By John Mayaki
When you hear of stooping to conquer, one thing that easily comes to mind is that it is just an English idiom, but when you see Senator Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo state, you will understand the living meaning of “kneeling to conquer”.
One governor is over there in Osun state, dancing to conquer too and nobody is bellyaching over it. While some complain about the frequent public acts of kneeing, a popular Benin crooner, Egogo, has only one advice for us: ‘don-mind-dem’.
Although, they pretend they do not know that in our culture, kneeling is a symbol of respect, humility, and peace and so, when Okpebholo kneels, he loses nothing, rather, he gains something greater. He gains goodwill. He gains unity. And, he grains progress and development for our Dear state. And so, every kneel has always planted a seed of development, of restoration, and of hope.
Those who now mock do so from the sidelines, however, those who understand leadership know that in the marketplace of ideas and power, humility is a priceless currency and this is even more so in Africa.
But, it is also good we allow them to weep in private while we witness growth in public. The same people who kneel in secret for selfish reasons are the same complaining that Okpebholo kneels openly for the greater good.
So, you think Okpebholo’s kneeling is weakness? No, for me, it is strategy. It is wisdom. It is statesmanship. It is strength, the one wrapped in humility. It is a salute to our cherished traditional institutions and a sign of gratitude to those who have earned it. Give it to them – kneel to conquer, don-mind-dem.
So, when next you see Okpebholo kneel, don’t join the grumblers. I need you to remember that, while some are busy crying, Edo is busy rising and as Egogo would say, “don-mind-dem”.
