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Making a case for the child-governor
By Muhammad Ajah
Some governors in Nigeria have developed the initiative to allow a child of their own
choice to preside over the affairs of the state for a few hours of a day. The child, who is
normally selected, by the state governor, for his excellent performance especially in the
academic circle, will be allowed to exercise the constitutional powers of the governor for
the period. Few governors are noted for this gesture and they seem to enjoy it every
year. But it is observed that some governors have seen no importance to it and
therefore have never had a child sit on their seat.
This initiative, though believed by some critics to have merits and demerits, is not only
commendable but it should be encouraged, sustained and expanded to some extent. The
one singular thing that can pose a challenge to it by good citizens is its limitation to the
children of the kitchen cabinet members of the governor or their relatives and political
friends.
No doubt, it is the intention for every initiative that accords it a natural acceptability.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the wholesome aim of this is to expose the child to
the beatitude of politics especially the unique one that is prevalent in Nigeria. The child is
also expected to know some things about the workings of government, get acquainted
with the signing of documents and contracts if need be and feel the wholeness in a leader
of a domain. The child may receive delegates from certain sectors, hold programmed
talks with business partners of the state and even preside over an exco-meeting.
By this, the child is directly encouraged to feel the challenges in leadership. He is spurred
to work hard, to learn, to read and write, as well as to respect his fellow compatriots. He is
assured that education is the right path to success and that his efforts can make him
great in future. He therefore prepares his mind to attain what his parents and the society
in which he dwells expect of him.
The greater result of this may be the enhancement of his love for diligence, patriotism,
dedication, humanity and sincerity. But this is on one hand. The dark part of this is the
exposure of the child to the extravagance in governance. He is shown that there is money
in the government houses and that to be a governor or a popular politician in Nigeria
even for a few hours was a path to richness. There could be a latent invitation to greed,
self aggrandizement and corruption.
However, there is hardly a trend that has all good without bad sides and the reverse. The
most significant in this case is that children should be prepared to face the challenges of
tomorrow. Moreover, it is axiomatic that the child is a future leader, a leader of whatever
magnitude – in the family, in business, in politics and governance, in the religious sphere
and any other life endeavour. So there should be caution in building up the child
especially in a society like ours where tribalism, nepotism, graft, civil disturbances and
wickedness still pervade.
There is need to extend this gesture to the local government levels and the presidency.
The need for the legislative and judiciary arms at all levels of government should also
mimic this trend. We can have a child-president, a child senate president, a child
speaker, a child LGA chairman and a child councilor. We can have a child chief judge
and so on.
The qualities of the child to be sworn into any of these positions for any period of time
which can be extended to over one day according to the discretion of the person handing
over for the moment should include the following: not a relative of the president,
governor, LGA chairman etc.; not from the political allies or business partners of the
person to hand over. It is preferable if the child can to be from the remote areas and
selected by a child parliament.
The duration of each office can differ as follows: President – three hours, Governor –
one day, Senate President – three hours, Federal Speaker – three hours, State speaker
– one day, Courts – one day and the child should judge over imaginary cases, Local
Government Area chairman – two days and councilors – three days. The child should be
paid all the entitlements of the person who stepped aside for him. He can be taken
around the city on tour of certain government projects and he can advice the people. He
can even hold press interviews and make a guided nationwide or statewide broadcast.
More importantly, since it should be a yearly event, the children should be guided to hold
non-violent, free and fair elections. There should be guided to campaign, contest, vote
and be voted for.
As earlier said, many governors have never allowed a child to sit on their executive seat.
They may think it is a waste of resources or inspiration in vain. Although there is always
the fear of the unknown, a child could be a direct source of success to one’s life. In our
setting, some people are so selfish that they would not allow any good for others. But
they can always preach the gospel that one should love for others what one loves for
oneself.
Well intended, well planned and well executed, making children to feel the wholeness of
being a leader is quite commendable. Each state can create its system for the children in
this regard. A state, for instance, can make a child- governor at every significant
occasion especially that which is unique to the state. For a child-president, senate-
president, and federal speaker, it can be part of the merriments for the Independence
Day. This part can be on 30th September of every year. For the child to qualify, there
should be a children-non-party congress in Abuja whereby a single representative will
emerge from each state. The representatives of the thirty six states and Federal Capital
Territory will vote for six representatives from a selected geo-political zone for the winner
to emerge. This can be done between 28th and 29th of September.
This suggestion could raise the feeling that it would be a waste of resource. But how
much can this cost if compared to the monies that are wasted on trivial pursuits which
neither have direct and positive impact on the citizens nor portray us as a people with
futuristic hopes and expectation. No sane mind will question whatever is done to build up
a child in the best manner. Our children are our future. It is hard to find a man who wishes
his child failure in life. Let my child be better than I am has always been the prayers of
good and responsible parents. Apart from the belief in fate, it is the way we shape our
child that they follow. Again, apart from circumstances and societal interference, our
children are our weapons for future growth.
