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Patricia Etteh: bowing out
disgracefully
Ronke Macaulay
We are all taught from childhood
that in order to be winners we have to display qualities of determination,
tenacity and courage in the face of opposition. We must be dogged and
hold on to our convictions, rather than be swayed by the prevailing
wind or popular demand. Of course, there is one important proviso to
take into account: we must be convinced of the justice of our cause,
and its potential positive impact on others, otherwise our stance translates
as defiant arrogance, a highly repellent and counterproductive mindset.
Two notable examples of this
scenario dominate the Nigerian current affairs scene. First, and
somewhat less controversially, Rotimi Amaechi has fought his way
through the legal route – via the Supreme Court - to the position
of Governor of Rivers State. It appears that most of the nation stands
behind this judgement and congratulates the gentleman on his principled
and courageous refusal to give up the gubernatorial ambition which was
aborted when he was unceremoniously replaced as PDP candidate after
the primaries had taken place. His rival, Celestine Omehia has
also been remarkably calm and stoical in face of defeat.
While there are growing rumblings
of discontent that a man who never actually contested for election could
be sworn in as Governor, many observers remain quietly proud of this
outcome because it indicates that Nigeria is inching its way towards
a fledgling maturity as a democratic entity, where right not might holds
sway, and the Courts will uphold the rule of law regardless of whose
ox gets gored.
Moving on to a very different
set of circumstances: the Etteh renovation contract debacle has held
the country spellbound for weeks as we witness aghast one woman virtually
hold the country to ransom. As scenes in the House of Representative
progressively degenerated, with physical pitched battles, a sudden death,
and Machiavellian intrigues at every turn, the woman at the centre of
the storm remained strangely sphinx-like. She failed to comment publicly,
even as her support dwindled by the hour. Having become a figure of
hate and ridicule throughout the nation and beyond, her expressionless
face still gave little away of the thoughts running through her embattled
mind on a daily basis. Of course, it would be folly for the disgraced
Patricia Etteh to imagine that because she had tasted power at the highest
level, the determination not to relinquish it would suffice to overcome
all opposition and win the day in the long run.
We might start by asking ourselves
what personal qualities could have enabled a woman from a self-confessed
humble background with little or no formal educational qualifications,
to rise from being a small town hairdresser-cum-beautician, to the fourth
most senior position in a complex nation like Nigeria. Even if she was
promoted beyond her abilities by her political godfathers, her rapid
rise to power still begs the question: why Patricia Etteh and not one
of the large number of better-qualified candidates? In particular,
as a woman, she was hailed as a high achiever, hence the bitterness
she is now reaping from those who feel betrayed by her failure to follow
due process in awarding a massive contract within weeks of her appointment.
While Nigerians feel repelled
by Patricia Etteh and her role in the humiliating spectacle the House
of Representatives has become, one must confess to a certain horrified
awe at her dogged chutzpah.
I would hazard an opinion that the same do-or-die personal qualities
which may have propelled her to such heights, have now contributed inexorably
to her downfall. They persisted right to the end, demonstrating that
she would prefer to stand her ground, fighting to her very last breath
and dragging both friends and foes down with her in the process, rather
than give up what she believes is hers.
It may still be possible for
this tragic woman to learn from the developments in Rivers State about
how to fight your battles courageously, yet recognise when to bow to
the greater good, and preserve dignity even in defeat.
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Posted by Robot| 31.10.2007 10:07