As a child, I relished the story titled Belling the Cat.
The story is about a big meals retailer being terrorised by a mischief of mice. The retailer belonged to a well-respected service provider in a quaint little city the place he stored grains, bread, fruits and different edible items he offered to his townsfolk. Business appeared to flourish, however he had an issue.
You see, a sizeable nest of mice made their home beneath the shop, chewing away at his earnings. These rodents would raid the shop, steal meals and go away a chaotic mess for his attendants to scrub. Tired, he purchased a cat to repair the issue.
The new feline wasted no time, unleashing worry and terror upon the mouse colony. Gatherers who as soon as climbed out of the darkish to scavenge meals by no means returned.
One squeak after one other, the mice met their premature loss of life. Within weeks, each mouse had misplaced a pal or relative to the sharp jaws and swift paws of the cat. Those who narrowly escaped spoke of her stealthy assaults. “You’ll never hear or see her coming,” they advised their kinsmen in terror. The others had been useless frightened of venturing exterior! But the starvation wouldn’t go away.
One night time, the elder mice determined, “This cannot continue!” He convened a supreme council of mice to hatch a plan. They would strap a bell to the cat’s neck. By the jingles, each mouse can be alerted to the cat’s presence and escape early.
The mere announcement of this plan threw the colony right into a dancing spree. They squeaked with pleasure because the elder waved the bell from the place he stood. But one other elder mouse with gray whiskers interrupted their celebrations with a query, “But who will bell the cat?”
Fast ahead to recent occasions. President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady discovered themselves within the information for ringing bells of their very own.
Tinubu, whereas in New York, rang the closing bell at NASDAQ as a part of the Executive Business Dialogue organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc and Nigerian Investment Promotion Council.
NASDAQ famous that this bell-ringing symbolised the importance of the financial ties between the US and Nigeria, signifying the shut of a buying and selling session.
Meanwhile, the First Lady rang the bell of peace not too far-off, inflicting Nigerians to surprise if the primary couple was vying to out-ring one another. The reactions had been as various because the 200+ million folks they signify.
“So, their job is to be ringing bells up and down, abi?” one social media person requested.
Another wrote, “Big win for Nigeria! This is a great honour!”
Amidst these discussions, debates arose concerning whether or not Tinubu was certainly the primary African President to ring the NASDAQ bell or not. These discussions had been put to relaxation by a corrigendum from the Presidency.
Whether first, second, or 517th, I don’t suppose common Nigerians—these in dire want of the Renewed Hope Agenda—care.
While they applauded the popularity given to the facility couple, the query stays: can they bell the cat of unemployment, financial hardship, insecurity, injustice and the creaking infrastructure again home?
Would the sound of those bells bolster the Naira towards the greenback? Could they resonate by the music trade to repair the rot that cost us Mohbad? Would they vanquish the negligence that led to Dr. Vwaere Diaso’s deadly elevator accident? Could these bells deter oil thieves from the creeks, permitting for elevated oil manufacturing? Can Nigerians in flood-prone communities relaxation assured that the federal government has their again?
Could the bells jack up the minimal wage for the common Nigerian? Will they dissipate the looming labour disaster? Can they rearrange the priorities of some state governors from petty fights—with their deputies—to providing the precise governance they had been voted to supply?
Will our faculties be secure from bandit abductions? Can the tens of millions of out-of-school kids discover renewed hope in Tinubu’s agenda? The ensuing months and years will inform.
Like the elder mouse within the fable, flaunting the bell to the admiration of the colony will not be sufficient. The terror would stay till the bell discovered its strategy to the neck of the proverbial cat.
Nigerians selected President Tinubu to bell the cat, a fearsome and rewarding job. But he requested for it.
At the United Nations General Assembly, he spoke not solely as Nigeria’s chief however the brand new face of pan-Africanism—a task he appears to be taking part in effectively. As he basks within the adulation of multilateral organisations and overseas buyers for his daring coverage strikes, he should do not forget that they aren’t his major constituents.
His highest fulfilment should come from satisfying the calls for of the folks he promised “massive investments in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life.” That contains these at home and overseas.
Should Nigerians overseas return home?
Talking of the diaspora, President Tinubu made headlines at a recent city corridor assembly with Nigerians within the US by suggesting that a few of them ought to think about returning home.
His phrases had been direct, “But we want you again home. Nigeria has arrived; neglect the frustration of the earlier management. We are simply poor in some management areas.
“That is what I harped on throughout my marketing campaign. It was a really ugly marketing campaign, however I received the election.
“But if I didn’t throw myself into it with strong determination, I wouldn’t have won. You can do the same as many of you here who are contesting elections.”
As anticipated, his enchantment sparked a contemporary debate on whether or not it’s prudent to ask visitors, or on this case, runaway relations, when the home will not be but so as.
An X person wrote, “I should be expecting such a statement from Tinubu after some years in office. He is supposed to use the first few years to fix Nigeria before inviting diasporans or foreign investors to Nigeria. The country is not salable at the moment, which is why we’re having Japa at its peak.”
Another tweet added a comic book twist, “Thank God he didn’t call for all of us. He called for those of you in the US categorically.”
The reactions underline the scepticism amongst Nigerians overseas about returning home. They would as a substitute leap at his remaining remarks, the place he inspired them to combine into their new societies and think about operating for public workplace.
Nonetheless, just a few, dare I say many, consider of their homeland. For these, the expertise, experience and international perspective they’ve gained over the years will discover their greatest use within the fatherland. For this to materialise, nonetheless, there have to be a seamless handshake between the prevailing authorities and the Nigerian diaspora group, who, on the final depend, remitted over $168bn since 2015.
The First Lady at 63
Celebrations had been in full swing on the First Lady’s wing of the State House as Sen. Remi Tinubu turned 63 final Thursday.
While the absence of the primary couple forged a temporal hush in different sections of the State House, Mrs Tinubu’s area echoed with choruses of workers members singing Happy Birthday in the course of the workday.
Amidst the ocean of tributes and congratulatory messages, her husband’s phrases stood out. In his message, President Tinubu wrote: “Thank you for being the ever-present sunshine that brightens my darkest hours.
“Your kindness, your knowledge, and your inside and outer magnificence proceed to amaze me extra day-after-day.
“As we celebrate your birthday, I want you to know how profoundly grateful I am for your serene presence in my life.” A becoming tribute to a supportive partner of 36 years.
As I learn the President’s love letter, part of me felt he ought to think about including poetry to his job description. Just saying!
Shettima hosts class, service mates
Back home on the State House, Vice President Kashim Shettima hosted some members of his University of Ibadan Postgraduate Alumni and members of the 1989/1990 set of the National Youth Service Corps he served with in Calabar.
He additionally acquired the Labour Minister, Simon Lalong and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who revealed the low-key Independence Day plans for October 1. The VP would possible preside over the National Economic Council assembly this week.