It is believed that the fear of trial has been the beginning of failure. Many things are
experimented in many ways to reach a solution. If this is attempted, its results could help
in many ways. It can be modified and every Nigerian child will want to be a leader and
therefore toe the path to it.
Whatever of these are acceptable, there must be gender sensitivity. Our children must
be made to understand that there is little or no difference between a boy and girl in life
pursuit. I cannot remember if there has been a child-girl-governor. Parents must give
equal training to the female child; after all there is a sound statement that a female child
is a nation and that whatever a man can do, a woman can do it ever better.
When we prepare our children in their early stage to be Nigerians in the true sense of
what it purports, we can begin to hope that one day our failures will come to an end. We
can begin to beat our chests that we will one day have a child who will liberate our
blessed nation.
Ajah, a writer, author, advocate of humanity and good governance writes from FCT, Abuja
(mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk)
By Muhammad Ajah
Some governors in Nigeria have developed the initiative to allow a child of their own
choice to preside over the affairs of the state for a few hours of a day. The child, who is
normally selected, by the state governor, for his excellent performance especially in the
academic circle, will be allowed to exercise the constitutional powers of the governor for
the period. Few governors are noted for this gesture and they seem to enjoy it every
year. But it is observed that some governors have seen no importance to it and
therefore have never had a child sit on their seat.
This initiative, though believed by some critics to have merits and demerits, is not only
commendable but it should be encouraged, sustained and expanded to some extent. The
one singular thing that can pose a challenge to it by good citizens is its limitation to the
children of the kitchen cabinet members of the governor or their relatives and political
friends.
No doubt, it is the intention for every initiative that accords it a natural acceptability.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the wholesome aim of this is to expose the child to
the beatitude of politics especially the unique one that is prevalent in Nigeria. The child is
also expected to know some things about the workings of government, get acquainted
with the signing of documents and contracts if need be and feel the wholeness in a leader
of a domain. The child may receive delegates from certain sectors, hold programmed
talks with business partners of the state and even preside over an exco-meeting.
By this, the child is directly encouraged to feel the challenges in leadership. He is spurred
to work hard, to learn, to read and write, as well as to respect his fellow compatriots. He is
assured that education is the right path to success and that his efforts can make him
great in future. He therefore prepares his mind to attain what his parents and the society
in which he dwells expect of him.
The greater result of this may be the enhancement of his love for diligence, patriotism,
dedication, humanity and sincerity. But this is on one hand. The dark part of this is the
exposure of the child to the extravagance in governance. He is shown that there is money
in the government houses and that to be a governor or a popular politician in Nigeria
even for a few hours was a path to richness. There could be a latent invitation to greed,
self aggrandizement and corruption.
However, there is hardly a trend that has all good without bad sides and the reverse. The
most significant in this case is that children should be prepared to face the challenges of
tomorrow. Moreover, it is axiomatic that the child is a future leader, a leader of whatever
magnitude – in the family, in business, in politics and governance, in the religious sphere
and any other life endeavour. So there should be caution in building up the child
especially in a society like ours where tribalism, nepotism, graft, civil disturbances and
wickedness still pervade.
There is need to extend this gesture to the local government levels and the presidency.
The need for the legislative and judiciary arms at all levels of government should also
mimic this trend. We can have a child-president, a child senate president, a child
speaker, a child LGA chairman and a child councilor. We can have a child chief judge
and so on.
The qualities of the child to be sworn into any of these positions for any period of time
which can be extended to over one day according to the discretion of the person handing
over for the moment should include the following: not a relative of the president,
governor, LGA chairman etc.; not from the political allies or business partners of the
person to hand over. It is preferable if the child can to be from the remote areas and
selected by a child parliament.
The duration of each office can differ as follows: President – three hours, Governor –
one day, Senate President – three hours, Federal Speaker – three hours, State speaker
– one day, Courts – one day and the child should judge over imaginary cases, Local
Government Area chairman – two days and councilors – three days. The child should be
paid all the entitlements of the person who stepped aside for him. He can be taken
around the city on tour of certain government projects and he can advice the people. He
can even hold press interviews and make a guided nationwide or statewide broadcast.
More importantly, since it should be a yearly event, the children should be guided to hold
non-violent, free and fair elections. There should be guided to campaign, contest, vote
and be voted for.
As earlier said, many governors have never allowed a child to sit on their executive seat.
They may think it is a waste of resources or inspiration in vain. Although there is always
the fear of the unknown, a child could be a direct source of success to one’s life. In our
setting, some people are so selfish that they would not allow any good for others. But
they can always preach the gospel that one should love for others what one loves for
oneself.
