TIME TO END OUR MILITARY MENTALITY
I was happy to watch President Donald Trump’s speech in Davos yesterday on CNN. I was very impressed about how he spoke eloquently and convincingly about the new ease of doing business in America today. I saw a man who was very serious about creating jobs at home, by all means necessary. As a businessman himself, he obviously understands the rudiments of running business and creating opportunities for job seekers. That should be the priority of all governments, but I’m not sure Nigeria is ready to treat our investors as the kings they are in reality.
I was shocked to read the latest harassment of one of our business icons, Dr Mike Adenuga, on social media yesterday. According to the widely circulated reports, Dr. Adenuga’s company is owing the Federal Government some huge sums of money running into billions of naira. It was not stated how members of the House of Representatives arrived at their figure, but they claimed they’ve summoned Dr Adenuga to appear before them several times but he refused. The tone and anger displayed by the committee members probing the alleged infractions sounded more like vendetta than genuine interest in getting whatever amount his companies are allegedly owing, back to government coffers. One of them went downright personal when he said Adenuga is not the only billionaire in Nigeria and he cannot disrespect them. My view is that unlike public service where you may call for the Minister or Agency head, you cannot do the same for a private company, particularly where the individual is not an executive Chairman. There are appropriate officers of a company to deal with such matters. Asking Adenuga to come personally demonstrates not only a lack of understanding of corporate nuances but also unseriousness, even arrogance, by our legislators who appear not to have done their homework.
Furthermore, if the Honourable House members have concluded their investigations and findings, are they the ones to prosecute and judge at the same time? The allegations they make are matters which are either for the civil or criminal courts. Their powers are limited. Therefore, why can’t they refer the matter to the appropriate authorities instead of this unnecessary grandstanding. If we continue to humiliate all our great and visionary business men and women publicly by trial in the court of public opinion rather than the Court of Law, who would be left standing? I agree that matters of this nature should be investigated, but not in this barefaced gra gra manner.
Dr Adenuga is undoubtedly one of our hardest working businessmen. He has provided employment for thousands of Nigeria. We all know him to be reclusive in nature and he does not partake in the orgy of ostentation that some of our politicians are known for. He is shy to a fault and is hardly seen in public. Such an institution deserves some respect and protection. If he collapses, God forbid, many thousands of Nigerian families will suffer. We should try to find means of helping people like Adenuga to stay afloat for the sake of our youths. Before our very eyes, Etisalat ran into troubled waters and could not swim afloat. The same must not be allowed to happen to Glo. Once in a while we must eat yam because of palm-oil or eat palm-oil because of yam. No man is perfect in life but we can help to make people perfect, out of love, genuine concern and even the selfish interest of the nation that is already in its death throes from businesses being mortally wounded.
May the tribes of Adenuga increase and may God bless Nigeria mightily through them…
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