Academics are such an incomprehensible lot. As they sit in the classroom and reel out various normative theories, they make their students think that everything is that easy. They assume an indescribable air of infallibility as they criticise every government policy.
But whenever they cross over and join the government they leave you wondering if they were really the same people, who just months ago, were lambasting every government policy. We have had so many of such academics at the state and federal levels.
To be fair to them, some had found themselves in government and refused to change their principles, maintaining those high standards that made many of their students see them as role models.
For instance, there was a certain Professor Eme Awa (of blessed memory) who was appointed chairman of the then National Electoral Commission in the early 1990s by then military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Being a man of proven integrity, Awa’s appointment was lauded by many Nigerians who knew him.
But Awa’s integrity, as later events proved, was only being used by the fox in power then to give credibility to his bogus transition programme. The old professor assumed office and was told to follow a script. But he refused to tow the line of the dictator and his cronies but instead resigned with his integrity intact.
Indeed, Awa must have remembered his students; those young men and women who saw him as a role model. He didn’t want to disappoint them and today, history is very fair to him.
Perhaps, that was why rgb(54, 99, 136);"">President Goodluck Jonathan told the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to remember his students while administering the oath of office on him and the commissioners of the electoral body.
The President said: “I was quite excited when people described you (Jega) as a radical and I am happy that a radical is going to INEC to do positive things and make sure that you don’t compromise that belief.
”Luckily, you are a professor of high repute; your students are all watching you whether you will stand by the principle you have been talking in the classroom. Your colleagues that you have left are also watching you.
That was a big challenge from the President. Indeed we have heard a lot about Jega’s radical tendencies; how as the President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities during Babangida’s regime he challenged the dictator and pulled lecturers out of the classroom.
With such pedigree, he cannot afford to fail. Luckily, he is not a southerner like the President and as such, we are not expecting some southern ‘porapo’ camaraderie rather we are expecting him to be independent-minded and firm.
Thank goodness, Jega appears to understand the magnitude of his task, hence he said in his acceptance speech, “We also know that, to succeed in this assignment, we need the goodwill, support, cooperation and assistance of all stakeholders within our country and all friends of scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136);">Nigeria and its development partners globally.”
He said the new INEC was “willing and ready to partner with all stakeholders who are genuinely interested in contributing positively to bringing about free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria in 2011”, even as he acknowledged that, “ this assignment given to us is an enormous and profound challenging one.”
If the truth must be told, only the prof cannot give us credible elections as he needs the support of all stakeholders. But his demeanor and attitude , sooner or later,will surely reveal his intentions and dream for Nigeria.
However, it is now left to the acclaimed radical to maintain his integrity- like Awa- or enter that black book where history has consigned those who conspired with the authorities to give us execrable elections. He cannot escape it, for in less than 10 months we will surely know where his name will be found. .
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