Introduction:
Several people have said that the only constant thing in life is change. In other words, while there are many variables in this world of ours change is one constant factor we can never seem to do away with because it will always exist for as long as we have a world. A baby ceases to be a baby after living for 10 years; the same person, once a baby, after living for 50 years would have obviously changed into someone else by way of advancement in age. If you have an old car, you will want to change it. Perhaps it is an old dress then surely a new one is what you will want to change the old for or if it a phone that has gone out of fashion then you most likely will want to change it for a trendier one. The bottom line is this: Change is something we all want. It goes without saying that change is a universal concept. One of the many definitions of change as listed in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is: To stop having one state, position or direction and start having another. Without a doubt the change we seek must come in form of a change in state, position and direction such that ultimately everything becomes different.
Background Information:
Nigeria is 49 years old having gained independence from the British colonialists in the year 1960. I still picture that day in my head, whenever I feel so concerned about the dwindling fortunes of this country of ours which is like every other day, even though I was not there in person - I can see the Union Jack being lowered and our very own Green-White-Green flag being hoisted to the shouts and admiration of all present. I can see all Nigerians including those at the venue of the ceremony, those following the turn of the events while glued to their TV sets and still others listening to the proceedings on the radio - the hopes and aspirations on their faces cannot but be those of a people who believe that things will only get better and better for the new nation called Nigeria. That was 49 years ago when it was easy and cheap to dream big dreams and get away with it after all no one had to pay any price for it, dreaming that is.
Now it is reality time in Nigeria with a good number of those who were alive at the time sleeping peacefully I hope in their eternal abodes 6 feet below the dark loam of the earth. Today, we are the 12th largest producer of oil in the world yet one of the worst offenders when it comes to importation of fuel products. Corruption in our country has become the norm and not the exception as it has pervaded every sphere of the Nigerian life and if you say 'Corruption' then surely, you mean Nigeria. Elections in our country are a charade as what we have is a mere imposition of leaders, what you might generously call a parody of public confidence in their fellow man. Our reputation, if we still have any of that virtue left, is nothing to write home about as the average Nigerian is viewed with suspicion and distrust once the green passport is brandished at any of the world’s numerous airports. Sadly that is the present state of affairs in which we find ourselves - the morass of life that we have to contend with on a daily basis. What is the quality of a Nigerian's life anyway? Pardon me; I digress so I must return to the path of this discourse.
This tale of woes does not get any more interesting as even on the home front we are still struggling to get our act together. Uninterrupted power supply is still a long way coming even after billions of dollars have been poured into what is fast becoming a bottomless pit of government ineptitude and profligate spending, potable water in most communities is a mirage as the so called dividends of democracy have become scarce commodities, a good number of our roads are in deplorable states and are at best highways to death and lest I forget; majority of our leaders cannot feel what we feel as they are far removed from what is the harsh reality for the majority of the Nigerian populace. Our economy needs to be diversified as our overdependence on oil is a worrisome trend that can only cause us gloom and doom if we do not do something about it and on time too. I have not mentioned the rot in the healthcare sector, the deficiencies in the education sector, the so much hyped yet vilified rule of law, and the burning issues in the Niger Delta, religious intolerance and ethnic crises, and the anomalies in other sectors that we have come to accept as the ideal scenarios even though they are less than acceptable. The bottom line is that Nigeria is in bad shape, very bad shape and we need fixing badly before this unwieldy conglomeration of a thousand and one ethnic groups comes crashing down.
Call to Action:
The picture cannot be painted worse than that but the question is: Must we fold our arms and watch the destiny of our nation trampled upon by a select few who cannot distinguish their left from their right? Are you like me also tired of this sorry pass called the state of our nation, Nigeria? Is the soul of our nation worth fighting for or do you think we should just take a break and accept our fate that nothing can get better in this country? If you have answered 'No' to all these questions then you are just like me too. The time has come for us to champion the cause of change in our country but first of all we must get things right; and start from the basics as that is the only way forward. The first step is to believe that the change we seek is possible, attainable and sustainable. Once we can see things this way it will only be a matter of time before it becomes a present day reality. You and I have a part to play in this as we belong in the same boat called Nigeria. If Americans for example can have the American dream who says we cannot have our own Nigerian dream built on everything Nigeria represents?
This mind cleansing is essential as what we have for the most part are a cynical people who have believed, erroneously I must add, that Nigeria cannot get any better. Once we can change our mindset and refocus our mental energies to seeing the good that Nigeria can and should become we will appreciate the fact that we are indeed blessed to belong to this nation. This is the kind of approach that we need - one that must start from the inside out. Let the litany on our lips be 'God bless Nigeria' every morning when we wake up and let our everyday actions also reflect just that. If you are used to jumping queues then the time to stop is now. If before now you have been throwing waste on the highway through the window of moving vehicles there is no better time to stop than now. If the custom for you was to give the policeman at the checkpoint the usual 20 naira note in a bid to circumvent the law, now is a very good time to stop. For those who have converted open spaces into public conveniences, the time to effect a change is right now. For the motorist who is guilty of disobeying traffic lights, now is the time to have a change of heart. These actions might actually look very simple on the surface but the truth of the matter is that these little deeds will when pooled together form a whole bank of good for Nigeria. Can you picture the scenario? A hundred and fifty million Nigerians working hand in hand to make sure Nigeria gets to the top and sits comfortably in the midst of the first class nations of the world.
We must work hard at this for the task before us is not a simple one - the rot of forty odd years is not something that can be cleaned out in seconds perhaps not even days but surely sometime in the not too distant future we will get there and when we do it will be to shouts of 'God bless Nigeria, we made it'. Do you see that day coming upon us? It is not about the pains that we will have to experience for surely there will be many of them but it is about the gains that will come to us as a nation if we remain focused and committed to building the nation of our dreams. Is it possible? Yes it is but you must play your own part in this for it to become our reality.
When we begin to take ourselves seriously by working out the change that we desire in this nation then other nations will see that we mean business and offer a helping hand. This is the gospel of change that must be preached in all nooks and crannies of our nation - from the primary to the secondary schools, to the universities, polytechnics and colleges; to government parastatals and ministries, homes and street corners, places of worship, the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, and in other arms of government Federal, State and Local etcetera. The list is endless as everyone must be carried along in this process of absolute reformation and change for we all stand to gain in the long run.
Conclusion:
Change especially when it is for good is a sweet experience. The developed countries of the world today all started from somewhere and some were in worse states than we are right now but this change that we all seek came to them after years of consistent hard work and progressive nation building. Can you see that change coming to us? It is very possible if we work hard at it with all we have and with all we are. We must not be derailed from the ultimate which is that Nigeria must take her place in the comity of nations and that our quality of life must compete favourably with what obtains in other parts of the world. This is not the time to be laid back and complacent but the time to quit complaining and start working out that change that we so very much want to see in our nation. We must leave the realms of wishing this change upon ourselves and start working hard to make it happen. The question is: Will you elect to be part of that change? The choice is yours even as the call is loud and clear: “Arise o compatriots, Nigeria's call obey, To serve our fatherland …” It begins with you!
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