One of the strange things about us Nigerian in the Diaspora is that we are the worst enemies of ourselves. We seem to take delight in pulling one another down. Would we be happier and more fulfilled, if some one we do not know had been appointed? Reading some of the submissions on this appointment just saddens me. We have been complaining for years that we are not sufficiently considered when appointments are made in Nigeria. Now, some of us have been appointed, but instead of rejoicing and celebrating with all of them, and seeing these appointments as desirable development, we have resorted to what we know how to do best, which is be negative and pessimistic in our approach to most things. I should think that common sense demands that we pray for them and start discussing ways to support them succeed to our common glory, if only to prove a point, of what we in the Diaspora can offer to Nigeria to justify more appointments in the future. These attacks directed at Prof. Aluko are overlooking what damage we are doing to ourselves. I suppose we have to start taking the long view and looking at the big picture. Most of these attacks are based on what he supposedly said in the past as a private person, I have no doubt that he too is learning fast, I think he should be judged by what he says in his capacity as the VC. Let us leave the past to the past and find ways to collectively stride into the future. So many countries, even in Africa, are showing us the way - why are we so adamant to positive trends and be part of the ongoing wind of change. The world is changing and little kids are driving the change, joining hands irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender or age, but we Nigerians seem trapped in some mentality of yesteryears of you did this to me yesterday so I must do this to you today. It is this kind of attitude that is holding us back in the past and making a mess of an otherwise endowed nation, with rather rich human and natural resources. We have got to break these short-sighted shackles, get out of the box and move with the world to new frontiers of reasoning.
Let’s move and collectively call on Prof Aluko, as Ambassador Joe Keshi and some others have done, to consider recruiting most of the staff from the Diaspora to give that University that he has now become privileged to run, a complete different image from the beginning. I think this advice should also go the other two appointees from the USA; Prof. Geoffrey O. Okogbaa, as VC of the new Federal university in Wukari, Taraba State and Prof. Mohammed K. Farouk as VC of the new university in Kashere, Gombe. Some well wishers have advised Prof. Bolaji Aluko on the way they thought he should go. If the others have no advice to give, I implore them, in the interest of all of us in the Diaspora to end these fruitless debates.
Let’s wish him and the other two VCs form the Diaspora well and give Prof Bolaji Aluko in particular all our prayers and any support he may require to succeed. May the Almighty guide all of them to success.
Jones Edobor
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