Having just read the review of the new 50 Shades of Grey movie and I am looking forward to making my own judgement… I couldn’t help but think about the real hot topic in Nigeria ‘our Presidio.’ I sat with a young pastor today, (a few years younger than me) and we discussed politics. He wasn’t one of the social media – every news-story in your face – enlightened crowd. I could tell from the way he spoke, he had real worry in his voice, lacking the confidence that comes from having information.

He voiced his worries about the future of Nigeria and stated the case that President Jonathan is being strategically pushed out and the move was to enable a Muslim leader for Nigeria. This was his greatest fear.

In the process of our discussion I reflected as I spoke and realised that I did have some strong views about the coming elections. I have been silent on all things political, sitting in the classroom of Twitter, Channels, AIT, Sahara and the likes have come up with my own opinions. My first pain was when the elections were postponed and I believe I have decided on who I will vote for, but will still remain objective.

President Jonathan is a good man with a good heart and I think this is clear for all to see. I realise that for him to survive as a ruler in this country especially with all the local and international ‘goals’, a number of people are needed to cook, clean, write, speak, strategize, damage control, fire, spend.. etc. But I can’t help but keep thinking about how removed he is from what is really going on with the people.

When I think of the huge amounts paid to our legislators, I can imagine how their daily lives can be removed from what really goes on in an average Nigerian’s life. How much more the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I even wonder, if he knew just how hot the weather outside was before the campaign tours.

The government is only as good as the vision of the leader. It is easy to identify the ministers and aides that are working within this government. They usually are the ones not talking much, the ones you have to beg to give media interviews, because they are just trying to get the work done. Then there are the few officials that I can only wonder what progress they actually have achieved since they got into their departments. In my opinion a number of the ruling team is questionable, the leader cannot be everywhere, but his forces are running around and getting away with a lot while the leader turns his back. Perhaps it is because he has never cracked his whip. I would have liked some firing to be done to some members of the ruling team and reshuffling, but that cannot be effective at this time for this government, perhaps for the next one.

Governor Fashola once said that Lagosians are stubborn and sometimes the law needs to be reinforced over and over again. I think the popular saying from Lagos “Eko o gba gbere”, can be applied for the whole of Nigeria, especially when it comes to our leaders and the huge amounts of liberty they have been given so far. Like fat kids put in a room with lots of creamy desserts: chocolate, ice-creams, cakes and they know no one will care if they did what they liked.

Nigeria is still a young country and very much reminds me of myself as a child. My mother would get the cane and the Bible and say “the Bible says that I should spare the rod and spoil the child.. and I don’t want you to spoil”, I knew always that she gave me those lashes because she believed it was for my benefit. Nigeria still needs that strict leader that will also do the cuddle and love, but at the end of the day we all know that they do it because they love us, and we love them back in return.

Tosin Jegede

Views expressed are solely the author’s