After months out of government service, a former Ministry of Works road safety officer appears to have found a new occupation on social media: commenting on almost everything involving government, senior officials and public institutions.
From security, governance and law to history and public service delivery, he seems determined to position himself as an authority on every subject. His regular interventions, often on posts by senior government officials, increasingly give the impression of someone desperately seeking visibility and perhaps a new career opportunity.
But there is a bigger question: Could he be the common denominator in all these disagreements?
His reported differences with the Ministry of Works, previous disagreements involving the Police and a parliamentary committee, and now his latest confrontation with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation raise questions about his approach to working with institutions and people.
His latest lecture to NWSC’s Managing Director over water supply and the use of political slogans is another example of his readiness to publicly take anyone under the bus for as long as he gets social media likes and trends regardless of whether what he is talking has merit, or not.
There is nothing wrong with holding public officials accountable. Indeed, public debate and scrutiny are essential. But when someone appears to have a running disagreement with almost every institution they encounter, it is worth asking whether the problem is always with everyone else.
Being vocal on social media does not automatically make someone an opinion leader, just as having an opinion on every subject does not make one an expert on everything.
Perhaps the former officer should spend less time trying to prove that he knows everything and more time reflecting on why he seems to be at odds with so many people and institutions.
