MATURITY IS NOT BY AGE,IT'S ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

An Excerpt from Olufamous.com. When OluFamous.Com saw the
videos of our President Goodluck
Jonathan's meeting with
President Barrack Obama in the
US on television, I was
embarrassed as it was obvious
Jonathan was struggling, again.
I thought I was the only one who
noticed until I saw this piece by
Mr. Tunde Fagbenle on the same
issue. It is sure an interesting
read: "Eyeball To Eyeball


Please, Mr. President" The photograph splashed on the front page of virtually all
Nigerian newspapers of Tuesday, September 24, was of our
President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, finally in a one-on-one with America’s President, Barak Obama. I say ‘finally’ because it is probably the first such opportunity for a private tête-à- tête between the two —
something, from all indications, the Nigerian presidency had long longed for. But it wasn’t a flattering
photograph at all. There was President Jonathan obviously avoiding eye contact with Barak
Obama who was looking directly into the eyes of Jonathan.
I didn’t like it at all. The message, the body language, was
unwholesome. In the American
culture, it says of only one thing:
you are a shifty guy.
However, I can’t knock President
Jonathan too hard. The fault is
not entirely his. His handlers
must bear some of the blame,
unless, of course, they prepared
him and he just “forgot”! The
business of international
relations, especially at such high
diplomatic level, is a tough and
dicey one. Those playing the host
are as groomed as those visiting,
but the onus is more on the
visiting dignitaries to know and
respect the norms and culture of
the host. Eyeball to eyeball is a delicate thing. In our Nigerian culture (if one can be permitted to assume one) looking directly into someone’s eyes, especially an elder or boss, is viewed as rude and confrontational. And we grow up generally accustomed to avoiding eye contact as a form of politeness. It is unfortunate because in Europe and America the interpretation is the exact opposite. Eye contact is the rule; making eye contact is interpreted as showing interest, paying attention, and a sign of self- confidence. But if it makes us feel good,
America had their own horror of seeing their president (Obama) bowing to greet Japanese Emperor Akihito when Obama visited Japan in November 2009.
Americans called it a
“treasonous” bow. For them it was tantamount to treason for an American president to bow (damn diplomatic etiquette) to any other human being! That wasan instance of carrying ‘respect
of the host’s culture’ one bow too
far! I must admit that, other than his elocution, Dr. Jonathan is lately showing some signs of maturing
somewhat into the dignity required of the office. But, please, President Jonathan, these things – body language, et al – are important. You are our President and presidential we want you to look – and talk!
Build and develop yourself daily..