THE SCOURGE OF EXPERTISE CREEP
Who will save us from this onslaught? In the quest to get informed, many have been ambushed by these assailants. They appear in different garbs; “public affairs analyst”, “human rights activist”, “rights campaigner”, “security expert”, “social commentator” etc. They always have an idea of every event, know what is and what is not, what should be done and how it should be done. Economic policies, politics and political strategy, governmental policies, intergovernmental relationship, international affairs, security, even marital issues. They always have something to say.
A cocktail of domineering personality, familiarity with trending issues, blazing confidence, and unmatched oratory skill… the “expert persona” is ready. The topping to that, is being generous with outlandish and unrealistic comments. Not only is another outing assured, rent-free tenancy is also offered in people’s heads. To the populace, (s)he is “making sense” while the experts in such fields are cringing in their seats wherever they are, watching or listening to the wannabe.
Only last week, a former Deputy-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, asserted with authority, outlandish and apparently false statements with grave security implications. The only reason those claims which he later described as “uncorrobaratable" shouldn’t be doubted, was for those previously unaware; “I have a PhD from Oxford University!”.
As Newton postulated that “for every action, there is equal and opposite reaction”, Dr. Mailafia was invited to provide expalanations to the his claims by State Security Service (SSS), he subtly backtracked on his claims and said he got the “uncorroboratable” information from Fulani traders he met in his village market, where he went to buy fonio (Acha)!
So, when did contributing to public discuss with a garb of expert advice become a civic duty?
A lawyer gives a legal view on a topic (on point!), then plunges into discussing the social constructs about the issue. — Epic Fail
The public affairs analyst opines on a political event then gets drowned trying to dissect issues regarding political strategy. — Epic Fail
The unionist gives an insight into labour matters, then gets it all wrong trying to propose public policies. — Epic Fail
All of these, are descriptions of the cryptic scourge encroaching our world — “expertise creep”. This is an act of leaving your comfort zone with little or no nudging, for an unfamiliar terrain, thereby attracting avoidable consequential ignominy.
In an article published by The Washington Post, on August 27, 2000 (about 20 years ago), Steven Gorelick of the City University of New york attributed the increase in demand for these so called “experts”, on the proliferation of 24-hour radio and cable news stations.
A Nigerian Governor who studied Microbiology and earned a PhD in Environmental Microbiology decided to pass comments in a matter of immunology. He appeared to know his onion with the deft manner he spoke about making COVID-19 vaccines but as Macbeth said of a tale told by an idiot, in the classic, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, this was also “full of sound and fury; signifying nothing!”. The scenery is best described as an “Olimpotic Meristemasis” or a “Qabalistic Densification”.
The talking heads on TV and radio are quite far from reaching the heights of social media “experts”. In the streets lingo, “dem still dey learn work”. The art of proffering expert advice with little or no knowledge as regards the issue is the new cool. All that is required is a smartphone with access to internet (to profer the “expert commentary” and not to research). When crude oil prices crept over the red line and went wild a couple of months ago, “expert opinions and insights” were all over the internet. Everyone knew just what was happening and what is to come.
It’s interesting how just a single person is an economist, scientist, financial expert, marriage counsellor, parenting advisor, technology geek, education consultant, life coach, political strategist.
No! this is not to overlook the thousands of people who embody a combination of expertise in them. The crux of the matter here, is the specious appearance of individuals as experts on a subject matter, of which they only have rudimentary knowledge or sometime, none at all.
Lovers of the round leather game of football have their memories fresh with the sojourn of French football legend and Arsenal FC great, Thierry Henry and Manchester United great and English defender, Garry Neville into coaching after having a swell time analysing on Sky Sports. It ended in tears.
Henry as a “football pundit” reportedly earned up to £4 million a year while all he effortlessly did, was appear in front of a camera draped in nice suits and critisize decisions and management skills of team managers on Sky Sports. He was appointed Manager by AS Monaco but lasted only 104 days , securing just five wins from the 20 games he was in charge. Two of those wins were from 12 league games played.
Garry Neville led Valencia CA to a paltry 3 wins in 16 league games and 10 wins in 28 games in all competitions. He was eventually sacked after a gruesome four months for the football club. He has since returned to football punditry on Sky Sports, the ‘easy’ job he earlier left for the coaching job.
The best coach is seated in the spectators stand!
