Painful passing and talk-of-the-town birthday shindig: It’s the optics, stupid!
The optics are poor. And you see this playing out in the larger society, in almost every sphere, where there is a deep disconnect between leaders and their people.
By completely excluding the church, which he helped build from his funeral service, the family of late Herbert Wigwe has shown its displeasure over its relationship with the church. It is an open rebuke.
To some Nigerians, criticisms of the 60th birthday bash of Mrs Siju Iluyomade, wife of the Pastor of Redeem Christian Church of God’s City of David Parish, were irrelevant, inconsequential and of no effect. It is her money, after all, and she can spend it whichever way she fancies.
This view is in the context of Madam Siju’s birthday celebrations coming only weeks after the extremely painful passing of Herbert Wigwe, a staunch member of the parish, together with his wife and son in a crash. The deaths shook Nigeria, numbing many people.
It was that deep pain, that helplessness at the futility of life the deaths evoked, and then the lavish party, that made people angry and consequently berated the lady, the Redeem Christian Church family and Christianity in general – the Nigerian variety, that is. It was a brush that tarred everybody associated with Christ’s teachings.
The question being asked was: Were the deaths not painful enough to have made a deferment of the party until such a time when the mood must have lifted? Is holding such a lavish birthday party barely two weeks after the sad event not akin to spitting on the grave of a loyal servant (prominent worker) of the parish?
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Well, the raging argument was settled today when the Wigwe family released the funeral rites of their departed loved ones. City of David, a parish Herbert Wigwe was described as a major pillar of, its driving force, was conspicuously omitted. The church, its pastors and workers have no role whatsoever to play in paying last respects to their late dear member. Rather, the combined service will be at the Resurrection Parish, in the same Island axis of Lagos!
It is a telling, open rebuke.
The people insisting Madam Siju could do whatever she wanted because it is her money completely miss the point. Leadership, as sweet as it is, comes with loads of responsibility. One of these is proving every single time that what you say is what you mean. You cannot, for instance, preach empathy, love and sacrifice, and then hold a lavish party days after the painful deaths of some of your followers. You would be perceived as insensitive, to say the least.
The optics are poor. And you see this playing out in the larger society, in almost every sphere, where there is a deep disconnect between leaders and their people.
They say life begins at 60 and I couldn’t agree more. Grateful for every moment.#SijuIluyomade#SijuIluyomadeAt60#DiamondsForever pic.twitter.com/OwIDVresy2
— Siju Iluyomade (@sijuiluyomade) February 18, 2024
You cannot require your followers to sacrifice for a better tomorrow and then they see you living ostentatiously, as it is the case with political leadership in Nigeria. Citizens are urged to bear the brunt of policies of government that have adversely impacted their standard of living, while the political leadership are buying for themselves SUVs worth more than ₦160million apiece. Or travel with large delegations to international events.
We still find it difficult to draw the nexus between leadership and sacrifice. In any clime where development is more wholesome, leaders sacrifice, and are seen to be sacrificing, more than the followers, so much so that it is easier for the followers to emulate the leaders. Jesus Christ, indeed, provided the best leadership lessons while he sojourned on earth.
The leadership lessons encapsulated in Mathew 20: 25-28 are enough to moderate the behaviour of anyone aspiring to any leadership position; indeed, make leaders much more aware of their responsibilities towards the led.
Deep down the heart of leadership is sacrifice. Any leader that cannot sacrifice present comfort for a greater cause will come across as aloof, insensitive, and downright disconnected from the people. Tragic as the deaths are, they provide an opportunity for introspection.
Whatever leadership position one occupies, sacrifice is the first requirement for success.
Continue to rest in peace Mr Herbert Wigwe, Mrs Chizoba Wigwe and Mr Chizi Wigwe.
Adewole Ojo is the Editor-in-Chief of Meiza Nigeria. He can be reached on adewole.ojo@fourpoints.ng.
