As a people, we had jettisoned what
should have been our values and embraced values that are directly opposite
them. We exchanged our values for alien values not from the western world, but
from the various beliefs of our ethnic nationalities.
Over the years, we have abandoned
pursuing what should bind us together in pursuit of what benefits us as
individuals only. We therefore have various values that have fuelled
individualism and ethnicity, rather than egalitarianism and nationalism.
For example, instead of faithfulness
towards the future of the country, there is high level unfaithfulness. It
appears most people have lost interest in the country. It is evident in
people’s expression of how they feel about Nigeria. The level of migration to
other countries is also very high. People have equally lost interest in the
education system. Many believe that no quality education is available in any
Nigerian educational institution. Therefore they do all they can to send their
children and Wards to school abroad. In conjunction with Nigerians,
institutions of learning come to Nigeria and recruit students almost on weekly
basis.
This is not wrong in
itself, however when it prevents us from revamping our own system and making it
attractive to citizens and Foreigners, it is then dangerous. We began to seek
educational opportunities abroad because those countries took time to make
their educational system attractive.
More disheartening is that we have replaced
Honesty with dishonesty. Parents tell lies before their children and do not see
anything wrong with doing so. Officials in public and private organizations
falsify figures, as well as demand undue gratifications for doing jobs they are
ordinarily paid to do. Government lies to the people and expect the people to
understand.
We have exchanged justice for
impunity. People commit offences in Nigeria and go Scot-free, while the
afflicted watch helplessly. Other people go ahead and commit same offence and
their kinsmen shield them from being punished. We have anti-graft agencies
which start prosecuting elites for alleged offences and along the line, abandon
the case on various excuses.
The list may be endless, however when
we begin to acknowledge that something has gone wrong with the way we do
things, then we may begin to look at how to change. Denial can be dangerous;
change begins with the acceptance of wrongdoing.
Talks
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