response that I got: “When it comes to leadership, age doesn’t matter – competency does. History is full of examples of leaders who have succeeded and failed at every age. The intangibles of passion, character, commitment, discernment, and talent are of infinitely greater importance than someone’s age of birth. ” 

So, on this ground, we will not use age to discredit Tinubu’s performance. I went further to ask for the effect of physical fitness on performance, and here is the reply:  “Maintaining physical fitness is a sign of leadership in that it shows self control, fortitude and stress tolerance. Setting your health and fitness as a priority demonstrates your concern for your obligations.” 

The HealthSite.com editorial of June 6, 2023 has the following: “A physically fit leader is more likely to possess boundless energy, be alert, and have a heightened ability to focus on crucial tasks. This, in turn, translates into improved decision-making, effective problem-solving, and overall performance. Moreover, physical fitness positively influences a leader’s emotional well-being, enabling them to stay motivated and engaged in their work.” The question now is this: Can we say that our president is in excellent health conditions to carry out the responsibilities of that position? 

If the unfortunate fall was as a result of his physical frailties, it must be of utmost concern to his medical team to get it resolved as quickly as possible to avoid future reoccurrence.  But if, as I mentioned earlier, it is as a result of his overflowing robe, that also should be resolved with his wardrobe team, for him to always appear smart, trim and fit to any function. It is our desire to see a physically fit President Tinubu serve out his term of office devoid of such embarrassing situation. 

The June 12 democracy day celebration left a sour taste in the mouth with that unfortunate fall.

*Ikhioya wrote via http://www.southsouthecho.com