Am I Racist?

I have recently found myself asking this question and I console myself with the thought that if I am questioning myself I may not be too far gone. But really, am I?

Having lived now in 4 countries outside my own and seen the way life really is, should be or could be, is it wrong to want some of the ways of the outside world back at home? Like D'banj would say, 'in case you don't know...', I am back home. Back in Nigeria, back in Las Giddy (Lagos)... and loving it!

What did I see outside and want back home? Virtually everywhere else there is a 'we first then others' approach to almost everything good. I have had the experience of being asked as a Senior Manager in Diageo if I wouldn't mind taking an Assistant Manager job in the UK to prove myself in another company before I am given the managerial role I applied for in that company. What other reason but for the fact that even though I lived in and even voted in the UK, I am not British. I have seen how my brothers and sisters are aggressively learning Dutch to be able to get residency in the Netherlands. In the Middle East, it is in the order of 'from here, from the Arab world, from Europe or America and then 'others' ' which is the category I would fall into.

So is it racist of me to expect that we would do the same at home? Nigerians first, Africans second, and then 'others'?

So far I am alarmed at how many organizations have the token 'foreigner' on their board with the aim of looking international when it really doesn't matter. The practices are not international, there are ethical issues everywhere and the outsider is still there. I have seen so many come to Nigeria on international assignment and weep when it is time to go. It is almost as laughable as the use of 'International' as part of a mechanic workshop's name - Ajagun International Automobile Mechanic Workshop. I'm not sure it adds anything. Of course I have spelt the name correctly which is not what I saw, but that's beside the point.

We are Africa's largest population, it is said that we have the largest collection of blacks on this planet (1 out of every 10 blacks is a Nigerian, I heard, that makes the black population 1.5 billion). Do we still lack the talent and skills to the extent that we need to consider others first?

I have seen Nigerians in very senior positions in other countries, in fact 3 weeks back I was with some Nigerian footballers in a night club in Juffair, Bahrain and informed that 2 of our own (Joshua and Affiz) play for the Bahrain National team. We have the talents in abundance why not consider one of us first?

Truly, is that racist of me?

Ruling in Abstentia

The first time I came across the phrase 'working from home' was during my secondment in Diageo Africa in London. It baffled me that one could opt to stay home and still be perceived as working. That was the Nigerian mindset I had then: You have to be on your seat or in the four corners of the company to be 'working', anything else is 'play'.

I did try it out a few times but I must confess that the Nigerian in me could get more done with the noise, hustle and bustle on the office and co-workers around me than I could with all the quiet of home before the children are back from school and the noise level and distractions when they are back overloads my system later. There are however some people who thrive when allowed to work from home, away from the distraction of co-workers and other matters. I have seen fantastic work delivered after such 'home days' to make me feel guilty for thinking they took time off to attend to personal matters.

With the above I hope I have established my open-mindedness: even though it does not work for me, I admit that it could work for some people. I must however state that I never saw a CEO taking such 'home days'.

This all brings me back to our dear Nigeria, where our lovely but frail president has now being away for close to 70 days. I have always been a firm believer that if you can take your whole leave and extra days in one swoop the business might really not need you. This believe is further reinforced if through out the leave you are not contacted to handle one emergency or the other. Some organisations are such well oiled machines but I would fear the relevance of anyone able to take a whole month plus off. Our dear president is into his third. This in our country that is sooooo easy to rule! Where everyone knows and does what is right.

In the times I have been on leave, each company has stipulated that I clearly identify who is standing in my stead. Who the go-to guy is with regard to my responsibilities. Some companies actually pay anyone relieving some form of allowance as they are carrying the extra weight during the absence of the office holder.

Why is this so difficult with our president? Did Atiku not act in Obasanjo's stead, at least before the milk became sour? I remember Obasanjo being on leave at some time or the other and I would expect that Atiku was the acting president at those times. Is it the possibility of death that makes this difficult now? Considering that our president is a wise and religious person who knows that only the Almighty knows who will wake up tomorrow morning, I want to believe that the reluctance to hand over is not from him. So who are the people who stand to gain from creating confusion? Who are the people gaining from it right now. I always assume positive intent in all that I do with people so I would really appreciate feedback on why we are stuck.