Well intended, well planned and well executed, making children to feel the wholeness of
being a leader is quite commendable. Each state can create its system for the children in
this regard. A state, for instance, can make a child- governor at every significant
occasion especially that which is unique to the state. For a child-president, senate-
president, and federal speaker, it can be part of the merriments for the Independence
Day. This part can be on 30th September of every year. For the child to qualify, there
should be a children-non-party congress in Abuja whereby a single representative will
emerge from each state. The representatives of the thirty six states and Federal Capital
Territory will vote for six representatives from a selected geo-political zone for the winner
to emerge. This can be done between 28th and 29th of September.
This suggestion could raise the feeling that it would be a waste of resource. But how
much can this cost if compared to the monies that are wasted on trivial pursuits which
neither have direct and positive impact on the citizens nor portray us as a people with
futuristic hopes and expectation. No sane mind will question whatever is done to build up
a child in the best manner. Our children are our future. It is hard to find a man who wishes
his child failure in life. Let my child be better than I am has always been the prayers of
good and responsible parents. Apart from the belief in fate, it is the way we shape our
child that they follow. Again, apart from circumstances and societal interference, our
children are our weapons for future growth.
It is believed that the fear of trial has been the beginning of failure. Many things are
experimented in many ways to reach a solution. If this is attempted, its results could help
in many ways. It can be modified and every Nigerian child will want to be a leader and
therefore toe the path to it.
Whatever of these are acceptable, there must be gender sensitivity. Our children must
be made to understand that there is little or no difference between a boy and girl in life
pursuit. I cannot remember if there has been a child-girl-governor. Parents must give
equal training to the female child; after all there is a sound statement that a female child
is a nation and that whatever a man can do, a woman can do it ever better.
When we prepare our children in their early stage to be Nigerians in the true sense of
what it purports, we can begin to hope that one day our failures will come to an end. We
can begin to beat our chests that we will one day have a child who will liberate our
blessed nation.
Ajah, a writer, author, advocate of humanity and good governance writes from FCT, Abuja
(mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk)
This practice of exposing any child to the brand of condemnable government as we have in Nigeria is
counterproductive to the growing movements aimed to reform and transform our governments. No Governor or
government in Nigeria is good enough to be a model we want to perpetualize through the youth. Rather the brilliant
child or youth should have the opportunity to remotely analyze the performance of the government and be
encouraged to criticize same rather than act as one. That's nonsensical - cheap, dangerous political propaganda.
For example, the executive should have no business writing contracts.
Allowing a child to believe and act in such illegality is foolish. Would the child ever understand the lack of
transparency, integrity and arms-lenghth requirements of public procurement through this type of initiative? Would
the child ever understand the executive functions are not limited to the 10 percent contracting and tape cutting of
obsolete programs that often benefit no-one but the chief executive and his hand-picked gluttons?
Would the child ever understand he's acting the role of one of the most irresponsible persons the whole world
despises because of the levels of poverty he's visited on his fellow citizens and by so doing, he's become a devil's
advocate? Perhaps, the Governor should bring back one of his children schooling abroad to play such a foolish
role. In my opinion, the performances of all the Governors in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are totally
condemnable and should not be modeled. None warrants to be copied. We should endeavor to protect our children
from being manipulated and used for cheap political gains. To be sure, there are other productive ways to engage
the young minds in the growing revolution for fair, responsive, democratic Agenda.
Heavens help us all!
Rotimi Osunsan
Washington DC
On the grounds in Lagos
counterproductive to the growing movements aimed to reform and transform our governments. No Governor or
government in Nigeria is good enough to be a model we want to perpetualize through the youth. Rather the brilliant
child or youth should have the opportunity to remotely analyze the performance of the government and be
encouraged to criticize same rather than act as one. That's nonsensical - cheap, dangerous political propaganda.
For example, the executive should have no business writing contracts.
Allowing a child to believe and act in such illegality is foolish. Would the child ever understand the lack of
transparency, integrity and arms-lenghth requirements of public procurement through this type of initiative? Would
the child ever understand the executive functions are not limited to the 10 percent contracting and tape cutting of
obsolete programs that often benefit no-one but the chief executive and his hand-picked gluttons?
Would the child ever understand he's acting the role of one of the most irresponsible persons the whole world
despises because of the levels of poverty he's visited on his fellow citizens and by so doing, he's become a devil's
advocate? Perhaps, the Governor should bring back one of his children schooling abroad to play such a foolish
role. In my opinion, the performances of all the Governors in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are totally
condemnable and should not be modeled. None warrants to be copied. We should endeavor to protect our children
from being manipulated and used for cheap political gains. To be sure, there are other productive ways to engage
the young minds in the growing revolution for fair, responsive, democratic Agenda.
Heavens help us all!
Rotimi Osunsan
Washington DC
On the grounds in Lagos
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