First, last year, the Farouk-Otedola bribery saga, very much in the public glare, presented a great opportunity for us to fundamentally address those things which plague us. After the probe panel by the House of Representatives was inaugurated, not a few had their hopes raised about how this would herald a new beginning for the country. With the slowdown, we lost the sense of urgency which is a prerequisite in any successful change management.
Then, came the Channels Television ‘New Year gift’ or rather what can be termed its New Year Resolution to step up its act from merely being a talker or on-looker to a doer or player through its Corporate Social Responsibility. Over and over again, it has been said that Nigerians should go beyond the discussion of their woes to take the bull by the horns in creating the change they desire or indeed being the change they clamour for.
To my mind, that was exactly what Channels TV portrayed in showing the rot in the Police College, Ikeja. Watching the television documentary, I came to the conclusion that we are at last telling ourselves the truth so that the truth could set us free. The fact that this led the President to pay a surprise visit to the Police College is in itself a success. I think the era of lip service and reading the lips of people at the helm of affairs should be over if we are honest in effecting a positive change in the polity. This is another opportunity to fundamentally change the way we approach issues which is to “cover up”, pretend as if nothing happened or make a lot of noise and do nothing.
First, we lost our sense of shame. Now, over a mess of pottage we are prepared to sell our souls even when the impending doom and catastrophe can be felt.
Is it that Nigeria is destined to self-destruct or is it that this generation of Nigerians is so deprived of self – confidence that is intrinsically derived that they are so afraid to lose their primordial acquisitions – be it money or power?
On a personal note, in December 2005, about seven years ago, when the tragic loss of 60 innocent schoolchildren from Loyola Jesuit College (and others) presented itself, I sincerely thought that with great determination, all Nigerians in unison, would rise and say “Never Again” and tenuously turn a corner. That did not happen. And now the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, suffered an attack that could have been unimaginable some years past.
In these threats, I see opportunities for us to rise as one, opportunities to embrace the common good and look beyond individual and myopic gains to a concerted determination to build a great country for our children and children’s children.
Who will start it? The Channels TV has made a move, even if allied security considerations may have arisen. I sincerely pray that something positive comes out of this courageous and altruistic endeavour!
- Dr. Ije Jidenma is the Executive Secretary Goddy Jidenma Foundation
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