Samsung Yoon’s yarn

SINCE last Thursday, when Sung Yoon, CEO of Samsung Electronics, Africa, dropped a bombshell in the firm’s relational future with the Nigerian state, the Nigerian end, has remained in the usual free-styling mode.

For a company that boasts of “blowing” a massive $16 billion annually on global research and development (R&D) selling 700 mobile phones every minute and over 41,000 every hour, to have conclusively dismissed the most populous black nation from its investment radar, in an era when even official job loss figures are heart-crippling by all nuances, those who still think about the future of this nation and not 2019, should be alarmed.

I would have however been alarmed if the leaders of this indecipherable era, were alarmed. Why should they see the danger in Samsung officially ruling Nigeria not investable? When it is not addendum from which ambition could be immediately feathered? Yoon’s worrying submission on the business suitability of the country to be a part of its annual bazaar, would have possibly attracted their attention, if laced with “shit-hole” taunt. By now, some clownish character somewhere would have issued a “fatwa”, when the buffoonery of our elected and appointed leaders, is actually the twisted scissors, renting the nation’s garment of honour in the public arena, I ask, what is the worth of a hungry man, with the anointing of Esau? What is the worth of a people lesser in humanity, in their Leander’s estimation, than ordinary cows?

All animals, including cows, were created by God, to be subdued by man. The Lord says His Word of God is sharper than two-edged sword. Those attempting to re-order creation arrangement, may finally fall by the Sword of the Word. I digress but this is a prophesy, for those who have ears.

Yoon really rubbed it in when he claimed that of all the 400 components needed for Samsung products, that should encourage siting a manufacturing plant here as done in South Africa, Nigeria had none. And I say, haba Yoon. Due to my lack of technological background, my incredulity, could be easily dismissed as mere nationalistic paroxysm which isn’t founded on proven reality check. Maybe. But I did conduct elementary check on the Internet to seek the 400 components out. Yes, the stuff I saw, may not be as easy to find as perceived, but they do sure look commonplace. It may be difficult for Yoon or any IT guru to convince me that a land blessed with about 103 different kinds of natural resources, would be completely lacking in stuff to combine, for the local content needed to make Samsung plant in Nigeria, not only workable but viable. Only verifiable and credible researches conducted over the years by Samsung, would swing my opinion on Yoon’s claim, which for now, I take as a mere convenient excuse. Yes, the challenges of fake products and infrastructure may avail him, but if those issues have not affected the company’s ever-rising profit from its buying-and-selling in our backyard, then they can go in, as “environmental hazards” in plant siting strategy.

Knowing our leaders as mere deal makers, Yoon and his type, will always get away with any wild claims. The much his firm and others, would probably have to do, to wriggle out of any unpleasantness in the course of deliberately conducting “bad” business around here, is to “settle”. And Samsung has a history behind it. The “deal” that went bad in its South-Korean base, landing the heir apparent Lee Jae-Yong, in five-year jail term, may not completely shake it out, of “corporate” culture. Maybe, it will need to be more careful in nations where the laws work and if Samsung could “pull” it at home, why not elsewhere? And why not Nigeria where nearly every bilateral bunkum and foreign investment voodoo, certainly ends in humongous criminal wire-transfer and off-shore accounts.

Samsung probably knows it is not our way, to hold foreign firms to account. The company simply has to consider MTNgate, Siemensgate and other hellish “gates”, to know anything goes here. Our leaders only grandstand for gratification. Their hearts are only filled with “them”. The entire younger generation could be without jobs, for their mustache. At least, they care for the people during the campaigns when every politician is soaked in the “giving” spirit. They get “delivered” after elections.

Apart from his alleged involvement in the bribe-for-judgement as claimed by the embattled Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu cuts the appearances of a good man. His Labour and Productivity counterpart, Chris Ngige, could be off lesser measure. Onu is also of more candour for ministerial duties. But the have and have-not aura hasn’t translated into any tangibility in the spheres they cover. How can the ministerial job be done acceptably, with solid results, when nearly all the ministers are burning with governorship ambition, keeping their eyes permanently on the state politics. I bet Minister of Communications, the rumbustious Adebayo Shittu isn’t even aware of the Yoon’s comment. How can he, when he is draining all the sweat from his barbecued beard into Oyo local politics. What about the one at Ministry of Solid Minerals and Ekiti? And the one who engaged them isn’t even ready to let go.  Pray, how did we come about this bunch? Yoon can yarn repete (he can speak anyhow), because he knows our rulers are deaf to all things except, money and power. The cluelessness around here is suffocating. I can also place a bet on Akwa Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel winning Onu’s ICT governor of the year. At least his state has produced over one million pencils. Smh.

AOR for governor

I wasn’t really surprised when he broke the news of his intent to govern Osun State, to me. Alhaji Olawale Rasheed is eminently qualified to steer our state. As my Bureau Chief in Abuja, he wasn’t common. When he gets in, you know he is in. Osun, should not be afraid of a new face. AOR could be a fresh breath. Regardless of platform, he has my vote and it isn’t because “Iwo lo kan” (it’s Iwo’s turn).