By Nurudeen Oshinlaja
A few of us have witnessed scenes of lizards “dancing” in ponds. Some among us may also have been lucky enough to see fledged woodpeckers going about their business on logs of wood. Depending on our dispositions and the contexts, we either watch these performances to the end or interrupt them. Though we may not have had the means to record such scenes graphically, our memories are vivid enough to recreate their cinematography.
Here, two creatures present two contrasting scenarios. One appears to be dancing and gloating, but is in fact flailing and drowning. The other, despite its mastery, success, flair, elegance, and elevated position, continues to sharpen its beak, refine its skill, and perfect its craft—so that it may continue to soar triumphantly.
The first creature assumes that people are enjoying its performance, unaware that they are merely pitying it. Its infantile posturing is embarrassing, its scruffy and graceless demeanour offensive. People walk away from this shambolic burlesque because its arrogance isnauseating and its recalcitrance intolerable. Unless these gut-wrenching “dance” displays are disrupted, there is only one likely end. That end, of course, is undesirable—even for the creature itself.
Yet, despite not sharing in its misguided glory, and despite standing firmly on the side of progress and societal care, we still feel concerned for this creature. Oga kandagare, ṣe jẹj́ẹ.́
Quit this shameful performance or you end in despondency. Every second you spend dancing in the pond, you are already two seconds late in escaping submersion. Each time you instigate retrogression as though it were the most fashionable pursuit of your life, you edge closer to drowning yourself slowly but surely.
The second creature, however, inspires and is inspired. Its industry is legendary. It honours its ancestors and mentors, yet it does not stop there. Its actions intelligently reveal how to prepare, perform, and prevail. Despite enjoying massive support, it recognises both its implied and direct responsibilities. It confronts enormous tasks squarely, acknowledges limitations, and faces challenges head-on. It has no tolerance for misfits; instead, it attracts the best hands by consistently delivering excellent displays of its wood-pecking artistry.
The great Ẹyẹ Àkókó remains undistracted. It presses on through hard and smart work. Its focus is on delivering well-crafted performances that yield over 100 per cent value to the people and on enabling collaborative efforts that give birth to even greater collective achievements. These are performances that uplift spirits and galvanise positive action, both privately and publicly. Its growing support base and ever-rising enthusiasm bear testimony to this. Ẹyẹ Àkókó is unfazed by dissenting creatures or their hollow self-glorification, which ultimately blows back into their faces.
It is well known that: “If you hunt one thousand grasscutters successfully in a single attempt, your enemies will still call you a mere rodent hunter.” Thankfully, the people are neither confused nor deceived. They know who, like a performing woodpecker, will honour the constituency with superior service—service garnished with civility, competence, and efficiency.
The irritation provoked by unwholesome actions in our local polity aptly evokes the image of lizards “dancing” in a pond. Conversely, the focused outpouring of community support, praises, and endorsements affirms the far-reaching transformational impact of a metaphorical fledged woodpecker – the hands-down champion!
The everyday realities of and the more desires for motorable roads, functional schools, healthcare amenities, sustainable infrastructures, thriving trade, empowered & engaged people, etc. in Ikorodu constituency cannot be improved by noise, distractions, or theatrical antagonism. They require competence, capacity, and continuity of purpose. When we, the people, place our trust behind the steady hand who keeps refining their craft like the woodpecker, growth becomes cumulative and resilient. This clear choice presents a path that leads to dignity, development, and shared prosperity.
Nurudeen, who serves as the DG of Ona Ogo Management and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Achievers Crew, writes from Cardiff, UK
