Analysing the analyst

Also published in Daily Trust 

Though events take place and developments unfold in all aspects of human endeavour, people differ in their abilities to analyse each particular event or development hence the disparity in the logical validity of their interpretations and conclusions. After all, not many people are gifted with the amount of talent required to properly analyse things, come up with reasonable conclusions and offer creative solution proposals hence the need for thinkers and brilliant analysts to shape and sharpen people’s reasoning skills and inspire them to imbibe the attitude of critical thinking.
    

Public commentators and analysts all over the world are expected to not only address obvious challenges in their communities but also, and more importantly, unearth the largely unknown or ignored causes of the major challenges bedevilling their societies and beyond. This also includes highlighting the largely unnoticed implications of the particular challenge in question and its impacts on various aspects of public life as well as proffering appropriate solution proposals accordingly.

In other words, , the value of an analyst’s analyses, and indeed the extent of the quality of his observation skills and creative talent are determined by his ability to identify particularly the remote and hidden causes of the particular challenge he addresses, and also by his ability to offer practical solutions as a matter of course. This is because in Nigeria for instance, where illegality is not only condoned but literally celebrated, and where mediocrity defines the ridiculously little benefit delivered to the people by the rulers, one doesn’t have to possess any special observation skill or academic knowledge to realize the extent of decay in its socio-cultural spheres, political and economic affairs.

Moreover, he doesn’t have to possess any special skill to proffer the right solutions to the challenge, for they are too obvious to elude even the mentally impaired. The bitter reality of the widespread suffering in the land says it all, after all nobody, including the privileged few, who are presumably fortunate, is completely spared or immune from its effects.

Nonetheless, the argumentative quality of most of the analyses addressing some issues of profound importance falls short of expectation, to say the least, which by implication affects the quality of the conclusions derived on its light as well as the solution proposals proffered on its bases. Incidentally, the depth and quality of a particular analysis do not necessarily guarantee the validity of the conclusions arrived on in its light by its author. Yet, perhaps thanks to the sheer amount of relevant information covering the background of the particular issue under discussion and other relevant points that need to be thoroughly addressed, which the author perhaps gives especially if he is good in putting things in their appropriate context, some of his audience may even deduct things which, he himself couldn’t thus draw better conclusions and conceive better solutions accordingly.

In any case, it’s unfortunate that the more one reads analysts elsewhere, listen or watch them analysing issues and proffering appropriate solutions, the more he realizes the superficiality of the analyses of most of our analysts. It’s obvious that, while a quality analyst elsewhere for instance specialises in a specific issue(s), which he constantly studies hence acquires undisputed expertise in it; one hardly observes any element of expertise in most of the analyses of our analysts.

It’s not uncommon for instance to read or listen to in-depth and impressive analyses on Russian affairs by an American analyst who specializes in Russian affairs. This is because notwithstanding the validity of the conclusions he may arrive at, he would normally sound unmistakably conversant in almost all aspects of Russian history, culture/language, economy and socio-political affairs, with a level of authority and confidence that can only be acquired through, not only dedicated academic pursuit, but also reasonable amount of physical interaction with Russians and Russian culture.

Whereas it’s similarly not uncommon on the other hand to find a self-styled Nigerian expert in Middle Eastern affairs for instance, who can’t even speak or understand Arabic language for that matter, let alone possess any reasonable knowledge on Arab culture, mindset and other relevant dynamics that drive their socio-political and economic affairs and their relationship among themselves and with other nations. Nevertheless, motivated by his “all-knowing” attitude, he pretends to not only analyse their various affairs but also address every issue or subject under the sun, capitalizing on the naivety of his average audience, though not realizing how much he exposes his cluelessness to those sufficiently familiar with the issue he struggles to discuss.

This is particularly obvious when he discusses sensitive and intricate issues related to a particular religion e.g. Islam, which unfortunately many of its adherents assume that, being Muslims, they are automatically entitled to comment on any issue related to it no matter how much it requires appropriate level of expertise in advance Islamic jurisprudence and religious knowledge in general.

It’s unfortunately obvious that, many of our analysts simply approach issues of common interest through the perspectives of either their open or hidden political affiliations and/or ethno-religious views. Besides, some of them even sound like unsolicited apologists or paid publicists of some particular influential individuals in power or in the opposition, thereby rendering free services (when they aren’t paid to do so) and dishonourable propaganda (when they are paid) to such individuals who always welcome them in any case to launder their battered images in their bid to justify their blunders or cover up their failures.