BC NIGERIA
Saved by @Alex1Powell

The PRESIDENT and the OTHER "presidents" in the Presidency.

This thread is not about President Buhari's honouring the invitation of the @HouseNGR. Rather it is a mild exposè of what happens in the Presidency.

Read, Retweet & Share.

 The President of Nigeria and many other Presidents in the World are subjects of very severe and intense manipulation; even those that appear very strong willed.
Strongest among the manipulators are the First Ladies 😌, top aides, favoured ministers, senior government officials, old friends/school mates, traditional and religious leaders and even concubines!!! 😉😁
At other times, the head of the security apparatus is more influential than any persons or groups especially where movements are concerned.
You may or may not believe this... A Security Chief or detail can stop a whole president from attending a function or stopping over to greet a friend or even going out at all, based purely on his own personal interest, program or disposition.
Equally important are the ADCs and CSOs who often times determine access to the Presidents.
These two folks can virtually stop practically anyone from seeing the President no matter how relevant, important or powerful in government or the society at large. 😫😩
Most of the time, the President is a powerless hostage cordoned off in the Presidential villa often times doing the bidding of his subordinates! This is incongruous but very true. 🤦
The most unobtrusive and not too visible influencers are those who parley with him when he indulges in his past times - Like womanising or drinking or his regular sports or worship.
These are the people who overturn decisions that have painstakingly been taken after serious consultations during the day. In the nights when they indulge the President in his past time, they quite easily dismiss solid and sound counsels previously accepted by Mr President.
You are probably now saying "are the presidents fools?" 🤷
NO. The Presidents are not foolish.
But being the president of a nation is an overwhelming phenomenon that makes the strongest of men become weak internally .
Most Presidents are the loneliest & sometimes insecure people on earth.
The presidents I worked with in very sobering moments have told me things that made me weak & faint but which I quickly had to hide my confusion & come back to myself not for my own sake but for their sakes.
Truth is Presidents in spite of there immense powers are basically human and have fears that are disproportionate to the presumed eminence of their positions.
This is why in some critical positions they will rely on people they have trusted before their ascendancy; Their wives, old school mates, religious counsellors and very loyal aides.
Unfortunately, many of these their folks may not be wise enough or possess the required knowledge or experience to guide correctly in these tricky circumstances.
That is why a President is as strong and effective as the people who are close to him or who surround him. Many times decisions at the presidency may not necessarily follow party lines or established government policies.

I remember a few incidences. 👇👇👇
One of my Principals was to appear on television and over dinner a very close associate seriously counselled him to publicly lambast a set of people. He agreed enthusiastically.
When the man left, I was alone with the president and politely I advised to the contrary.
He was angry and he retorted, "who are you to tell me what to say and not to say? I believe you are getting too big for these your shoes."

Then very quietly, I reminded him about some very cogent facts that he and I knew about the people concerned
...and how it will be inimical to his personal interest if he ignores my advice. He sank in his chair and was speechless for a few minutes. When he came round he asked; How best then should I handle this situation?
I told him and the rest is history.
At another time, one of the presidents I served had taken a decision that appeared unstoppable. Ministers, party leaders, presidential aides were just getting to enter their cars in preparation for departure. I heard about the movement which would have presented the President,
in my own thinking, as a very uncaring and insensitive leader. It was for this reason that it was initially "conclusively" decided that the President will not attend the event, before very powerful people prevailed on the president and changed his mind.
I was on another assignment and on the way to the airport when I heard the news of the change of plans. I immediately turned back. Tried to reach the president directly and through the villa exchange, it was impossible.
By the time I finally got to the villa, the 1st person I met was the ADC, who was literally storming out of the villa. This was unusual and totally out of character. I asked him, I pray the president is not going.? He replied emphatically that yes the president was not going.
Then I pointed to the convoy of cars. He said Doc dont worry. I just left Mr President and I pleaded with him earnestly. I also drew his attention to the fact that by interfering with his political position on this matter, I had overstepped my bounds.
But because I love him so dearly and had signed to kay dien my life for him, if the need arises, on the account if this trip, I will resign my military commission rather than accompany him to the event.
The president was both shocked and bewildered. He asked him not to resign and cancelled the trip without giving explanation to anybody, service chiefs, party chieftains, and presidential aides present and already set to leave.
Such are the complexities that bedevils presidential decisions or in decisions.

Therefore folks, there is an all powerful Mr President but he is the head of a conglomerate of powerful forces who make up the NECK of the President and where the neck turns the head goes.
Magana ya kari. (End of discussion).

👌

You May Also Like

Amit Schandillia
Amit Schandillia
@Schandillia
[THREAD: HISTORY OF THE HINDU TEMPLE]
1/102
Four hours south of Aswan in Lower Nubia, right by the Nile, is a region dotted with temple complexes built more than 3,000 years ago. Some like the temples of Amada, Derr, and Beit el-Wali go as far back as 1500 BC.


