Born in Katsina State Nigeria, Mr Shem Obafaiye Sunday proceeded to the prestigious University of Lagos and graduated in 1984, he is also an alumnus of University of Ibadan and Lagos State University. Commander Shem was promoted three times between 2011 and 2012. Currently he is a level 15 officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) second only to the Assistant Commandant General, Deputy Commandant General and Commandant General.
Every day we wonder why pipeline vandalisation is on the increase, why there is no end to bunkering, why militants and terrorists still continue to hold our dear nation to ransom. Need we ask more? When individuals like Commandant Shem sit at the helm of our nations security agencies. The NSCDC is one of the most important security agencies in Nigeria. Its statutory responsibilities among others are to safeguard helpless citizens, protect the oil pipelines against sabotage and of recent fight terrorism and militancy. The issue is not about not knowing the website address but rather the lies and deceitful tactics the commandant took to to cover up his mistakes.
However, it is not surprising to most of us that Nigerian officials from the local council officers to the president do not take into cognizance the little but important things under their nose. I am very sure the president cannot recite the second stanza of the national anthem, the senate president does not know the official website of the national assembly and only about1% of Ministers, Honourables and Senators can boastfully recite the National Pledge.
It is not the level of education anymore or the dilapidated nature of our educational system. After all, Mr. Shem schooled at a time education in Nigeria is presumed to be great. It is the bred of people we give authorities to. There are brilliant but jobless Nigerians out there who continuously roam the street while some individuals are been given sensitive positions and appointments on a platter of gold, without any interview. I do not challenge the ability of Mr. Shem to comb crime but his leadership ability calls for questioning. What do we expect a man with such integrity to pass on to junior officers under him, what moral lessons would they learn from him on and off the field if his ego wouldn’t make him speak the truth? A single ‘I don’t know’ would have done the magic rather than the disgraceful charade he embarked on.
Like Mr. Shem there are individuals in the public and private sectors who are being placed with leadership authorities which they do not merit. These sets of individuals are most times the bossy and unfriendly ones. They shout on staffs, ridicule employees and take people for granted. While most of them cannot even pass a teacher’s grade II exam, they set PhD aptitude test for job seekers and expect them to perform magic. It is time we start focusing on potentials rather than qualifications.
To my friends at Alaba and Aba market who have made millions from the misfortune of Mr. Shem - congratulations, to the family and relatives of the commandant accept my humble sympathy but above all to the ever gifted Nigerian youths whose creativity has created the most hilarious pictures, music and videos I doff my hat.
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I doff my hat as well
ReplyDeleteCommendable..
ReplyDeleteIts quite unfortunate.He jst fel scape goat.
ReplyDeleteMr Dear Adekoya Boladale, there is no word like "staffs" like you used in your article, its staff.(singular and plural) should we make fun of you too now?
ReplyDeleteVery good!I was abt to make dat correction too!
DeleteDear Mr Sola. The word staffs exits. Can be used as plural if d subject is plural. Check ur dic.
ReplyDeleteSola Ade, the unnecessary repetition of the word "like" in your expression shows the ineptitude in your use of English.
ReplyDeleteAlso there is no word called Potentials....its simply Potential...plural of potential is potential...AND NOT POTENTIALS...
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity for your family
Prestigious university of lagos... lol.
ReplyDeleteSola Ade, you are also wrong when you write ..."its staff " I know you wanted to say 'it's staff' i.e. it is staff, so you too have erred.
ReplyDelete"IF THERE IS ANYONE AMONG YOU WITHOUT SIN, LET HIM/HER CAST THE FIRST STONE." Must we cruxify him for making a mistake? Any of us could have been in his shoes. Even in your chosen field, you can NEVER know ALL!
ReplyDeleteGbam! I hate the way we have carried this whole issue. Please let's allow Mr Shem rest. We all make worse mistake(s)daily.
DeleteIt is not easy sometime to face camera, even for high caliber of pple.
ReplyDeleteThe "My Oga at the top" saga typifies the 'ranka dede" mentality of public officers. It is a regimental system where the boss is always right. It could be traced to the rule of terror unleashed on the subbordinates by their superiors in the days of the military autocratic rule.
ReplyDeleteBefore this can be corrected, there must be a radical shift in paradigm from "the ogas at the top". But if you ask me, I would say that the only solution is to retire anyone in the public service that graduated before the year 2000. They can no longer offer anything other than teaching the younger ones how to dupe the state and cover it up. They are the ones that ensure the nation is bereft of men with ideas. Once they suspect you can hold your own, they frame you up and dismiss you.
So, you can understand Mr. Shem's predicament. It is really not his fault.
Na Garri mata ooo. If the man tok pass him mouth him oga from the top go sack am ooo. The guy wise no be small
ReplyDeleteIf only we know that such shame and embarassment can push some people to do the unthinkable! Please let's be careful so as not to lead this man to commit suicide. Enough is Enough! None is perfect except God!
ReplyDeleteAre you Mr. Shem hiding behind Anonymous? U are free to commit suicide. Oshisco.
Delete12:29, thunder fire ur mouth! Who u be sef? Oooooh, na u sabi pass abi? Idiot! If na ur papa or uncle dem dey dsgrace lik dat, u go lik am? Monkey!
DeleteWell, looking at the whole situation from Mr.Shem ordeal, this is to show that its not the matter of what apex of learning u attend or graduated from, but the individual personalty is very paramont i.e. What are the things u can do perfectly well as an individual. Well its a pity that we could have such a man of high prestige from both UI and UNILAG. Cos its believed that those that graduated from Both universities are GOD sent angels on earth, but not knowing that its not a matter of the University solely but that of the individual also. Well no one is perfect.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Shem, please do enjoy your leave.
If only we all can do what we can do, the world will live in peace! #ThattalkingGuy
ReplyDeleteam i missing something on his introduction??? that he was promoted three time in a year??? can that be true??? i need to ask my oge at the top about this
ReplyDeletehaba reporter, which one be vandalisation??? pipeline vandalism...
ReplyDeleteLet's stop blaming Mr. Shem but the system that produces his types.
ReplyDeleteI see dis whole issue has given room for an uneccesary ballyhoo....shit happens sha.
ReplyDelete:D , ' ' '
ReplyDelete<\¸,' '
Λ i laff pisss ƒör body
na wa o! na here una wan do "use of english" ? how many of una get A1 for english language? anyways my oga @ the top has the final say! lwkmd
ReplyDeleteStop analyzing and critizing,u shud realise dat he has moved on and he is waiting for month end to get his alert.......No one is above mistake..
ReplyDeleteLeave oga at the top alone.Na in time be that.Mr shem, don't mind dem o.Wether u know website or not u de wait for montly salary alert.Na ur opportunity be dat.When u resume feel free to entertain us with more blunders,it is the society that thought u to be careless even at that ur level.
ReplyDelete