Isaiah Kanu

THE OFFICE HE NEVER WANTED ME TO OCCUPY The Nigerian Army sponsored me to UniLag to study Law—something I had wanted to do since my college days. I was a young Lieutenant, had a car, my education was paid for, and my salary still came every month. After UniLag, I proceeded to Law School under the same arrangement. Not everyone was impressed. Many officers from some combat arms were not getting similar university opportunities, and some resented those of us who did. Then I got to Staff College. My first Directing Staff was one of them. He had a fine time marking me down and gloating over it. Whenever he returned our assessments, he would keep mine until last and announce: “How are the mighty fallen! They read the Law but can’t perform.” He never mentioned my name. He didn’t need to. Everyone knew. By the third term, he wanted to teach me again, apparently to finish what he had started. God intervened. Years passed. One day, this same officer, now a Colonel, was facing his third and final attempt at promotion to Brigadier General. He needed help. He wanted the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Army Staff to speak for him. He knew the former occupant of that office and expected to meet him. What he did not know was that the man had handed over to me just one week earlier. He walked into the office. There I was. Sitting in the very seat from which he now needed help. Shock. I stood up and greeted him with the military respect due to his rank. I was a Colonel too, like him, but he was my senior. No mockery. No revenge. No reminder of Staff College. The moment needed no commentary. He struggled to speak, could not bring himself to raise the real reason for his visit and, after a few uncomfortable minutes, left. He eventually missed the promotion and retired. Life is a long journey with many bends. Never use a temporary position to inflict permanent wounds. The junior you ridicule today may occupy the office you need tomorrow. The paper you put at the bottom of the pile today may belong to the man who will have your file on his desk tomorrow. Power moves. Rank changes. Chairs change occupants. Be firm. Be professional. Exercise authority. But never humiliate people simply because you can. Notice a pattern: Everyone who maltreated me ended up needing me. God designed it so. You may meet again, and next time, the door you need opened may have their name on it. #LeadershipLessons #PowerIsTemoral ( IGWEEE CARES )