New Orleans, United States is an unusual city surrounded by water. To the north lies Lake Pontchartran, south the Mississippi River to the east and west low-lying swamplands. Canals crisscross the city.
You cant drive into New Orleans without crossing a major bridge. It lies below sea level,on the average of six feet.
On Wednesday August 24, 2005, Hurricane Katrina threatened the city as predicted by experts. Leaders of neigbouring Louisiana ordered mandatory evacuation.
But one man was not bothered. The city's major, Ray Nagins. He was concerned about the legal, financial and business implications. He waited. Three days after he finally announced voluntary evacuation of New Orleans. This was only after the director of National Hurricane Centre, Max Mayfield, called him on phone on Saturday nite.
"Max scared the crap out of me" Nagins said. The hurricane made a landfall the next day and left deaths and destructions in its wake.
Nagins did not understand the Law of Timing as a leader.
Back home, a few years ago, the Federal Government, withdrew subsidy on petroleum products on December 31, 2012. Many Nigerians had travelled to their villages to celebrate having made their budgets.
The withdrawal triggered increases in transport fares. Many were financial hostages of their pockets and had to borrow money to return to their stations.
The defect as in Nagins' story was failure to understand that WHEN is as important an element as how.Great leaders understand that a good decision can be marred by the timing, they are circumspect therefore about when.
Nigeria needs leaders who know WHEN to move and WHEN not to stop, starting from our homes to the public space, let us raise them for the benefit of the generations to come.
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