By Babatope Babalobi


Who should be Nigeria's Man of the Year for 2014? Who does the cap best fit? Is it possible to reach a national consensus on this issue? More importantly is the concept of the Man of the Year still relevant or significant in Nigeria's political life or should it be wiped off from the nation's political lexicon?

Many people will argue that the concept of Man of the Year has been devalued in Nigeria. Just like the National Honours, this honorific title has become politicized, bastardized, and corrupted. In the past, it was not as if there was a national consensus on who deserves the title, as several media houses simply go ahead and bestow the title on, however, they feel deems fit, based on public opinions. In recent years, the givers of the title seem not to bother about public opinion any longer, rather opinion of various political caucuses seems to hold sway.

This situation is not helped by the fact that the nation is lacking in heroes. There is a glut of selfless leaders who have made sacrifices for public good. Gone are the days of the Tai Solarins and Gani Fawehinmis who seemed to have made a vow of sacrifice, integrity, and selflessness for the public good. Everyone now seems to be involved in a rat race to grab his own share of the national cake.

Nigeria has become a highly commercialized society where every activity is denominated and decimated by consideration of monetary and pecuniary benefits.

This scenario has stifled the emergence of national heroes, now replaced by 'Nigeria idols' whose distinctive ability is their sonorous voices and tingling dancing steps. There are no more Consciences of the Nation, our Conscience is not ruled by the pocket, rather than the heart as everyone seems to be concerned about the volume of naira load it its pocket. No one seems to be interested in carrying the national burden again. Individuality has given way to publicness, privatisation has murdered national interests, and selfishness has trampled down the public good.



Read the rest: https://babalobi./2015/01/01/manoftheyearnigeria/

GEJ my hero!!!