Fun despite the odds

A RESPONSE TO DR JOE ABAH – How change happens in Nigeria – @kentmerriman

HOW CHANGE HAPPENS

I open with a Disclaimer – The below are purely my opinion and observation in the course of a career spanning over two decades. It is not intended as a consultancy towards any specific change agenda in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.

The greatest misconception regarding change is the notion that because a situation is bad or not working and detrimental to growth people will necessarily want or support a proposed change. It is imperative for a Change Agent to realize that some people benefit from the bad/inefficient system and that naturally when people have been exposed for a long time to a situation, they become comfortable in it even when it hinders growth and optimal performance. These two classes of people are usually resistant to change. The notion of “the devil you know syndrome” is at play and as it plays out, change implementation becomes tricky to push, implement and/or sustain.

For change to work, it must benefit the majority, whether it is nationwide change, organizational, or a group of people. Change must NEVER be about individuals. It must improve on what is currently ongoing, it must be an innovation that improves the outcome for the majority of people, in other words it meets the original aim and lastly it must be sustainable.

It is important to realize right from the start of a plan for change that the proposed changes is likely to disadvantage some individuals or small groups as well as those that originally benefitted from the current situation. The critical thing is to come up with a strategy for ensuring these people are somewhat provided for; this may mean a sub change within a wider change agenda or a compensation plan for the fallouts. Either way, the danger is where this fallout isn’t anticipated and no plan has been made to mitigate the consequences of change to them.

Managing expectations must be done well in advance of the change implementation, many innovations happen accidentally at the initial stage, especially during creative/design stages. The flexibility to improvise, amend and restructure must be permissible. Change agents must also know that because an innovation is new it is possible it takes longer and/or requires more resources, human or monetary than expected. This does not mean that the change is unsuccessful, it just shows how managing expectations is critical to change implementation.

The perception and attitudes of the people must always be monitored and tackled timely and correctly. What “correctly” means remains solely the responsibility of the Change Agent. It is for this reason I advocate that only experienced individuals with the right competencies constitute the transformation team. This group of people would have the responsibility of Identifying all stakeholders, studying the current culture and how in-depth is the sponsor’s recognition for change, whether they have the power required to bring about the change they seek and that their leadership style is appropriate including a full risk assessment to define  mitigating steps for potential risks. They provide the tactical know how to bring together a customized solution that ensures the change is made.

Part II

 A NIGERIAN CHANGE SUSTAINED “THE QUEUING PHENOMENAL”– @kentmerriman

The first time queuing at bus stations came to life, it appeared forced. This came about as a result of a strong disciplinarian and his deputy coming to power as a military administration in 1983. The project was called “War Against Indiscipline” and was by decree in February of the following year. This became largely the main focus of the Administration. For the first time after independence, Nigerians learnt how to stand in a queue and take their turn. Prior to this time, the prospect of taking the public transport was every passenger’s nightmare, not only because of the dilapidated states of the buses, or for the rude and unruly bus conductors usually known as “area boys” in those days. The nightmare was far more for the struggle to get on a bus.

 

The rush usually led to injuries, loss of properties and lives sometimes. Buses moved whilst people struggled to get onboard, passengers pushed and shoved each other; in fact that was the norm. This led to unimaginable hardship and delays for people. WAI came at the height of this unsustainable misbehavior. I suspect that in some way, the people were glad to see some sanity. It buttresses my point that should a change benefit the majority of people and makes a situation better for the larger society; it is likely to be successful.

 

The “Nigerian factor” of course was inevitable in the building of this culture, a few military brutality incidents were recorded during the implementation phases, mainly to control the diehard undisciplined ones, although widely condemned, it seemed to have put them in check. It allowed the change to hold. The interesting thing is that as time went on, the soldiers were no longer required to sustain the change; the people themselves embraced the change. They had seen how life could be. The LSTC buses played an important role, no queue no board was enforced on all the state government buses, they showed the yellow and black strip mini vans how to do it and it stuck.

Oshodi could arguably be named the home of the most chaotic bus stations of all, yet, it championed the queuing culture with the LSTC buses. The new culture spread from place to place; it is therefore a delight to find that this culture has continued since 1983, till date. Even during serious petrol scarcity crisis, somehow the queue still happens albeit chaotic, usually “intentionally designed so” by notorious petrol station attendants and even managers in some cases.  

It is now the order of the day to queue, at supermarket tills, Cinema ticket boots, Viewing Halls and ATM machine to name a few. It is a sustained change that is now the norm and our culture.

