Learning to listen

Almost daily, arguments take place in which both parties shout at the top of their voices with neither actually bothering to listen!  The importance of paying careful attention to what others are saying can’t be overstressed. Listening has many advantages and allows you to put people down in spectacular fashion. One of the greatest masters […]

Almost daily, arguments take place in which both parties shout at the top of their voices with neither actually bothering to listen!  The importance of paying careful attention to what others are saying can’t be overstressed. Listening has many advantages and allows you to put people down in spectacular fashion. One of the greatest masters of the “put down” was legendary British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. On one memorable occasion Lady Astor a female opposition MP who was completely frustrated by his attitude, heckled him saying “Mister Prime Minister, if I was married to you I would poison your tea!” Churchill looked her squarely in the eye, and, with a smile on his face, replied “Madam if I was married to you I would gladly drink it!” The reason he could reply so brilliantly was because he listened to what she had to say. Nigerian political leaders don’t listen; instead they spend all their time talking. They miss the point that learning involves listening more than talking.  Despite knowing full well that democracy confers upon every citizen the right to hold an opinion, and the right to express that opinion, they aren’t the least bit interested in any opinion at variance with their own. Ironically although being entitled to an opinion is a democratic right, democracy doesn’t bestow upon anyone the right to be taken seriously!”  To be taken seriously isn’t a right, it’s a privilege earned by those who make sense and are fair in their dealings with others. Generally speaking listening allows us to draw valid conclusions about people and decide whether or not to take them seriously.
Listening patiently is important because even mad people can say things that sound very intelligent, but given time their madness will reveal itself. Having patiently listened to those currently making the headlines on the political stage it isn’t difficult to conclude that they range from superficial social media activists; to the passionately clueless; the borderline psychiatric cases; and finally to the criminally insane.  The social media activists include the likes of former minister Oby Ezekwesili who regularly jump on the bandwagon of the latest internet political fad. The passionately clueless includes the likes of Niger Delta activist Ms Annkio Briggs who appear stuck in a time warp and who despite radical posturing are personally incapable of doing anybody any harm. The borderline psychiatric cases include the likes of Asari Dukubo who have illustrated that they are willing to harm people, but if “settled” they can live in peace and leave others alone. The criminally insane group includes the likes of Boko Haram leader Shekau who habitually inflict harm on innocent people and are not prepared to be “settled”.  
The problem arises that if these sorts deserve no attention, then who is government supposed to listen to in these trying times? Not much can be expected from the army of “special advisers”. In an ideal situation they would be experts who can seriously research issues and give genuine advice, but regrettably over time such appointments have been made as “come and chop” rewards for political loyalists. As for the ongoing National conference there isn’t really any point paying much attention to reports produced by the mainly geriatric, corrupted, self-appointed “elder statesmen” who are the architects of our economic misfortunes and were key players in previous failed administrations.
If they had assembled to listen rather than talk they would have known that security experts say if we are to overcome security challenges we should adopt the worldwide practice of local policing. We need Police forces that are familiar with their terrain and experienced in local customs. If they were listening they would have known that we need less government not more economically unviable States. If they were paying attention to public opinion they would accept that a bi-cameral legislature is a waste of money, and legislators should only be paid sitting allowances.
 Listening was never the objective of the conference and our problems will definitely continue because Minority Reports aren’t being considered and the wishes of a large portion of the population won’t even be contemplated much less adopted. Most citizens believe the parliamentary system is better and cheaper simply because it doesn’t make sense that one set of people are elected and a different set of unelected people actually run government. Nevertheless the Conference is all about the future.  The present current tragedy is that government don’t appear to even listen to themselves. If they listened they would hear the hollow sound of their assurances that they are on top of the security situation. Hear the worthless noise of all their re-basing and economic boom assertions in face of realities on ground. Hear the empty boasts of an ill-equipped military. Hear the fake assertions of transformation accomplishments.
Hear the inflammatory ranting of their electioneering, and the silence of their political philosophy. If they listen hard enough they may hear the muted sound of the anti-corruption campaign. They have refused to listen to anyone apart from themselves now the rest of us are left to reap the harvest of their inattentiveness. Successive governments refused to listen to the Niger Delta people until they became militant armed themselves and were given amnesty. They refused to listen to the frustrations of unemployed youths and watched them go into armed robbery, kidnapping and 419 as a means to earn a living. They refused to pay attention to Boko Haram until they created near anarchy.  Future leaders must learn to listen. We can’t continue with a situation in which becoming militant, in words or actions, is the only way to get government to listen to their grievances, demands or suggestions.