Nigerians are known to be one of the happiest people in the world. And happiness is our trademark despite the challenges that surrounds us.
In this must read article, which was first published on 07.07.2020 and refreshed on 30.04.2023 – NRTC’s Blessing Enenaite analyses how Nigerians continue to thrive on hope in the midst of ‘self inflicted’ hopelessness, and the need to go back to the founding ideals. The urgent need for critical self evaluation and value re-orientation.
The many owambes on Saturdays for a Nigerian helps to ease the stress of the hustle. However, it does seem like the thick skin developed by Nigerians over the years is beginning to wear off gradually.
In the times of Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro, Tafawa Balewa, and many other founding fathers of our great nation, morality was worn like a badge of honour.
In those days, it was despicable to flaunt ill gotten wealth. There was dignity of labour. Good values and respect for law and order thrived above lawlessness.
This is not a tale of our leaders not showing good examples. Here, we are dissecting what we presume to be wrong and should be eschewed greatly. It is sad to see how much we have lost some of our good values over the years.
There was a time our culture was our identity. The society bragged about standing for the right thing without batting an eyelid.
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It is rather sad to see, many years down the line; how we are beginning to struggle as a people to stand for truth, justice and those great values that use to be our hallmark.
Men and women with questionable character are now being praised and exalted. Meanwhile, people who toe the right path in the quest to earn their daily bread legitimately are taunted for choosing the long path to success.
We lost our values the moment we laid our integrity on the altar of material possessions. Our values flew through the window the moment we celebrated individuals whose source of wealth were dubious. Music stars even go to the extent of composing songs to glorify these individuals.
How about people who would bribe their way into various offices? And to those persons who disobey government rules and regulations? How about those who will pay someone to sit for them during examinations? The list goes on. How do you see yourselves?
More so, let’s talk about people who litter the community with dirt. How about persons who park wrongly and deliberately. Do you give out false weights and balance as a seller? Perhaps, you glory in mistreating that young girl/boy who lives under your roof.
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Do you owe your workers salaries? Do you talk down on others, because you think you belong in the higher echelon of society? Evaluate yourself properly, what role are you playing in the current value decay. Most have lost their moral values all in the quest for material possession fuelled by insecurity. It is pertinent to note and accept that you are part of the rot in the society.
If we must rise again as a nation, the people must be willing to adhere to simple rules in the society. Have you ever wondered why places that bear the sign “Do Not Urinate Here” usually have an offensive odour? How about places with the inscription, “Do Not Litter Dirt Here”, your guess is as good as mine. And walls where we have Post No Bill? The walls must have seen better days with various posters from political parties, religious houses, job adverts and many other activities that needed public attention.
Regardless of our current challenges there is still hope for this nation. The labor of our heroes past shall never be in vain. We must rise up like the eagle in our Coat of Arm and show that strength to make the needed change we desire.
Let the change begin with us as individuals. as a family, and as a community. Until we get to the point where we are willing to accept change as a nation, we will continue to suffer and smile in silence, like Fela Anikuapo Kuti once said.
It is important to note that, our values can only be restored if we push forth diligence, honesty, integrity, and excellence over get-rich-quick syndrome and other immoral acts. Collectively as a nation, we must begin to celebrate individuals who rose to the top through hard work rather than those who did via tainted backdoors. We must re align our values and create viable role models for future generations.
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Together, we need to push the narrative that hard work pays. When individuals with questionable characters try to shove their ill gotten wealth in our faces. We must quench their fame by popping up genuine names into their heads.
Every citizen, regardless of their background should be enlightened to believe that, they can excel by toeing the right path of life. You cannot stop a bad habit without replacing it with a good one. For your decision to stop disobeying government rules, you must adhere strictly to the rules.
Nigerians remain resilient, creative and hard working in the midst of the challenges they face. In a country where integrity has become a rare value. For some a dignifying reputation remains sacred even if it does mean being unpopular or standing alone in a world characterised by mundane lust for materialism.
A Nigerian in Japan, Ikenna Nweke, recently returned a missing wallet to the police in the country. Nweke is one of the millions of Nigerians who sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
If we cannot aspire to achieve big dreams like many Nigerians out there, let’s aspire to be the Nigerian with integrity. That in itself, is everything.
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Rukayat bunmi
08/07/2020 at 12:51 amIts unfortunate that the negative narrative seems to have overshadowed all the positive sides to Nigeria. I hope in no distance futirethere will indeed be a light at the end of the tunnel