Changing the narrative is not enough
The associative use of the word corruption to many depends on verbiage and perceived meanings of wrong to us all. Individual persons that become parts of a sum can be directly collectively wrapped in relative terms with that identity. As with the case with African countries; more especially with Nigeria and Nigerians. Wrongly or rightly so. Me thinks the earlier; it has become a pointer or placeholder when it comes to the non-positive description of us.
Who said it?
Words mean much and if spoken by persons who may have achieved some higher degree of societal significance, it becomes more flamed and the word societal assumes the significance of the user. For a minute here, let us be literal to the context of this Shakespearean quote "When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” (Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar → Act 2, Scene 2) This contextual characterization of Nigeria by the Prime Minister of United Kingdom to Queen of England, as one of the most “Fantastically Corrupt” nations of the world, together with Afghanistan. Yes, he said so, to which the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby defended the current Nigerian president, Muhammed Buhari and his crusade of anti-corruption.
Are you ready wail?
There were rightful uproars. The uproar from all places, from all peoples and in particular from all Nigerians. Buhari detractors had a field day following admitted acknowledgment by PMB that Nigeria and Nigerians are corrupt. Getting into the lingo that is often used by political pundits of the opposition will be totally out of context. Some Nigerians wanted some Trump in Buhari for that occasion and that occasion alone
Does the truth set you free?
We must all understand that telling that truth does not always set you free. G. Orwell was credited as saying that “In a Time of Universal Deceit — Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act.” Buhari and his associates have been called all sorts of names that reflects a shift in leadership mannerism, including radicalism of leadership but a revolutionary? - That is a new one, huh! Eureka! Eureka!! Eureka!!! That may be what the society called Nigerian needs right now after all. The “Universal”, in this case, national deceit had gone on for a while that a calm admittance of wrongdoings in the national attitude is now what it should be; - Revolutionary. The last time I check, which is now; change in political power or organizational structures is actually called revolutionary. All Nigerian peoples rose up this time in revolt against the old boys/girls You-Chop-I-Chop authorities
What, where, when & from who does the word mean something?
Delving into the contextual polarity of words may help explain the adaptation of a prior polarity, and I will try to touch base with some but that is not the intent of this text. Some more intelligent group somewhere agreed that sentiment analysis of words is the tasks of identifying positive and negative word connotations, its emotions, and evaluative content. Me thinks that compounding the polarity of context defines meaning. That the use of fanciful word “fantastic” as a prior to the negative word "corrupt" in describing the culture of Nigeria’s bourgeoisie, the bushwahzees or those that sits behind the shining tables is an accommodation in inclusivism. The fact that it did not exonerate any Nigerian leader, past or present and all Nigerians; big, small, tall, short, male or female and wealthy or not is an exercise in characterization of collective presentation as perceived by societal representatives. I am going to leave you the reader, to draw your mental map choosing who should be left out or who didn’t do what.
How much corruption is in you?
The gradient of corruption in Nigeria is proportional to what that Nigerian can get away with at his/her present functional level. In order words, people who are exposed to larger sums bag up more-enormous sums while those who are exposed to smaller sums bag up smaller sums. Note here however that I did not pick and choose sectors, spheres or a particular object of corruption. It is there and it happens on a dime. Money is a good example though it sometimes not that narrow, but, it is measurable and can be quantified. The latent, the undercurrent and the abstract is even worst as it is the nucleus or the engine that drives the measurable object. One of the unquantifiable is “character”. “Poverty of individual character is a permanent repellant of personal integrity” (emphasis are mine), and if the aforementioned is widespread; the truth of the nation as a society becomes unhinged and unsophisticated. Apathy becomes an antonym of civility in our actions towards ourselves, towards others and to the country in general.
It is not me, it is them!
Nigerians are corrupt fantastically, no one Nigerian will acknowledge being a player in the game. Well, maybe with the addition of fantastical, you never know. But Come on; the society takes breaks from corruption fantastically. There are church times; will you say they are corrupt then? Well! That is a question that we can ask the people who matter to the church activities; the political power players in the churches. Yea! The high-flying church administrators, the church Daddies and the Mummies, the prophets and prophetesses, the male and female apostles. These are the people who may have been more blessed, they are the ones that pray most, and are the ones through which other members of the cult may see God. They are called man-of-God you know. They sow the seed of hopeful fear to the poverty of mindset among us and reciprocatively get the widow/widower’s mite.
Does it involve our daily duties?
How about our workplace? You will question the inherent behavioral difference between humans and other mammals. Animals are supposed to be more instinctive in behavior but here, separating lines are blurred. Ask for something, anything from an office worker in Nigeria, a service that is rightfully yours and the instinctive gratification request kicks in. An employee who is being paid to do what you are asking to be done will not grant your request until gratify them for their troubles. You know how it is. That worker who is asking for a bribe will be the first to tell you that nothing works here. He/she is not in no way corrupt, no, no! How can you say that? The obvious “Oga, we dey here ooo” is an acceptable aphorism by the police who are supposed to be held at a higher stand of professional behavior, how about the soldiers that were supposed to be more honorable than the rest of us are in the same boat. The one that gets me is the customs people, they are expected to be the introducers of how the law is faceless as you come into the country yet, that is where it begins.
Can we get us to think differently?
I can go on and on; the fact that the state of our mindset is obviously not in line with collective gains, and for the fact that most of us tend to identify with the Ostrich acceptance is very much disappointing to be moralistic in the choice of words. A known disease is half cured, they say. The curative difference of an addictive behavior starts with acceptance of that which is; and doing the same thing repeatedly does not yield difference in results. Everyone is a player, that the ball has not been passed to you does not exclude you and the only way to make good use of it when it comes is to be ready, be skilled and be prepared. We can affirm and quote all the in observable words from notables but that will not get it done; a balanced training of leadership mindset gets us qualifying goals.
The next
I read an article that was written by Octavio H. Diogo, titled “Crisis of Leadership or Crisis of Values in Africa?” In it, he emphasized that we should start training our young ones for tomorrow’s leadership roles. In response, I asked, “Who will train the trainer?” How can a leader today teach what they know little or nothing about? A holistic view is needed in this case of which I wrote an article that will follow next. I would have loved to quote Hon Patrick Obahiagbon here but, the African and indeed the Nigerian situation would have been funny if it was just a fictional fable. Let me hear from you.
OJI
No comments:
Post a Comment