A Nigerian Minister away on a diplomatic trip to Europe spent a couple of days at the home of his friend, a European Minister. He noticed that the beautiful mansion had a picturesque view of the city centre and he was particularly curious about his host's luxurious lifestyle which he knew couldn’t be afforded alone on government pay. His curiosity led him to asking, to which the European Minister replied by saying "Look at that bridge over there, I got 5% commission on it."
Several years later the Nigerian minister, keen to impress his European friend invited him over to tour Nigeria for a few days. He took him to his village where the European noticed the decaying infrastructure and roads. In the midst of that, however was the Minister's palatial residence together with opulent accessories which contrasted deeply with the total wreck his surroundings was.
The European couldn't take it anymore and had to ask his friend how he could maintain such an ostentatiously extravagant lifestyle to which the Nigerian coyly responded, "See that bridge?"
"Where?" The European asked.
"Of course you can't see it. I took 100% commission on it."
It is no longer news that corruption has eaten deep into the Nigerian mind. What astounds me however, is how the absurd has become the norm in our society. Just a few weeks ago I read in the dailies how three private companies or should I say "individuals" owe hundreds of billions of naira to banks - without collateral. More derisory is the fact that the offenders still claim that they did nothing wrong.
Imagine this. Every home and business in Nigeria spends an average of N500 daily on fuel just to generate power. I assume an individual makes 20kobo from each of these. That is 20k in [let's say] 100 million homes/businesses. Which is N 20million. Somebody makes N 20M everyday in this country. That’s enough reason to want the bulbs to stay off for as long as can be. And I'm just being modest.
Our democracy has degenerated to plutocracy, our heroes are labeled as tyrants, our values nowhere to be found. Hustle is the word on the streets as our youths are hell bent to get rich quick, whatever the cost. The quintessential Nigerian now has a price tag - an inscription which boldly states 'HONOR FOR SALE'. Money has now become the primary motivation for service, not even our Universities and hospitals are immune to this scourge. Our blessing is our curse, our greatest strength as a people now divides us. A nation without values, without heroes is no nation at all. How many of our leaders can even sing the national anthem correctly? What happened to pride? Apparently, many have sold it for a pittance. Others exchanged it for haughtiness. Even the remotest fool is not oblivious to the obvious fact that public services and utilities are moribund, if not already dead. The state of the nation is akin to that of a titanic ship sailing rudderless against the wind of progress.
This is the time folks, this is that moment we stand up. We refuse to turn the other cheek this time around. This is it! This is where we have zero tolerance for corruption and the mad-money rush. We shall speak as one and with action, create new values - of sincerity, of altruism and of patriotism. We only, can make ourselves what we want US to be and re-create the quintessential Nigerian.
However way YOU can, let us begin.
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