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MarketPlaceWarriorsAfewdaysago,Ithoughtdeeplyabouttheincrediblyenormousquantaofenergythathasbeen
expendedand
combusted
by
adiverse
range
of
innovative
and
passionate
Nigerians
who
have
desperatelyattemptedtosteerthewheelofournationaldestinyinthedirectionofsolideconomicand
socialprosperityinthefaceofgreatsystemicopposition.Despitethesesacrificesofimmense
proportions,Ivebeenincreasinglyrestlessandgravelyconcernedabouttheapparentslowpaced
changeandunimpressiveprogresswehaveachieved.Myfinaldiagnosisisthatabetterpartofwe
agentsoftransformation,developmentcatalystsandchangeorchestratorsarestilloperatingatthe
lowerlevelsofnationalinfluenceinalmostallofthe7strategicdimensionsofsociety.
Iamanardentoptimist,adimensionalistleader(aterminventedbyTudorBismark)andavisioner,so
Imnotthetypethatfluctuatesfromoneendoftheconvictionspectrumtotheotherjustbecauseof
mountingenvironmental
pressures.
Rather,
Istick
to
my
beliefs
in
and
out
of
season.
Itotally
believe
AfricawillriseandNigeriawillultimatelytakeherplaceamongworldpowers,butthevictoriesthatwe
seekwontbewroughtfromaseatofconvenienceorindifference.Itcertainlywouldnotbeservedona
platterofGold.Powermust,andwillbewrestledfromtheenemy.
Wehaveagreatassignmentandthatassignmentistosystematicallyreclaimthe7mountains(Deut
7:1andRev17:910).These7mountainsor7nationsarethe7keydimensionsandsubdivisionsof
societythataresystematicallyruledandadministeredbyauthoritiesinmultiplelevels.ThisisNOTa
manmadeconcept.TheseareoriginalblueprintsthatwerelaiddownbyGodhimself.Welostcontrol
overtheseareasprimarilybecauseofourignoranceovertheagesandourinabilitytopracticethe
principles
of
Jesus.
(The
person
of
Jesus
brings
salvation,
but
the
principles
of
Jesus
are
the
blueprints
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
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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
includingthose
who
ought
to
know
better
still
hold
on
to
the
Big
Brother
culture
which
says
that
in
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
systemsthat
gives
equal
opportunity
to
all.
Anevenmoredespicableevilisourunderstandingandpracticeofleadership.Wefindithardtoequate
excellencewithleadershipandalargenumberofusdonottakeanationalperspectiveonNigeria.Our
allegianceisfirsttoourtribeandlocalinterestgroups.SomeevensayNigeriaistoodiversetobeunited
Iconsiderthissuchanuninformedviewpoint!AmericatodayisexceedinglymorediversethanNigeria,
yettheyhavemanagedtoconstructanationalidentity.Thisexplainswhyzoningisbeingdiscussedat
theveryhighestlevels.Zoningistheveryantithesisofexcellence.Today,wefindzoningingovernment,
theoilindustry,corporationsandeventheeducationalsystem.Zoningisthemagicalweaponofthe
enemytoensurethattheverybestneverrisetothetop.Itensurespeoplegettheprizenotbecauseof
their
track
record
and
ability,
but
because
of
their
place
of
birth
and
other
mundane,
inconsequential
andirrationalreasons.
NationalTransformationwillnothappenunlesswestrikethetippingpointofrepresentationatthe
highestlevelsofinfluenceandleadershipinournation.Historically,thesystemhasconsistently
managedtoexpelintelligentleaderswithgreatideasandrespectablecorevalues.BenBruce,Okonjo
Iwealaandmanyotherswerepromptlyeasedoutofofficebyentrenchedinterestswhofeltthreatened
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byorganizationaltransformationsthatthesegreatmindshadsetinmotion.THISTRENDMUSTBE
ECLIPSED!
HavingoneortwogreatGovernorsandafewSenatorswhohaveintegrityisntsufficientanymore.
Thesearenotthedaysofhavingfiveorsixrighteouspeopleingovernment.Ifwemeanbusiness,then
wemust
invade
the
very
peaks
of
the
mountain.
We
must
secure
the
top
leadership
positions
in
businessandgovernanceinsignificantnumbers.Onlythenshallweseethetransformationthatwe
mostcertainlydeserve.IllberunningforPresidentsoonerthanyouthink,howaboutyou?
AdetayoBamiduro
[email protected]
