Teni: The offender and the ‘offendee’

By Andrew Agbese

In August 2013, governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did what was considered an act of impertinence to then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kwankwaso had, during an award/gala night organized by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), refused to leave his seat to go and greet Jonathan when other governors, who were on the same table with him all moved to the President’s table to do so.

As the other governors filed out to go and say hi to Jonathan, Kwankwaso and his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, remained glued to their seats.

After that, Kwankwaso went further to prove that his remaining on his seat was deliberate when he refused to recognise the presence of the President after receiving the award but went straight back to his seat unlike the other recipients who while coming down from the rostrum, proceeded to the president’s table to shake hands with him.

When that incident happened, those from the zone of the President were mad at Kwankwaso for being ‘rude’ to the president.

Almost ten years later, a near repeat of what happened with Kwankwaso and Jonathan has happened.

Singer Teni had while receiving a national honour from president Buhari simply collected the certificate and without as much as acknowledging the presence of the President, bounced her way back to her seat.

You can’t help but notice a similarity between her action and that of Kwankwaso because, the person she is receiving the award from qualifies in at least three respects to be shown courtesy.

1) He is old enough to be her grandfather, 2) he is the president of Nigeria and 3) he is the one honouring her.

Nos 1 and 2 need no explanation, but let me explain number 3.

It is given in most African traditions that the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. This means that the one gives deserves a certain degree of respect from the recipient.

Extrapolated, even if Teni was just passing by at Wuse Market, and a man of President Buhari’s age beckons on her to come and collect something from him, courtesy demands she shows some appreciation after receiving the item.

But her attitude at the award was disrespectful in that it did not show respect to either the age or the office of the president or the fact he is doing her an honour.

But what shocks is the reverse reaction of Nigerians.

Those that tried to justify the action of Kwankwaso to Jonathan years back now feel that what Teni did was disrespectful while those that condemned Kwankwaso then are now defending Teni.

In Nigeria, it’s not the offence that matters but where the offender and ‘offendee’ come from.