BEFORE the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, no one really cared about the gravity of the word “change.” The word was abstract. Not tangible. Its meanings depended on the context intended by the user. However, couple of months ago, the only word some Nigerians unanimously have a single meaning for, is “change.” Thanks to the All Progressive Congress (APC) who threw her combined weights behind her mantra, and drumming it into the sub-consciousness of Nigerians by giving the Word “change”;  a human face – Buhari and Osinbajo.
In an attempt to realize a remarkable and resounding change in any society, the need for individual effort, and participation is inevitably sacrosanct to bringing about noticeable change which will metamorphose into a sustainable development as it were.
Change is ubiquitous in any society. Particularly in that which strive to fulfill human needs. And it takes a committed leadership to accomplish a propitious change in a society. Fortunately, we just have one. But government alone cannot bring about the needed change unless it starts from us by changing affected parts of our lives.
Let me hasten to add that, to lead a multi-ethnic society while remaining committed to democratic principles or norms is an uphill task. This is because, incorporating several ethnic groups into a single political system means bringing together the basic problem of ethnic conflict as well. Group loyalties dividing a multi-ethnic, society can, and do undermine, a common identity, national culture, or consensus on democratic values Nigeria is a nation of many ethnic and religious groups; and for this governing the society is an enormous job. And so, the government needs its citizens’ contributions.
Given the presence of politically assertive and diversed ethnic groups, the success and survival of the present democratic politics depends on how the leaders put together the structure of his administration, and in the popular imagination, Nigerians have a central role to play in making things work in Nigeria.
The wind of change sweeps through the land portending a change of era in the political life of one nation – Nigeria. Hoping to ignite a new consciousness and many positivities across Nigeria, and in the telling of new African narrative.
So pervasive is the wind that when we hear or come across the word ‘change’ it reverberates down in our mind with resonance of expectation from the present government.
The word is on everyone’s lips, like the national anthem. In fact the presidency has been substituted with the word, and this places a huge burden of expectation on the governance from President Mohammadu Buhari.
However, Buhari has said it required some time to make change insisting that nobody should expect him to perform “magic” the moment he takes over on May 29, 2015.
“We are trying to dampen the high expectation, there is no way we can perform miracles because the damage took 16 years, especially on the economy and unemployment.”
Legitimately people yearn for security. And in an effort to beef it up, the military command centre has been relocated to Maiduguri, one of the hot beds of insurgency. While the government is strategizing to combat Boko Haram, we too should not engage in activities that could endanger the lives of others and undermine the security system.
Security is not only the absence of terrorism (Boko Haram), but also the elimination of domestic crimes. The state of armed robberies and kidnappings are on the increase in our society. And the trauma, the after effect of robbery incidents on victims is as devastating as terrorism.
Even our higher institutions of learning are not also left out in this ugly trend. Many a time students hostels are burgled and valuables are stolen from the dormitories. During the just concluded semester break, the Mandela Hostel of University of Benin, Ekehuan Campus was burgled, camera, laptops and other items were taken away. Even during school sessions, some daring thieves do lay their hands on items if care was not taken.
The situation is even worse at Oyo State Polytechnic of Agriculture, Ibadan (Moor Plantation). There are repeated cases of robbery in the school dormitories even in broad day light! While the so called security officer snores away after 2 shots of local gin. For the fear of their hostel being robbed in their absence, students now move around with all their valuables on them.
This begs for the question, where the security personnel were, when these crimes are being perpetuated? What is the management doing concerning these reoccurring incidents? Because it is hard to claim ignorance of something that is happening right under their nose.
And yet, these are the people that would cast the first stone when government errs.
It should be noted however that, Buhari would not fix individual or institutional problems at every level. While he does his best at the national level to wrestle with terrorism, management of institutions, security operatives and individuals should do their bit to eliminate crimes on their doorstep.
While the policeman and other security operatives are to discharge their duties with all sense of ethics and diligence, the citizens too should be security conscious.
The market women should go about their business within reasonable time. And know who they are dealing with.
Also, as residents we are to know our neighbours in our neighbourhood. What they are doing for a living? How often does your neighbour change his car? He may not have a reasonable work, yet drives porche and changes car over time. Such person should be kept an eye on.
We should be on the alert at all times, when we see strange faces in the neighbourhood, they should be questioned especially if their movements are suspicious.
When we are security conscious, crimes would be greatly reduced and even when committed, the knowledge of our neighbors and neighbourhood would immensely aid the police in tracking down the criminals. And consequently we would be playing our part in helping the government in providing secured environment.
Also, in the area of unemployment, there are contribution we can make. Unarguably, the youths want job. Which the present administration has also expressed commitment in this aspect but will a clause of time.
“It will take time for us to put the infrastructure right and help revive the textile industry which employs lots of people. But today, they have no employees expect those that keep watch over their properties.
We are betting on Agriculture and mining for immediate employment of Nigerians, so that we can do a detailed study on other sectors. Buhari said when Bauchi Governor – elect, Mohammed Abubakar visited him on his victory.
Yes of course! We need the jobs. One of the major factors that gave rise to Boko Haram insurgency was unemployment. When the idle hands of the youths are engaged in meaningful activities the government is one step closer to eliminating crime.
On the contrary, everybody needs a job, but how many are truly hardworking? Just a few. Government can only provide the job, but it is left to us how we do it.
It go without saying that Nigerian public services system is engulfed in negative work tendencies characterized by such factors as corruption, lateness to duty, lack of dedication to duty, high level of insubordination, indiscipline, high level of absenteeism and dereliction of duty which hinders efficient service delivery and in turn bring about low productivity. And when care is not taken instead of generating fund for the government, it becomes a tick stuck on government purse and sucks it dry.
