Now that the Pope has Resigned

As I watched Pope Benedict XVI honourably bow out of one of the most lucrative jobs (nay ministries) on planet earth, my mind reeled with images of people who could have done so but failed to. Pardon my French, I am one of those doubting Thomases who also look for underlining unsaid motives behind every public statement. In other words, I am one of those who believe that there is more than meets the eye on this resignation. But whatever it is, the Pope has shown exemplary leadership quality by taking the bull by the horns and confronting whatever monster he is facing. Having said this, alongside all that love him, I wish the Pope a very rewarding retirement. It is only a God-fearing person that can see that he or she can serve his people better in private than sitting interminably on the throne even when lying in coma.

Take Taraba for instance. What kind of government do they have now? A governor that none of the people who elected him no nothing about his present condition? Thank goodness that Gov. Chime of Enugu State has returned after a 5-month accumulated leave abroad. It is only in 9ja that one gets to hear of these kinds of abnormalities. And before you started condemning the governors, remember that it was the President Yar'dua's saga that set the precedence for this kind of atrocity to blossom in the nation.

I am not versed in the knowledge of Nigerian politics, but the little I know says that politicians succeed or fail based on the level of advice they receive from their advisers. Take the Yar'dua example for instance. The gentleman-president was obviously in coma or too sick to make decisions for himself. So who was it that decided to keep Nigerians in the dark about his health condition? I even ask, why would a leader hide his or her ailment from the people he or she is leading? Is it a shameful thing to be sick while in government? The answer here is no. The problem is that those who make a living from running errands in the corridors of power always find fake statistics and proofs to perpetuate their principal in power because they know that once that administrator leaves power, the next administration may not favour them. In fact, when you see a commissioner or minister who finds him or herself retaining his/her position in a succeeding administration in Nigeria, his or her loyalty to the preceding one is questionable. I stand to be corrected on this!

Had the Pope confided in some Vatican politicians, he may have been persuaded from taking this path of honour. He would have found reasons to remain in power like the Mugabes of this world: those who build with their youthful vigour and vision and end up destroying what they built later on in life because they fail to control their old age senility!

Now that the Pope has resigned what remains is for other leaders to learn from him that there comes a time when a leader will leave power for other people. Sometimes this time comes from an introspection which tells the leader that he or she cannot continue. The best option to take then is to leave and serve the people in other capacities. Enough of this "love for the people" antics because you cannot love the people more than they love themselves! The Pope says: leaders do not necessarily have to die in office!