Shining a general’s shoes for him, discussing Nigeria’s feudal culture

Editor’s note: Alkasim Abdulkadir, a journalist, social entrepreneur and Naij.com author, starts a dialogue of how Nigerians understand the concept of holding power and treat those in position of power. What about dignity and self-respect, you ask? Well…

There is a strong link between political leaders and their shoes. It is not just an important part of their apparel, but also a means of making a statement. In most iconic instance that could be used to define his person, President Goodluck Jonathan said he had no shoes growing up. And when Imelda Marcos, the widow of former Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos, fled her palace during the revolt that ousted her husband from power, she left behind more than 7,000 pairs of shoes, according to citizens who broke into the palace. The Time Magazine, however, estimated the number to have been just a little over a thousand pairs. Whatever the exact number, Imelda Marcos had more than just a shoe fetish.

A video recently released online showed an aide stoop to clean the General Dambazau, the minister of interior’s, shoes in public glare during an event as other dignitaries around him appeared oblivious to what was going on. In what seemed an innocuous incident to the NSCDC, they have come out to say that it is entirely normal thing and showed respect and loyalty. Moreover, they said, being a former army chief warranted such treatment. Therein is the institutionalization of our feudal culture.

In Ado Ekiti, not too long ago, Governor Ayodele Fayose paid a surprise visit to workers and caught some public servants who arrived late for work. The visibly enraged governor berated them for being late and threatened to sack some of them. At the painful realization that they might be out of work at that very instant, since their all-powerful employer had caught them in the act, a wailing match ensued, begging and groveling. A handful of men and women were on their knees seeking for forgiveness.

In the pseudo-feudal class system that characterizes the social stratification in Nigeria, governors are powerful beings. A lot can be done with the snap of governor’s fingers. This is the singular reason why those public servants in Ado Ekiti groveled and cried before Fayose. Even though they were late, even though public servants in Nigeria have a penchant for being late-comers to work, and even then are ubiquitously known not to be on seat, it was totally out of place in this day and age for them to have groveled before the His Excellency. At that material moment, all forms of civility were taken out of the civil that prefaces their status as civil servants.

For context and clarity, and, for the benefit of those who haven’t had the time to follow this drama, the following is the statement credited to the spokesman of the NSCDC, Emmanuel Okeh: “The honourable minister who was on a visit to NSCDC facilities at Sauka never beckoned on any of his aides to come and clean his shoe as alleged. Rather, if the ‘aide’ carried out such a function, it means it was done voluntarily without any iota of compulsion. The demonstration by the SSS personnel was a mark of respect for his principal since he was not compelled to do so. It should also be noted that a man of the calibre of the minister, who was one-time chief of army staff is entitled to aides that could help in ensuring that he looks neat at all times”.

It is time Nigerians began to act in universal accord with dignified cultures everywhere, just the same way carrying chiefs in carriers or palanquins is no longer fashionable anywhere in the world, so some tasks should be labeled undignifying and not a show of respect or loyalty as the NSCDC wants us to believe. Human dignity is an important component of building the self esteem of the Nigerian citizen.

It is entirely normal in a feudal society to see men and women groveling before other men and women of importance. However, in a place where hope takes flight daily, it is only reasonable that human dignity remains firm in the hearts and minds of men and women. For millions of people, living in dignity is all they ask for as Nigerians — as enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights.

Alkasim Abdulkadir, a journalist and social entrepreneur, has worked for the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera. He is the 2012 recipient of The Future Awards Excellence in Service for Journalism. Follow him on Twitter @alkayy.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com.

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