As gathered from the scripture, it is wise for leaders to carefully sort through advices, aligning them to the peoples’ need and asking whether some of such advices would promote the greater good of the constituencies they represent, and to a larger extent Nigeria. In Rehoboam’s situation, the good advice would have required him to exercise patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control.
There is no denying the fact that a classical example of biblical Israel’s failure of leadership is inherent in 2 Chronicles, chapter 10, particularly when read from chapter 1 to 19. The scripture explanatorily teaches how King Rehoboam finds himself in need of advice on a difficult matter, and how Jeroboam and all of Israel sincerely counseled him to lighten the burden of forced labor that his father, King Solomon, had laid on them (2 Chron. 8:8). In return they promised him, “We will serve you.” (2 Chron. 10:5).
As gathered from the scriptural passage, Rehoboam began sagaciously by taking the advice given to him by the elders of his kingdom as they advised him to lessen the burden on the people in line with their request. “If you will be kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever” (2 Chron. 10:7).
Analyzing the foregoing biblical verses from the perspective of the ongoing political dispensation in Nigeria under the leadership of various political leaders in this context, it will not be out of place to urge them to also be listening to his critics as they seem to be listening to hangers on that might have been supporting their styles of governance; not for the fact that they love Nigeria more than their critics, but merely for the pecuniary gain they seek to get under the ongoing political dispensation.
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to opine that leaders usually find it difficult to listen to their critics who advise them to lessen the sufferings of the people by delivering good governance. Without a doubt, the foregoing leadership behavior is common among political leaders, and are been demonstrated by political leaders that hold sway across the three-tiers of government in Nigeria.
In fact, for leaders that perceive every critic to be an enemy, it is pragmatic they are enlightened in this context that criticism is a natural part of leadership. The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as leadership is about always doing what is in the best interest of the people. Without resorting to campaign of calumny, many political leaders in this part of the world do not really know how to lead; they waste time trying to satisfy the agendas of political hangers on who usually surround them, and would not want to tell them the real situation of things within their political constituencies, rather than focusing on the betterment and wellbeing of the constituencies and people they serve, and who invariably voted them to various positions of power.
Going back to the scripture at this juncture, it is germane to say that Rehoboam, speciously, does not like the answer given to him by the elders (who were ostensibly the elder statesmen in that era). The reason for his behavior cannot be farfetched as indications from the scripture shows that he was willing to listen to everyone except God!
Again, he had neither time nor desire to consult and follow God’s directions. He was wholly devoted to self and refused to consider anything else! How tragic that many today seek validation and support for beliefs and practices from everyone except God!
Against the backdrop of the answer which he got from the elders, and which he deemed to be unsatisfactory, he asked his younger friends’ opinion. They advised him to lord it over the people and boast, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions” (2 Chron. 10:10-11). Rehoboam decides to heed his younger friends’ advice, seemingly because it strokes his ego. He replies to Jeroboam and the people as his young friends suggest, then appoints a new taskmaster over forced labor (2 Chron. 10:18). The people respond by killing the new taskmaster and rebelling against Rehoboam, who never succeeds in quelling the rebellion (2 Chron. 10:19). If I may ask, has any of the hangers on around Mr. President told him to inflict more pains on Nigerians than former President Muhammadu Buhari did?
Given the foregoing, it is crystal clear that his friends, just like modern day political hangers on did not give Rehoboam the advice that will make him deliver good governance. At this juncture, and for the sake of clarity, it is expedient to say that a hanger on is a person who associates with another person or a group in a sycophantic manner or for the purpose of gaining some personal advantage.
You may have asked, “Why is it that hangers on do not tell political leaders the true situation of things in their constituencies?” The answers to the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as hangers on always erroneously think that their political paymasters already know the situation of things, or assume that they may not care; even if they are told, even as they may not want to look like a moaner.
In a similar vein, as much as not a few political hangers on may not want their paymasters to look bad over situation of things, they also need to protect them and give them plausible deniability, particularly as their support lies in what they stand to gain; deservedly or undeservedly, from the position been occupied by their paymaster.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that difficult decisions are part of leadership today too, whether we are leading a whole kingdom or simply ourselves. Where do you go for advice, and how do you make good use of advice?
To answer the foregoing question, it is expedient to note in this context that Rehoboam started by requesting for counsel from people he knows to be spiritually matured, just the way modern day leaders are supposed to be requesting for counsel from some elders statesmen in the country who are unarguably seen to be patriotic. In fact our modern day leaders should eschew the habit of seeing critics as their enemies. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as critics give better and well informed feedback for good governance than hangers on who are greedily after what is in the government for them.
As deduced from the scripture that inspired this writer to express this opinion, it is germane to say that the elders Rehoboam consulted had over many years in the course of serving King Solomon demonstrated spiritual maturity and wisdom. One sign of this is their responsiveness to new facts and situations. Without any iota of exaggeration, their commitment to the betterment of the kingdom clearly demonstrates how critics in modern day politics offer advice to people in power. Not all critics are bad. Some are sincere and patriotic. Not all of them are politicians, just like this writer, as they sincerely want Nigeria to be better. No strings attached!
In a similar vein, it is germane to also note that the elders referred to in this context had been appointed by Solomon, and that they listened to Jeroboam with an open mind, resulting in their advice to overturn Solomon’s policies. In contrast, Rehoboam’s younger friends, who collectively come across as hangers on in modern day government, seem to have only one claim on Rehoboam’s attention, they are his pals, his “paddy-paddy”. They are affiliated to the same party, the same religion and the same tribe. And those that do not share the foregoing seeming primordial credentials with the leader might had worked with him years back when he was also a leader in a different political constituency, perhaps of a smaller size. So, it is easy for the leader to ask for advice from the people who already think like he does. But does the leader have access to people who want him to succeed even if they are his critics, and he sees them as his enemies as he was mischievously told by his hanger on?
Given the foregoing situation, it is expedient to ask at this juncture, “Can our leaders listen to those they rightly or erroneously perceive to be their critics, and listen to their messages, and not minding who they are as messengers?” “Do our leaders have the capacity to know who is not afraid to tell them something they would rather not hear, and which would make them more successful as leaders?”
In fact, it is advisable to urge Mr. President in this context that whenever he is faced with tough decisions that seeking counsel through wide consultation as Rehoboam did is a great first step. The next step is discerning which advice applies to the situation at hand, particularly as been offered by those that are apolitical and without pecuniary interest.
As gathered from the scripture, it is wise for leaders to carefully sort through advices, aligning them to the peoples’ need and asking whether some of such advices would promote the greater good of the constituencies they represent, and to a larger extent Nigeria. In Rehoboam’s situation, the good advice would have required him to exercise patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control.
These are five of the nine “fruits of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22. These are not merely virtues one may obtain by practice and hard work, but gifts of God’s spirit (Gal. 5:25). Had Rehoboam been willing to receive God’s spirit, this good advice would have led to peace for the whole nation (2 Chronicles 10:7). In contrast the bad advice tempted Rehoboam to give into his own envy, haughtiness, boastfulness and ruthlessness, and to gratify his own ego. These are four of the “things that should not be done”