Abati : The Emir’s clash with Namadi Sambo

Guardian

27 May 2011

Abati : The Emir’s clash with Namadi Sambo

By Reuben Abati

WOW. Thank you, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero for putting the Vice President Namadi Sambo in his place. If the Emir had not been the victim, on Monday, May 23, when Sambo went to commission the domestic lounge of the Mallam Kano International Airport, the Vice President would have gotten away with his effrontery. The pre-event meeting with the Emir in his palace, which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. was kept on hold, with all other dignitaries waiting, until the Vice President arrived at 1 pm, three clear hours late. The protocol at official Nigerian events is that the programme cannot commence until the “big government man arrives”. The bad news is that the “big man” always arrives terribly late. The story of Sambo’s lateness did not indicate if he offered any apologies, but even if he did, that would be most unusual. Nigerian state officials as a matter of habit, expect people to wait for them...

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Yes, rankadede, it is not good. But Sambo was just being the typical Nigerian big man in public office. So, you may pardon him, Your Majesty. And you know, he not being a descendant of the late Uthman Dan Fodio and late Sardauna of Sokoto may not have been properly schooled in matters like this, but hopefully, he will be willing to learn and mend his ways, and stop coming late to classes!  And sir, he tried and showed up. In Nigeria, that is quite an achievement. Under other circumstances, the man could have failed to show up and pleaded that he had to attend to more urgent state matters.  What can any traditional ruler do if that were the case? But your point was well made nonetheless.

One of the reasons, really, for the underdevelopment of Nigeria and the failure of policy is precisely this lack of respect for time. It permeates the culture of governance in Nigeria. ..