MarketPlaceWarriors

Afewdaysago,Ithoughtdeeplyabouttheincrediblyenormousquantaofenergythathasbeen expendedandcombustedbyadiverserangeofinnovativeandpassionateNigerianswhohave desperatelyattemptedtosteerthewheelofournationaldestinyinthedirectionofsolideconomicand socialprosperityinthefaceofgreatsystemicopposition.Despitethesesacrificesofimmense proportions,Ivebeenincreasinglyrestlessandgravelyconcernedabouttheapparentslowpaced changeandunimpressiveprogresswehaveachieved.Myfinaldiagnosisisthatabetterpartofwe agentsoftransformation,developmentcatalystsandchangeorchestratorsarestilloperatingatthe lowerlevelsofnationalinfluenceinalmostallofthe7strategicdimensionsofsociety. Iamanardentoptimist,adimensionalistleader(aterminventedbyTudorBismark)andavisioner,so Imnotthetypethatfluctuatesfromoneendoftheconvictionspectrumtotheotherjustbecauseof mountingenvironmentalpressures.Rather,Isticktomybeliefsinandoutofseason.Itotallybelieve AfricawillriseandNigeriawillultimatelytakeherplaceamongworldpowers,butthevictoriesthatwe seekwontbewroughtfromaseatofconvenienceorindifference.Itcertainlywouldnotbeservedona platterofGold.Powermust,andwillbewrestledfromtheenemy. Wehaveagreatassignmentandthatassignmentistosystematicallyreclaimthe7mountains(Deut 7:1andRev17:910).These7mountainsor7nationsarethe7keydimensionsandsubdivisionsof societythataresystematicallyruledandadministeredbyauthoritiesinmultiplelevels.ThisisNOTa manmadeconcept.TheseareoriginalblueprintsthatwerelaiddownbyGodhimself.Welostcontrol overtheseareasprimarilybecauseofourignoranceovertheagesandourinabilitytopracticethe principlesofJesus.(ThepersonofJesusbringssalvation,buttheprinciplesofJesusaretheblueprints foroperatingHiskingdom).TheseareasareGovernanceandPublicAdministration,Businessand Commerce,Media,ArtsandEntertainment,Education,FamilyandFaith(Religion).The7nationsthat wereexpelledinDeut7:1werethecounterfeitsofeachofthese7areas. Thesonsofthekingdomhavehistoricallyoccupiedthelowerlevels(smallbusinessowners,officersin companiesandcivilservantsingovernment).Afewhavemanagedtoattainthemediumlevels (ManagersincompaniesandDirectorsinGovernment),buttoaverylargeextent,wehavebeenlocked outoftheupperlevels.Ourmandatenowistoinfiltratethehighestlevelsofinfluence(CEOsof Corporations,Senators,GovernorsandeventhePresidency).Wemustutilizesupernaturalblueprints andbuildSystemsofExcellenceandDynamicStructuresthatwillknockoutthecurrentrepressive systemsandideologiesthattheenemyhaspropagated.Itisonlyfromthepeakthatwecanorchestrate thekindoffarreachingandsustainabletransformationthatwillcrushallcontendingforcesand opposition. Inessence,thereisneedforspeedandweallhaveamandatetotakechargeanddominatethe territoriesthathavebeenassignedtous.Atthispoint,visionsmustbeenlargedandsomeofusmay havetoraiseourexpectationsbyexponentialproportions.WemustneverforgetthataPresidentis

morepowerfulthan10senatorscombinedandaCEOismorepowerfulthan10managers,thereforeour goalmustbetotakeoverthehighestpossiblelevelsinthese7dimensions. Hereareafewcriticalfoundationalinsightsthatcanguideusaswebattletherepressivesystemsofour day. In1900,lessthan10%ofAfricansconsideredthemselvesfollowersofChrist,butbytheyear2000,that numberhadrisentoalmost50%.In2000,Africahadover13000missionariesservingincrosscultural settingsaroundtheglobe.Despitetheseimpressivenumbers,thestateofdevelopmentacrossthe continenttodayisstillaheartbreaker,especiallywhenwebenchmarkourselvesagainsttherestofthe world. WHYHAVEWEFOUNDOURSELVESINTHISSTATE? Thereasonsarenotfarfetched!Thefirstquestionwemustaskiswhatpercentageofthoseofuswho claimtobefollowersofChristarereallyChristians?Paternalismstillrunsdeepandwide.Many includingthosewhooughttoknowbetterstillholdontotheBigBrotherculturewhichsaysthatin everycommunity,familyorcompany,theremustbeonespecialbenefactorthateveryotherperson dependsonforsustenance.Wealwaysmanagetoshiftresponsibilitytoafewpersonsandbenefactors. Interestingly,thisideologysomehowfounditswayintothechurch.ManyareonlyChristianswhenthey areinthepresenceofaparticularManofFaith.Ourfaithisgroupfaith.Thatswhywheneverweare outofchurch,webecomejustlikeanybodyelse.Whatwemayhavefailedtorealizeisthatcharityand philanthropywillnotregulatesociety,andcanneverdotheworkofjusticeandequity.Thegreatest heritagewecanleaveforanincominggenerationistocreateanatmosphereoffairness,justiceand equity.Ourultimategoalmustbetobuildasocietywherepeopleareonlylimitedbythesizeoftheir dreamsanddesires,andnothingmore.Wedontneedmorecharities.Whatweneedareexcellent systemsthatgivesequalopportunitytoall. Anevenmoredespicableevilisourunderstandingandpracticeofleadership.Wefindithardtoequate excellencewithleadershipandalargenumberofusdonottakeanationalperspectiveonNigeria.Our allegianceisfirsttoourtribeandlocalinterestgroups.SomeevensayNigeriaistoodiversetobeunited Iconsiderthissuchanuninformedviewpoint!AmericatodayisexceedinglymorediversethanNigeria, yettheyhavemanagedtoconstructanationalidentity.Thisexplainswhyzoningisbeingdiscussedat theveryhighestlevels.Zoningistheveryantithesisofexcellence.Today,wefindzoningingovernment, theoilindustry,corporationsandeventheeducationalsystem.Zoningisthemagicalweaponofthe enemytoensurethattheverybestneverrisetothetop.Itensurespeoplegettheprizenotbecauseof theirtrackrecordandability,butbecauseoftheirplaceofbirthandothermundane,inconsequential andirrationalreasons. NationalTransformationwillnothappenunlesswestrikethetippingpointofrepresentationatthe highestlevelsofinfluenceandleadershipinournation.Historically,thesystemhasconsistently managedtoexpelintelligentleaderswithgreatideasandrespectablecorevalues.BenBruce,Okonjo Iwealaandmanyotherswerepromptlyeasedoutofofficebyentrenchedinterestswhofeltthreatened

byorganizationaltransformationsthatthesegreatmindshadsetinmotion.THISTRENDMUSTBE ECLIPSED! HavingoneortwogreatGovernorsandafewSenatorswhohaveintegrityisntsufficientanymore. Thesearenotthedaysofhavingfiveorsixrighteouspeopleingovernment.Ifwemeanbusiness,then wemustinvadetheverypeaksofthemountain.Wemustsecurethetopleadershippositionsin businessandgovernanceinsignificantnumbers.Onlythenshallweseethetransformationthatwe mostcertainlydeserve.IllberunningforPresidentsoonerthanyouthink,howaboutyou? AdetayoBamiduro bamtayo@gmail.com