By Ven.Amb.Nelson Fadoju.
It was late I.K Dairo that sang a Song titled “Ise Ori ran mi ni mo nse…Eniba jale lo bomo je” meaning that, “I am doing a destined business in order not to be a thief”. An idle hand is a devil’s workshop. Whoever refuses to work will steal (Eni o sise, a maa jale).
We can’t blame all those doing petty trades in Nigeria but,the Government must improve their trades and lives.
I remember those good old days of “Akara Osu” as well as “Dodo Ikire”.Nobody can travel along the axis of Ilesa,Ife,Ibadan and Lagos roads of South-West without stopping to buy.They were very sweet then unlike today,when they are not as they used to be because,many traders have joined the business without rebranding them.
Usually before then, people used to look at these trades as trades for the pupper or poor.
With times,those that established these “Akara Osu” and “Dodo Ikire” were making much money to the Banks which later led to more people joining the trades today.
In Akure,we have a male frying “Akara Suya” and buyers line ip to buy theirs.
In the rear sense of it, with modern rebranding system,there is no petty trade that can be over-looked or looked down. It depends on how individuals view it, plan it and are serious about it.
There are branded Groundnuts, Garri, Suya, Milk, Biscuits, Pap, KULIKULI, Pop-Corns, Flour, Maize, Vegetables etc.
Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu might mean well but, her method of presentation and at the time of presentation when the Economy is bad and in mess is what ought to be carefully studied and made comments on.
Today, Plantain, Okro, Tomato, Maize, Onion,”Iru”, Melon, Banana, Oranges, Groundnuts, Water Melon, Suya, Vegetables and other small trades which are not so attractive to many people are making waves monetarily.
I will appeal to most of our Politicians to return to the School of Communications to enable them learn or refresh their knowledge of what to say, when to speak, how to speak and at what time to speak or write on burning National or State issues.
Public Communications matter a lot in governance. You don’t just speak or write anyhow without first taking a cursory look into the consideration of the situation and mood of a nation through its Citizens. Leaders should not rely only on hear-say but,listen to the Media News and do on the Spot- Assessments of Projects.
That is why we say “Oju loro wa” in Yoruba i.e when you want to speak to the Public, you look at their eyes and or feel their pulse.
At the same time, if somebody wants to crack a joke, you watch the situation and the environment.
That is why if you want to correct people as a leader, you watch where you are and the type of language to use no matter how bitter you are and or how hot you may be. Your servant(s) who you employed can give you back in your own coin and or wait for a clever time to pay you back just like some bad drivers or servants did to their former employers today saying that “they wanted to teach them lessons”.
All these are lessons to learn from. Two Biblical Stories in Gen.18:23 and 2 Sam 1:16 are vivid examples of how not to use our mouths and deeds roughly and wrongly:
Genesis 18:23
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked ?
2 Samuel 1:8, 10, 16 (KJV) And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.
Be careful of what you say to someone who did not offend you and or to the suffering masses. Be merciful with your broadcast to the Nation or State. Some people can be merciless. But, God knows how to pay such people back when they mis-behave to someone that helped them grow.
In those days,bsome leaders used to appoint Script Writers who are versatile in Public Communications. Some other Professional Writers and Communicators can vet what the President, Governor, Speakers, Ministers, Company Chairman, Chief Executives will read or say before speaking to the Public.
Public Communications is not about proving too know or that, someone studied English Language or Language Arts but, in being conversant and versatile in the methodology of the art of presentation/communications.
An address may be written for a President or Governor from Civil or Public Service level, it is incumbent on the reader or presenter to adjust while reading to suit the situation on ground, if not, such a leader will be speaking to the air and not to the satisfaction of the general public.
A Yoruba Adage will say “O ye ka wo Ile, ka wo enu Oko” before we do anything meaning that,”We must look before we leap or say anything”.
In those days while at UNIFE (now OAU), some lecturers would continue to speak and speak without knowing when the audience were tired and no more interested. What the Students did would be to react by using their legs to make noise as a sign for such Speaker to end his or her lecture and allow Students to go. Learn to read between lines and the handwriting on the wall.
When people want to comment on serious State and National matters, there are better and conventional ways of doing it professionally that will not irritate the listeners, viewers, readers or audience. There are Theories and better strategies of Communications.
In those good old days,when the eyes were still around the knees we used to sing during moonlight stories thus:
“E ma se fi Iya Alakara sere, Iya Alakara. O nta finfin siimi nimu, Iya Alakara, O nre dodo simi lofun,Iya Alakara,E mase fiya Alakara sere,Iya Alakara”.(Don’t joke or ridicule a woman selling Akara).
We are now back to the Era of “Akara or Kerengbe” in Nigeria.
Is anything new under the Sun any more? No ! “Ko s’ohun toju o ri ri”. Beeni “Ko si Ohun tuntun labe Orun”.”Inu ikoko Dudu leko funfun ti jade”(A white pap is made from a black pot).
Many of us would remember “Adalu Epo” in those days that they was sweet. We have some old women that traded in native tobacco called “Taba” for both men and women just as we have those that traded and still trading in solid and liquid Pap called “Eko or Ogi”. There are other small-small trades like roasting of yams, corn, plantain and selling of Okro, tomatoes, fishes, pepper,.onions, vegetables,”moinmoin” that attract much gains .From the profits of these trades, many women and even men were able to send their Children to Universities.
Government Officials especially Politicians should learn how to leverage up and improve on the welfare of the Citizens by making the environment conducive. Stop excessive taxes on these trades and provide other better alternatives to the general public when the economy is bad without using certain languages and statements that are pregnant with meanings which many people will mis-interprete to mean what was not the original intention of the Speaker.”Pele lobi, o lako”.
We are all learners. Nobody is perfect. Let us submit ourselves to God to use us right before we embark on any assignment in life. Leaders are to lead right by good examples.
The Children of Leaders and the rich shouldn’t be the only Citizens that will be benefitting from the Commonwealth of a nation while the Children of the poor People only do menial jobs. Government should elevate the lives of the down trodden much more than before by bridging the gaps between the rich and the poor Citizens.
The time is hard for the people. Government should prioritize People’s welfare as one of its primary assignments. Speak and act truth to people. The Tax Payers expect better life from Government that promised heaven and earth than excuses.
The People can only enjoy the Dividends of Democracy while still alive and not when they arrive eternity that is better than the earth.”Ohun teye baje,leye maa gbe fo”.Never take the People especially when they are hot for granted.
It is time to make life meaningful for all Citizens in Nigeria with the magnitude of many natural resources provided for Nigerians by God.
+ Ven.Amb.Nelson Fadoju.
***Ayekooto 🦜🦜🦜 writes from Voice of the Voiceless (VoV) of Jubilee Projects and Justice for Peace (JP-JP, NIGERIA) & Justice for All(J4A).