As a wrap I can safely say it appears that for change to happen it must be advantageous to the majority such that they benefit largely from it quickly so much so that they themselves take ownership of the change and fight to sustain it. It is only when change is beneficial that Change is sustained

Kent Merriman

 

A SEASON OF TESTS, TRIALS & OPEN LETTERS

AN ATTEMPT AT WHITEWASH– @kentmerriman

I must confess that I was totally taken aback by the public reply to @DeleMomodu’s Candid Letter. You will agree with me that it is unusual for prominent political leaders to write open letters. It is a medium usually reserved for communicating with the high and mighty. I would have thought @DeleMomodu’s subject would have considered himself one since he was born into prominence, been governor for two terms, now a senator on the second term and the number three man in the country.

It was however, a relief to read that he corroborates Mr Mood’s account of their relationship and that he himself had noticed his somewhat defensive tone, even though he claims not to have been bothered by it because he understand Dele’s position, nevertheless he decides to respond to him and openly too. I think more than anything, this letter is not between two acquaintances/friends. The so called Candid letter in my opinion is first and foremost for the public. I suspect it was a scheme to open an avenue for the number three man to give his own side of the story, to revel all with the aim of swaying public opinion.

This raises the suspicion that it’s not only the seasoned journalist in a tight corner, I think the weight of all the controversy and daily trial sitting is taking its toll. Mr SP obviously believes that the new media culture is not working in his favour. He actually called it a “crucifixion & presumed guilty” era. This is most disagreeable. The “new media” is a tool that can aid the people’s resolve to be proactive; a key ingredient of any successful democratic process. This is the norm all over the world. Nigeria is only just catching up. People being proactive have led several compromising leaders to quit, step-down, step-aside or resign from their positions. Guilty or not, leaders with integrity step down once the people reject their failed leadership. In any case, it is this same “new media culture” that aided the present administration into victory, the same that exposed the last for its shortcomings.

Since this article is not to discredit either of the letters, the writer would merely seek to offer another perspective to the events causing mighty men to write to us seeking our support and understanding. To start with, I’m sure I am not the only one that does not believe the SP when he says he did not strike any deal was with the old PDP. We do not believe that because he was happy to go ahead with the voting despite the absence of 51 members of his own party, under normal circumstances, that would have obviously caused him huge concern. As a matter of fact, that confidence in voting without his men is as absurd as a battalion going confidently to war with one tenth of its soldiers. It will only happen where the other party has been compromised. We see it many times in match fixing, be it football, horse racing or boxing, it’s not unheard off.

 I think the critical thing to note is that the SP had already got a commitment (whether by deliberate dealing, negotiation or implied collaboration) from 22 Old PDP pals. It is also safe to say that he may have called them to thank them for their support, therefore it wouldn’t have taken much to get the rest onboard, which is most likely the reason why he knew that he didn’t need his co senators to get it done, hence he never even attempted to attend the so called reconciliation meeting on that fateful day and as it turned out, the old PDP senators came through for him.

It is also alarming that a man taking a vote who did not envisage the absence of his party mates, did not attempt to ring his colleagues, we saw some of the senators frantically calling on the phone when they heard the frightening news that the dice had already been cast. I wonder why these 51 senators did not smell a rat when they did not see the other senators they were supposed to be reconciling with. This maneuver was of a mafia caliber execution and so the APC unity façade died an instant death.

The true convener of that meeting which lured 51 senators away from the chambers that fateful day remains a mystery, what is however clear is that Mr SP never attempted to attend that meeting, nor intended to obey the party supremacy rule and did not hesitate to disregard the President and his party members. The speed with which the Oath of Office was conducted leaves nothing to imagination. It was bare for all who stayed glued to the Live broadcast to see!

Even if the old PDP senator’s emergence as Deputy Senate President was not his wish, he must have known that by the 51 APC senators absent, it was inevitable, yet he went along with it, this is the crocs of the matter most of us have against his emergence. That he did not care about anything else so long as he got his wish, it is this blinded ambition that is our concern and the APC’s trump card

The latest Twist is the revelation that Mr SP actually knows what his initial sin is. This sounds totally false to me and anyone who critically and dispassionately thinks about this allegation. To think that anyone following the Nigerian politics or involved in it even for a single day would not know that no party has ever dared to field a Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim ticket. The man who the SP suspects is behind his foes and who he seeks to discredit would most certainly have known that, so once Mohammed Buhari emerged as the flag bearer, whatever plans the mystery man (we all know who he is referring to) may have had for the Vice Presidency Role would have been thrown out of the window. It wouldn’t have been conceivable to even the strongest of all God Fathers. I think this kind of allegations and counter allegations are serious and are very telling of the kind of politics practiced in our country. It is proof that a totally blinded ambition and aspiration is unhealthy to say the least, and is likely to be solely for personal gains rather than for the good of the people. It is not the kind of trait we need in any of our leaders.