2/102
A little further south, not far from the border with Sudan, is another complex dedicated to Ramses II, Hathor, and Nefertari in the village of Ipsambul, better known locally as Abu Sunbul and internationally as Abu Simbel. These go back to the 13th century BC.


3/102
Djeser-Djeseru, also known as the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in Upper Egypt also dates to 1400 BC. Over 500 years older is the nearby Mentuhotep II, also a mortuary temple. Both were dedicated to the cult of Amun Ra, besides their respective pharaohs.


4/102
Far older is the Ġgantija complex of Malta. Going as far back as 3600 BC, this one comprises of two temples entirely made of stone and enclosed in a stone wall. From the figures therein, it's understood to be a site of some kind of a fertility cult worship.


5/102
Dating from the same period are the limestone megaliths of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, both said to have once hosted ritualistic sacrifices as part of the same fertility cult worship as found in the Ġgantija complex. Malta has some of the oldest temple complexes in Europe.
RELIGION
Julien \U0001f332
Julien 🌲
@julien
1/ there is this sense when you are young that your accomplishments need to be a list of things that seem impressive to others. A list of several items you did.

This isn't actually right, so here is another suggestion.

2/ I remember being 26 and writing about reading 52 books a year. I wrote blog posts about it. They got copied. It became "a thing." Now it's in Twitter bios. It looks impressive but it's insanely useless and I shouldn't have done it.

3/ what I should have known at that time is that only young idiots like myself, with no accomplishments, find list of tiny achievements impressive. Anyone who has actually done anything of substance doesn't gaf

4/ what is actually difficult, and worthwhile, instead is to do ONE single thing for a very, very long time. It's much harder and much rarer and results in outlier outcomes much more often.

Of course you can find this out too late if you are chasing the dragon of Ted talks etc

5/ if I had only worked on a startup for a year, I would've gotten nowhere, the same way that if you lift for 3 months, it achieves nothing. Everything good in life comes from perseverance, but at the beginning, you're just like "I need to be somebody!!!"
LIFE
Advertisement
Jaya_Upadhyaya
Jaya_Upadhyaya
@Jayalko1
SRI BANASHANKARI AMMAN, BANGALORE
#bharatmandir

Located in Southern Bangalore, this is one of the most popular places of worship in Bangalore City.
Devoted to Devi Banashankari, this shrine is visited specially during Rahukala which is believed to be an unfavorable time.


Somanna Shetty, a great devotee of Devi, brought this murti from Badami’s Banshankari Amma Kshetram.
It is said that many years ago, three ladies visited this shrine and requested the pujari to conduct puja for them. Since it was the inauspicious rahu kaal, the pujari refused.


However, upon their insistence, he conducted the puja. When he returned with prasadam, the ladies vanished. This made the people believe that they were none other than the Devi herself. Since then, the people perform poojas here during the Rahukaal.
@GunduHuDuGa


People use lemons as a diya. Lemons are cut from the centre and their pulps are removed, for pouring oil in them.
It is strongly believed that Devi removes all the troubles from the life of her devotees during the Rahukala although it is considered inauspicious for any pooja.
ALL
SK
SK
@sk_diary1
Margatha Natarajar murthi - Uthirakosamangai temple near Ramanathapuram,TN
#ArudraDarisanam
Unique Natarajar made of emerlad is abt 6 feet tall.
It is always covered with sandal paste.Only on Thriuvadhirai Star in month Margazhi-Nataraja can be worshipped without sandal paste.


After removing the sandal paste,day long rituals & various abhishekam will be https://t.co/e1Ye8DrNWb day Maragatha Nataraja sannandhi will be closed after anointing the murthi with fresh sandal paste.Maragatha Natarajar is covered with sandal paste throughout the year


as Emerald has scientific property of its molecules getting disturbed when exposed to light/water/sound.This is an ancient Shiva temple considered to be 3000 years old -believed to be where Bhagwan Shiva gave Veda gyaana to Parvati Devi.This temple has some stunning sculptures.
ALL
Chris Herd
Chris Herd
@chris_herd
I've spoken to 1,500+ people about remote work in the last 9 months

A few predictions of what is likely to emerge before 2030

[ a thread ] 💻🏠🌍

🚜 Rural Living: World-class people will move to smaller cities, have a lower cost of living & higher quality of life

These regions must innovate quickly to attract that wealth. Better schools, faster internet connections are a must

⏰Asynchronous Work: Offices are instantaneous gratification distraction factories where synchronous work makes it impossible to get stuff done

Tools that enable asynchronous work are the most important thing globally remote teams need. A lot of startups will try to tackle this

⚽️Hobbie Renaissance: Remote working will lead to a rise in people participating in hobbies and activities which link them to people in their local community

This will lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships which overcome societal issues of loneliness and issolation

🌍Diversity & Inclusion: The most diverse and inclusive teams in history will emerge rapidly

Companies who embrace it have a first-mover advantage to attract great talent globally. Companies who don't will lose their best people to their biggest competitors
REMOTE WORK