NIGERIA’S DEVELOPMENT: A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILTY

The world knows that our system is decaying at an alarming rate, everybody knows that what we practise in the country is less of democracy but more of kleptocracy - a form of political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often without pretence of honest service which is often achieved by the embezzlement of

state funds. As a matter of fact, the blind can see that things are not practically moving on the way they have been theoretically structured, the deaf can hear the noises of corruption and voices of bad governances hovering all over the land, the lame knows that our roads are death traps and the dead knows that our hospitals are not better off where they are. In a nut shell, it is no longer news that the system is not working the way it should but then, the sickness of our system does not stop us from asking ourselves this all-important question: on my part and on your part what have we done to help this country?

Yes, the policemen collect bribe on high way but on your part, do you have your complete vehicle particulars and a valid driver’s licence? No doubt PHCN is epileptic but have you always paid your bills? There are bad roads and degenerating infrastructures everywhere what about the good ones? Do you use them with care or you damage them the more? Just think about it and be sincere with your answers! How often have you done the right thing for this country and how often have you obeyed the laws? These questions may sound rhetoric or irrelevant but it is good to draw reference from the truism that a healthy and functional system or development is a product and labour of the people in collaboration with the government. It did not just fall from the sky. It is their toil and sweat

How much patriotism do we have for the country, how much honour do we have for the national flag, how much regard do we have for the national anthem, how much care and respect do we have for our currency, how much fear do we have for the constitution and law of the land and so on ad infinitum.

There is no doubt that our political office holders have not really lived up to expectations but it is not a justification for us - the masses, to neglect our duties and responsibilities as good and law abiding citizens. What justification do we have to fold our hands and watch things keep going bad or even aiding them to get worse?

It is high time we all recognised that the country’s development is a collective responsibility and not the work of our leaders alone. All hands must be on desk and should be up and running if greatness is aimed.

On many occasions we (citizens) have reneged on carrying out the unwritten social contract between the government and the citizens. So many times we have declined in performing our duties and responsibilities all because we felt that most of our leaders are not encouraging due to their nonchalant attitude towards the country`s attainments of her goals but what good do we offer the country if we build evil on evil and what justification do we have doing the wrong thing even when it is becoming a norm in the society. There are no doubts that the system in the country sometimes does not positively encourage the masses who are keen in making sure that things are done properly - just in the right way, nevertheless, we should not be discouraged but rather maintain our integrity- always stand for the right thing.

Wherever you are, including Nigerians in Diaspora, no matter your tribe, political party, religion, gender and what have you, I am quite sure that we all want Nigeria to regain its pole position on the list of great countries in the world, whatsoever you can do to help this country to achieve greatness, do it and don`t mind if others do the same or not and by so doing Nigeria will soon be great again!

As the popular saying goes -little drops of water and little drops of sand make a mighty ocean. Therefore, as intangible as it may seem, a minute contribution from citizenry towards achieving a formidable country will go a long way in the all round development of Nigeria.