It is evidently clear that something is intricately wrong with Nigerian current ‘value system’ as a people in this beloved country of ours called Nigeria. This was not the case in the decades of our forefathers and even in the early years of Nigeria as an independent nation. Then, regardless of one’s religion, ethnicity and tribe, there was this thing about “being your brother’s keeper” within our communal society living, and it was alien to our culture and heritage to value money, fame, titles, status and awards over and above worthy societal virtues like hard work, honesty, integrity, empathy, accountability, love for one another, etc. Sadly today, the latter has become the norm in our daily societal life.
In fact, we are where we are today in Nigeria, not because of any other thing other than the fact that we have become a people that have lost their ‘value system’. And as such, every level of ‘leadership’, be it in politics, family, or even religion, have all been ‘corrupted’ one way or the other by this “senseless taste”. We have become a people that value ‘ephemeral gains’ of life more than life itself or leaving a lasting legacy that ought to outlive us and benefit generations to come. We have exchanged the value of life for material wealth, even if our actions will adversely affect others and our physical environment. We have exchanged the virtues and values of punctuality, accountability, patience, brotherliness and so on for the most ‘self-centered’ corrupt tendencies and mediocrity of the highest proportions. We really need to sit back, reflect and get back to those core value system that makes us unique as a people.
As noted by a political affairs analyst, Smart Ofugara, in a recent note: “The prehistoric society evolved with unwritten rules to govern the conduct of its inhabitants. These unwritten rules knew what was wrong or right. As society evolved into record keeping, human conduct gradually got a place for conduct and governance. Punishment was also prescribed for violators. These codes of conduct transformed into Sharia law, The Constitution, ethics, characters/personal codes of conduct and learning, and the Holy Bible summed it as The Ten Commandments. And now my issue is about the negative attitude called corruption. This scourge is such that every day, within the realm of social media, many persons have become prophets, activists, purers, and extremely virtuous. Civility has been thrown to the wind as candid discussion cannot be held without derogatory languages been used. We must exercise caution as the pointing of one finger towards the man in front of you leaves the other four fingers pointing back at you.”
Now that is the simple truth. We are often quick to point fingers to those seen as ‘corrupt’, and cry foul, without realizing that almost every person is guilty as well in one way or the other, and we all are in this cesspool called corruption. But there is need for all of us to get back to these core societal values that were the building blocks of our humanity, at least for posterity sake. Without a doubt, we believe it is expedient for every man to have a Personal Code of Conduct or Ethics, especially those in sensitive positions of leadership – particularly political leadership. This is hinged on the fact that it reflects who you believe yourself to be, based on the traits that you have. And it points to what you believe (belief system) – which carries you through your daily life and defines your daily decision-making process. And most importantly, it points to how you relate to all the people you come in contact with and humanity as a whole.
The development of every society is hinged on its ability to tap and utilize its God-given human ingenuity and natural resourcefulness, but much more depends on the former, which actually makes up the various institutions and systems that constitute the ‘driving force’ for the said society’s development. That means, since people are the ones that make up institutions and systems, which are the structures that drive the development of every society, the ‘quality’ of the people in terms of education exposure, values and belief systems they were shaped in, etc., come into play. The personal question we all should ask ourselves is: are you part of the problem of this negative attitude called corruption or are you part of the solution? Before you are quick to answer, let us consider these posers as noted by Smart Ofugara in the same recent piece.
“To start with, how many of us told lies while in Secondary School? How many of us inflated the amount we were asked to pay for little fees such as inter-house sport levies? How many of us have cheated a fellow by being dishonest with the price of an item? How many of us stole mama’s money or papa’s money thinking that they did not know? How many of us collect tolls that did not get to the confers of government treasury? Or collected government taxes and did not remit the actual amount? How many of us pay more than the official clearing rates for our goods at the wharf and yet still beg to get it out on time? How many of us got the Nigerian Passport at the official rate without paying more than the official rate? Who are those manning these tables or desks where licenses, permits, etc., are being obtained and yet collect more than the official rate? Who are those you work for and would not pay for the services rendered? Who are those whose relatives and friends may have frustrated, by betraying the trust? Who are those who fight in churches and mosques over issues bordering on money, position, and cover it up with other issues of spiritual matters? Is the Police, Custom, Immigration, Civil Servant, Teacher, or …. using his/her office to collect bribe different?
“Or is the individual who while working in government or private sector embezzles and garnishes it as misappropriation different from the politicians who are in so much hurry to steal as much within the limited time he/she will be in power? Is the judge granting inept court injunctions restraint depriving any form of investigation, different from the police collecting bribes at the check point? Is the ” budget padding” language not an affront? Is the putting of a project worth billions in a location that is not comparative advantage to the people not evil in itself? Or is it the abandonment by contractors of jobs for which payments have been made not stealing and corruption? Or is the deliberate and wishful actions of successive governments in abandoning of basic medical facilities in our hospitals? This is in spite of the over inflation of the cost. Could it be at our local communities where four people will sell one plot of land to ten people? Or sell a house that does not belong to them? Please add your own list of ills please.
“I feel very bad for our society as we have all abandoned our core values of being your brother’s keeper to being your brother’s killer. We steal from ourselves what is ours within the very little responsibilities that nature had bequeathed or bestowed upon us. We have abandoned accountability only to pay lip service to it. We have embraced stealing as the new normal way of life. The road is very difficult. Let me not bore you with my frustration as we have all seen the log or speck in other people’s eyes while that which is in ours is worst. We have embraced this negative attitude and it has or is ravaging us in job creation, inept hospitals, no funding for research, bad infrastructures, abandoned projects, over budgeting, no manufacturing, capital flight, deliberate emigration, no clear alternatives to crude oil explorations, or roadmap to economic growth and recovery and as the list goes on, please add your own.”
It is often said that one’s future is in one’s hands. That is, people are mostly responsible for the outcome of their life and how it turns out at the end. As it is with an individual, so it is with a community, a region and a nation. In other words, whatever level of underdevelopment and whatever we see ‘wrong’ today in the Nigerian society, we are the ones responsible for it. Agreed that our political leaders over the years as the custodians of the nation’s oil and gas-rich wealth and resources are the ones to take the chunk of the blame for Nigeria’s present deplorable situation. But we all equally have a part in the blame circle. In other words, we are where we are today as a people because of every decision/indecision and action/inaction of the Nigerian people and its past and present political leaders in different strata of governments.
If we, as Nigerians keep ‘celebrating’ ‘singing praises’ of ‘thieves in government’ rather than shaming and exposing them; if we keep celebrating mediocrity rather than excellence in public service delivery; if we keep selling our birth right and integrity over a pot of porridge or ephemeral things, if we keep allowing a set of few in political leadership positions to dictate our collective future with their skewed style of self-centered leadership; if we keep acting nonchalantly towards what is happening at the political fronts, and ‘as if it is not our business’ to be interested and involved in politics to collectively drive home the change we all so desire – then we seriously have no business ‘complaining about the underdevelopment’ and ‘sufferings’ evident in Nigeria. But rather, we all should blame ourselves for everything we see wrong in our country. If we continue with the way we are going as a people, and expect that things will suddenly change for the good of all, then we are deluding ourselves. It is as simple as that!
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC
