PURGING OUR SYSTEM

So many times we hear people utter statements like, ‘’if only we had better leaders’’ or ‘’this government is so corrupt’’ or ‘’our rulers are very wicked’’ and so on. Such statements litter our media, our streets and our market places. Taking a deeper look at the Nigerian plight I could arrive at only one conclusion; that is since the government is not made up of foreigners but Nigerians like you and me, then our leaders must be products of a prevailing system in the country. Permit me to say that this system gave birth to most of us also and if the opportunity were to present itself we might walk the same paths as our present leaders.

Every Nigerian is born into this system. It is a system that makes us believe that what is available is not enough to go round so we automatically become defensive, untrusting, discriminating, breeders of unhealthy rivalry. It is a system that preaches transparency but openly celebrates corruption. It is a system that speaks of fairness and equal rights but upholds only favourable judicial rulings and enforces selective discipline. It is a system that teaches the dignity of labour but underpays and sometimes fails to pay the salaries of those who dedicate their hours and energy to produce the nation’s wealth. It also falls short on the payment of the pensions of the retired workers who served this nation wholeheartedly through their active years giving room for regrets and heaping of curses on a nation they worked hard and sweated to build. It is a system that preaches selfless service but rewards excessively the few elected and appointed “servants” and spreads the remnants amongst the rest of the country. Sadly, this is the system in which we were brought up.

Many Nigerians have come to hate this system, and rightly so. We clamour for a change but hate; our hate has not enough of a will to change this world. The change we seek as a people must be founded on love; our love for Nigeria. We, the people must initiate this change. If we seek a new Nigeria then we must be ready, indeed willing to purge out this system and deliberately take into ourselves the ideals that shall produce in us a new way of life, a new way of thinking, a new Nigerian system.

A new system established on unchanging principles such as trust, fairness, equity, oneness, empathy, service and justice. It is a system that thrives on patriotism and where each Nigerian is held accountable for his actions or inactions. It is a system where Nigerians are taught to become responsible for fellow Nigerians. It is a system that fuels a culture of doing the right thing because it is the right thing to be done not only when it is convenient or profitable. It is a system that programs the young Nigerian child to know he has something good and valuable to offer his generation and helps him develop his potential. It is a system where every Nigerian is given equal opportunity to benefit and contribute to the growth and development of the nation. It is a new era which overwhelmingly shows that the only things that bind us as a nation are FREEDOM, PEACE and UNITY.

This shift from the old to the new way of living is the process that will birth the NEW NIGERIA which we all desire. The journey ahead will be tough and long, full of obstacles and resistance but I am certain that our commitment to change and our love for a better Nigeria for the coming generations is stronger and greater than any challenge we may face. It is time to arise and pull down the old order by erecting the new.

Please never forget this;
The change we long for is not in any government or leader; they come and go but Nigeria remains. This change is us; you and me. It is in us, by us, through us, and is now upon us; we the beautiful people of this blessed land, Nigeria.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.