It is for this same reason he describes his trial as a persecution. It sounds more to me like he expected immunity rather than to be treated fairly and equally like the rest of us UNDER THE LAW! He even bothered to justify the expectation by recounting his contribution to the party which Mr Dele Momodu described as “Stupendous Monies”. I cannot vouch for many of our politicians but many of us can vouch for Mr President. Mohammed Buhari will never persecute anybody and will never permit any of his officers to persecute anyone, having said that, it is true Mr President insists every leader, officer & worker must account for their stewardship.

Let me at this junction make it clear that it is a fundamental human right of a man to pursue his dreams and to aspire to be anything he so wishes, it is however unacceptable to do so at the expense of jeopardizing the entire nation, in terms of what we now see as the most uncooperative legislative assemble of all times viz a viz the missing, padding & distorting of the budget, the attempt to crush social media bill, the failure of the gender equality bill and so on and so forth.

Yes, it is true that the old and new PDP senators are committed to the principles that produced the Senate President; however the people of Nigeria have never been deceived. We understand what the loyalty is about, we have no doubt that it is not for the people's sake. The problem is that the SP failed to clarify whether it is the right thing for the senators to leave undone their jobs as senators but rather to take on the role of followership to show solidarity to the Hara Kiri (as Dele Momodu describes it) they committed!

To correct Mr Saraki’s last point, it is true that he is not alone on trial, yes, himself and all those who have questions to answer are all on trial. What our Anti-corrupt agency, judiciary & media are on, is actually a TEST, these agencies and arms of government are facing a test of their resolve to stand true on the side of JUSTICE and FAIRNESS. This is the difference, a test and not a trial.

kent Merriman

A TRUE CANDID REPLY

REPLY TO DELE MOMODU’S “MY CANDID LETTER TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT – @kentmerriman

I have read several of your letters, many of which are candid; although this very one you have titled CANDID appears to be more revealing than candid. This letter you admit is born not out of a true desire to advise your friend (like the ones you wrote to Mr President) but to tackle mischief makers who believe you are a close and ardent supporter of the Senate president.

Your opening paragraphs attempts to admit a close relationship and yet distance yourself in a way that gives credence to your denial of being a paid supporter. Let me say here that I do not believe that you are a paid supporter from his “bottomless pocket”; however, it would appear that your friendship with Mr Saraki ties your hands from speaking the truth you have always attempted to propagate. This trend is a recent thing, it became apparent to me in your attempt to force the people’s sympathy in one of your interviews with a notorious and allegedly corrupt past minister.

I came across the purported photo of you, James Ibori and Chief Osoba on social media. I commented on the photo in your defense, as it was obviously a deliberate misinterpretation of the photo as a cheap shot.

As I continued to read your letter, it suddenly became apparent that you were indeed a close associate of Mr Saraki with whom you had according to you strategized with even in his home and spoken to severally on the phone, you named dropped some big money bags you say he rallied for support which impressed you and that you were even privy to how he raised some “stupendous money” however you failed to say for whom these monies were raised, you left us to deduce these monies were for the party / Mr president’s campaign. In short you were giving credence to the story on social media about Mr Saraki’s (fund raising) contribution to the success of the election.

Nevertheless, you own up to the fact that Mr Saraki did commit “Hara-Kiri” then subliminally described those who opposed such treachery as his enemies. It is this kind of language that is unforgivable for a seasoned journalist like yourself because you know full well that an opponent is not necessarily an enemy. Mr Saraki himself knows that his offence is unpardonable. To clarify, the Hara-Kiri (I and many others call it Treachery) he committed is actually betrayal of trust, dereliction of faith & party which further destroyed the already fragile state of unity of the coalition, A total disregard for his colleagues who he met in the party, a totally blinded ambition which led even Mr President to break his silence on the matter and instruct that they “put your ambition in your pocket”.

You claim that your defense was only for the right of man. Mr Momodu, may I ask, right of man to do what? To jump ship from a party he arguably contributed in wrecking? Or the right of man to join another party only to foster an ambition over that of the others or just the right of man to act as a double agent against his party and the people which allowed the opposition party to gain power through the back door.

All sinners become saints on migration? This in my opinion can only cross the mind of a moral and justice bankrupt person and although it is true that there was no real objection to the proliferation by the party, we the people complained and in any case, should that warped thinking be considerable in any form, Mr Saraki’s offence is after the so called canonization into sainthood, therefore he is a falling saint and must be cast down.

The parable of the “cast the first stone” amnesty does not apply here. The law must take its course. He has been accused, he must be made to and should defend himself and if found guilty must pay the price, for Justice must be done. As the famous Italian dramatist historian and philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) said He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must fall with the greatest loss.

In Conclusion, My opinion is that your letter is self serving, a poor attempt at eating your cake and having it, and a revelation of what standing true is not.

Kent Merriman