The Art of Handling Public Scrutiny with Grace and Wisdom

Holding a public position in a place like Nigeria can sometimes be quite amusing, albeit challenging. It's common to face all sorts of criticism. For every ten negative comments, you're lucky if one person praises you. Children would hardly throw objects at a fruitless tree. It's sadly in human nature to focus on diminishing the efforts of others rather than appreciating them. This often stems from envy—people begrudge your progress because they’re not achieving the same success. Sometimes, it's simply due to ignorance. And, of course, many haven't yet realised that the sky is wide enough for all birds to fly without pulling each other down.

?Dealing with criticism can be particularly tricky, especially when it comes from a place of genuine concern. However, one of the best strategies is to discern which criticisms are worth addressing and which ones are best ignored. Public figures should try to extract something useful from constructive feedback, but avoid responding to every criticism reflexively. The key is not to engage hastily, as responses made in anger or frustration are often unwise. Anger, as the Holy Book says, "rests in the bosom of a fool." Acting out of anger can make you appear foolish.

Taking time to reflect, evaluate the criticism, and respond thoughtfully will often reveal that you are operating on a higher level than your critics. Do your best to respond with wisdom and dignity, showing that you are above their provocations. I had personal experience recently with some tax evaders who masked as journalists and issued a press release against the organisation I lead.

Rather than hit back as the blackmailers expected, I simply told my team to regard their publications as mere joke and attempts to engage us in exchange of banters. This is needful as a way to keep my focus clear and my plans intact. This approach helped me avoid falling into the trap they set.

You can’t wrestle with a pig without getting dirty, so it's important to avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary conflicts. Be smart enough to recognise the landmines others may be laying for you through their criticisms. Sidestep them with grace, and stay focused on your goals.

Looking at the Gospels, particularly in Luke and Matthew, we see that the Pharisees criticised Jesus for associating with tax collectors, not realising that his mission included reaching out to those people. If Jesus was hated for showing love to tax collectors, why would the Chief Tax Collector be a friend of all?

It’s a reminder that no matter what you do, there will always be critics. The important thing is to ensure that you act in a way that satisfies your conscience and aligns with your values. As long as your intentions are good, and you’re not seeking to oppress or harm others, you should just carry on with your work and move forward. If others choose to complain, that’s their concern, not yours.

October 4, 2024.