THIS NIGERIA MUST DIE (Part 1)!
It was Christ who said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit". The Nigeria present story of penury and underdevelopment may continue for years to come except there is a rebirth. Without the death of Nigeria present state, then all our quest for good governance and development will continue to be a mirage.
For instance, our obsession with wealth and celebration of people of opulence without a track record of the sources of their wealth is one evil that must be put to death. There is a need for a new culture of value for hard work and the dignity of labour if we have to have a headway as a country and as a people. It is time to build a new Nigeria we will all be proud of, by encouraging individual productivity and optimal utilization of potentials.
Furthermore, the 'spirit' of average and mediocrity must be put to death. There is a negative psyche in the affairs of our nation today which repudiates excellence while embracing mediocrity and average. This happens both at individual, communal and national level. It is the culture that has permeated to our political culture which always makes us choose between two or more candidates of lesser capacity and pedigree. It is not uncommon to hear that candidate A is not the best we can have, but he is the best of the two evils. If we are to move forward, we must learn to settle for the best among the best.
The favouritism and ethnicism tendency in us must die too, and give way to meritocracy and national interest. Hardly can Nigerians have a national debate on any important national issues without recourse to ethnicity. Appointment and employment to the position of authority is about who you know and where you come from rather than what you can do. This attitude must be put to death if we are to move forward as a country. Competency and meritocracy must be encouraged and embraced.
Related to this is the politicization of issues. Within the Nigeria present context, every national debate is almost reduced to partisanship. For instance, the recent debate on 'looters lists' is one too nauseating and sickening. I think we should feel ashamed as a nation and as a people for ridiculing ourselves among the committee of nations. Ordinarily, one would have thought there should be sober reflection among the parties concerned; and angst among the citizenry against the brazen loot of our collective wealth by less than five percent of the Nigerian population. Unfortunately, this was not to be, it was bemusing and perplexing to see Nigerians defending the indefensible as far the looters of the two foremost political parties in the country are concerned. If a member of the House of Common could tender his resignation for coming late for sitting; one would have expected that those who are accused of corruption should be honourable enough to resign their appointment and clear their names in the law court. Same measure for those who are out of office. Rather, what we witnessed, is the case of my thievery is better than your own thievery. This Nigeria mentality has outlived its usefulness, and it must die.
The list continues, but I will stop here today. Have a great week ahead.
For instance, our obsession with wealth and celebration of people of opulence without a track record of the sources of their wealth is one evil that must be put to death. There is a need for a new culture of value for hard work and the dignity of labour if we have to have a headway as a country and as a people. It is time to build a new Nigeria we will all be proud of, by encouraging individual productivity and optimal utilization of potentials.
Furthermore, the 'spirit' of average and mediocrity must be put to death. There is a negative psyche in the affairs of our nation today which repudiates excellence while embracing mediocrity and average. This happens both at individual, communal and national level. It is the culture that has permeated to our political culture which always makes us choose between two or more candidates of lesser capacity and pedigree. It is not uncommon to hear that candidate A is not the best we can have, but he is the best of the two evils. If we are to move forward, we must learn to settle for the best among the best.
The favouritism and ethnicism tendency in us must die too, and give way to meritocracy and national interest. Hardly can Nigerians have a national debate on any important national issues without recourse to ethnicity. Appointment and employment to the position of authority is about who you know and where you come from rather than what you can do. This attitude must be put to death if we are to move forward as a country. Competency and meritocracy must be encouraged and embraced.
Related to this is the politicization of issues. Within the Nigeria present context, every national debate is almost reduced to partisanship. For instance, the recent debate on 'looters lists' is one too nauseating and sickening. I think we should feel ashamed as a nation and as a people for ridiculing ourselves among the committee of nations. Ordinarily, one would have thought there should be sober reflection among the parties concerned; and angst among the citizenry against the brazen loot of our collective wealth by less than five percent of the Nigerian population. Unfortunately, this was not to be, it was bemusing and perplexing to see Nigerians defending the indefensible as far the looters of the two foremost political parties in the country are concerned. If a member of the House of Common could tender his resignation for coming late for sitting; one would have expected that those who are accused of corruption should be honourable enough to resign their appointment and clear their names in the law court. Same measure for those who are out of office. Rather, what we witnessed, is the case of my thievery is better than your own thievery. This Nigeria mentality has outlived its usefulness, and it must die.
The list continues, but I will stop here today. Have a great week ahead.
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