By Bala Ibrahim
“Every soldier has an element of madness, because, while the right thinking man withdraws from danger, the soldier charges towards it”.
Rightly or wrongly, the quote above is attributed to General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff. While I can not vouch for it’s authenticity, or the context and circumstances under which it was made, one thing is indisputable about it- the soldier is a person that takes risks, real risks. Pursuant to the exposure to such risks, which may sometimes come with undue insults, residents of Abuja were yesterday treated to some theatrics between their minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike and a serving officer of the Nigerian Navy. It was a tense confrontation over a disputed parcel of land, allegedly owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff.
The video of the drama is currently circulating on the social media, showing minister Wike denied access to the land by armed soldiers. Wike said to the officer, you are a fool. The officer said NO sir, I am an officer. The situation degenerated to a heated exchange between the minister and the military officer, who displayed decorum, against Wike’s expressed anger. Insisting that he was acting under instructions, the officer refused to be intimidated by the minister’s accusation, that the land was unlawfully seized under the guise of military authority. He said the property was legally acquired, with documents to back everything. A heated altercation ensued, with the minister calling the young officer names that are not in conformity with the expectations of the etiquette of a lawyer, holding public office.
Because the two of them are in public offices, the issue of public behaviour while in public office must be put to test here, with due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others. Everyone deserves respect, which is reciprocal, and cannot be bought at Wuse market. Public office is a position of trust, held by individuals who work in government or public service. It involves responsibility to the public, including the display of esteem and nobility in character. The demand is even higher, where one happens to be a lawyer. And Wike is a lawyer that is married to a judge.
Yes, with lawyers, the demand for respect is more demanding. We all know that anyone that has gained a certain level of knowledge, through studying and reading, is qualified to be addressed as learned. But lawyers seem to have taken possession of the term, with an arrogant sense of entitlement. And they flaunt it at people, unapologetically, no matter how scholarly, or how educated and cultured the people may be. The lawyer is the only one that belongs to the learned profession, so they say.
By virtue of this virtue, the society expects a certain degree of righteousness from lawyers, especially when they are holding public offices. Their core responsibility in the public sphere requires them to uphold the law, promote justice, and conduct themselves with integrity. Lawyers should display high professional standards, by showing respect to people and the legal system, because they are the guardians of the rule of law. They should be the friends of etiquette through the maintenance of integrity. Lawyers, particularly those of them in public office, must avoid any conduct that is unbecoming of a legal practitioner.
When a lawyer, holding public office, engages in abusive behaviour, no matter how high his status is, he has reduced himself in respect, propriety and civility. He has reduced himself from the lawyer to the lawless. On the other hand, when a military officer conducts himself with calmness and complete composure, in the midst of provocation, such an officer has complied with the meaning of an Officer and a gentleman. By standing firm on instructions given to him from above, and refusing to be provoked, even when he was so provoked, the officer has displayed a refined military behaviour, with high moral character and integrity. This is honour, respect and courtesy, which combined to show the eminence of excellent etiquette, while holding public office.
There is a Yoruba proverb that says, when you point an accusing finger at someone, three of your fingers would be pointing at you. In this particular drama, this proverb may help us to understand the misdirection of the word fool, you are a fool. There was an overstep of the boundaries of etiquette in public office, but luckily, that element of madness in the soldier, was not called to duty by our refined and respectable Naval officer.