For instance, looking at the Nigerian local government system, low productivity has taken greater toll, on them.
The employees of Nigerian Local Government are believed to have poor work ethics with some reasons which ranges from economic, sociological, managerial and technological factors. This they argued has made the Nigerian local government unproductive as resources both human and material are wasted without achieving the desired result.
The oft-said slogan is “whether boss sells or not employees must get paid.”
Nigerians in this political dispensation must jettison these negative attitudes, if the much needed and expected change is to be realized.
The defunct Nigerian Textile Industry which had a capacity of over 700 workers, folded up largely as a result of harsh economic factors and some of the aforementioned factors. But now that the government has expressed interest to revive the company, it now behoves on the prospective workers to be diligent if history should not repeat itself.
Public and private workers are to be efficient in their dealings or discharging of day to day activities. Not only that, efforts should be made by the managements to ensure that they are well informed on all the basic principles and standards of operations on how they ought to do their work and also to know where the boundaries of acceptable behaviour or code of conduct lie.
Furthermore, expectations are indeed high both at home and abroad as expected. But one thing is clear, President Buhari commands uncaring respect across the full spectrum of the country and that in itself is a solid foundation to build upon in a country with corrupt and divisive regional leaders.
His stance on corruption is well renown as he aptly said in his victory speech “We shall strongly battle another from evil that is even worse than terrorism – the evil of corruption.
Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character. By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for the public purpose, corruption distorts the economy and worsen income equality.
It creates a class of unjustly enriched people. Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to undermine democracy because its conspirators have amassed so much money that they believe they can buy government.
“We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival. I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration, and it shall no longer be to stand as if it is a respected monument in this nation” President Buhari said in his inaugural speech.
It is imperative that we wrench ourselves free from the claws of corruption that has gripped us.
Corruption is not only limited to embezzlement of fund by top public and private officials but also manifest among various individuals in their dealings with one another such as ghost workers, fraud, bribery, abuse or misuse of power or position of trust for personal or group benefit (monetary or otherwise), award of contractors promotion of staff.
Let us join the fight! Against corruption that has been the bane on the development of our country. It can not be business as usual again in Nigeria. Corruption has also spread to both public and private sector, as well as some decentralized centers of power and authority.
Within the educational sector in Nigeria, especially from secondary to university levels, corruption is pervasive, and most of which not in the public eye.
Parents should stop using unorthodox means to influence their children or ward’s admission into Federal Government Secondary School commonly called Unity Schools.
A high JAMB score is critical for admission into the university in Nigeria, and this has led to cheating by students and parents.
There are expansive coaching centers that charge exorbitant fees to guarantee a minimum of 300 in the JAMB score, which is being orchestrated by coaching centers through aiding and abetting cheating in JAMB examination with the connivance of corrupt JAMB Officials. This has to stop!
The situation is so pathetic that even Mission schools whose major function is to instill morals into their students, collect money from them during WAEC or NECO to bribe the supervisors!
Lecturers are not left out of the corruption-ridden educational system. Within the university system, some students resort to “sorting” (fining ways of purchasing high and unmerited mark from lecturers in order to enhance the grade in their examinations). Such students will then say they have gone into the university and having what they did not work for.
We are always swift in crucifying the top officials when they allegedly misappropriate funds, but it is ironical that in our little ways and position we are as corrupt as them.
Corruption is not only when billions are stolen, but every unrighteousness is a sin.
Our police officers should not aid and abet crimes –renting fire arms to criminals who use them to harass the public and engage in highway robberies, collection of unauthorized fees before granting bail of those arrested.
Government officials should desist from using two types of receipts to collect revenue. One receipt is original and genuine, while the second is usually a false one for the collector’s private use, thus depriving government of its legitimate revenue.
To curb and eventually eradicate corruption, children, youth, and adults must be given power to distinguish right from wrong. All schools should return to the teaching of moral education to empower children with the spirit of stewardship, while adults live exemplary lives, reflecting truth, kindness, dignity of labour and integrity.
Religious institution, the lasting place where people seek solace and show penitence should preach the right values missing in the society. Religious leaders should place less emphasis on materials things and focus more on teaching their followers how to live an impactful life. A place of worship should not be fashion show with red carpet.
Religious leaders need to realize the power of qualified privilege they wield. Nowadays religious adherents believe in their leaders than the Holy Bible or Quran or whichever. And coupled with the close contact that exist between them and the followers. This opportunity should be put to good use. Teaching and instilling moral values and the consequences of violation of rules made by constituted authorities.
Generally speaking, the change we clamour for is upon us hovering like pregnant cloud. It is not enough to wish for something, but to work towards it.
Let us be law abiding citizens. The reason people do not abide by regulations and rules is because they fear not the consequence.
The Buhari Government can only build roads, driving carefully is our responsibility. It is a reasoning summersault when some motorist would leave their lane and take one way just to cut corners to destination.
Also market women, shop owners should pay their market rate, bus drivers should stop running from paying the local government hackneyed permit and paying illegal fees to touts. Salary earners and private firms should stop evading tax. If we want any meaningful transformation, we have to pay for it. It is high time we started paying our dues.
Lagos became an epitome of development because if citizens are made to pay their taxes and also it was judiciously used.
In conclusion, there is indeed a mood in the air of a new dispensation of democracy that will herald in strong political and economic reforms. Nigerians once more hope and pray for the leadership that will deliver on those promises. We surely can fix our problems and this might just be the time, so all hands must be on deck, to make our dream a reality.
Without an iota of doubt, President Buhari is a strong leader that will rise to the challenges that lie ahead of him with the sincere support of the long – suffering good people of Nigeria.
“The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.”
– Harold Macmillan British Prime Minister: 1957-1963.