By Denrele Animasaun

A long-time of not thinking a thing wrong, gives a superficial appearance of being right-Tom Pane

We often take our citizenship for granted, we automatically assume the privilege of being a Nigerian is ours for the taking and that we can jolly well use it, discard it at will,when we choose and when it pleases us. We should know that with these privileges come responsibilities. And we should take our responsibilities seriously if we value the privilege of truly being a Nigerian.

We should do more and throw away these assumed feelings of entitlement. We feel that   we are owed this for being who we are. Actually, we are not. If everyone feels this way, then who are we expecting to deliver these entitlement and demands? So in the meantime we are squandering our birth-right and not fully recognising that we are custodians and that we have to hand over this responsibly to the next generations like those before us did. History will tell if we did our duties as custodians.

When I was growing up, the values and responsibilities of being a Nigerian was very much instilled in us; we strive to be a good person, we guarded our family names so proprietorially and, with pride, we are told that with hard work and pride in what we do, we will make it in life. We were told by our elders and those in authorities that it was important to truly be responsible and neighbourly; that it was important to truly give back and we did for the general good and not for ourselves and the privileged few. We did coined the adage that: “it takes a village to raise a child” didn’t we? So when and what are you doing to help raise decent Nigerians? There was a time we were compassionate to one another and it did not matter if you were from one tribe or another or you were from another religion or a different political party. We were then all Nigerians and that was all that matters.

We obeyed laws and had the confidence that the rules and laws were safe in the hands of our hallowed institutions and establishments. We knew the law was there to protect   us as citizens and took our responsibility very seriously as we knew failure to do so had consequences.

We took pride in the green, white, green; it was the colour of pride, real pride and privilege. It sounds simple doesn’t it? But how many of us can truly say that we do our best as Nigerian citizens in the true sense of the word? Do not worry about what others are doing, what are you doing to be a good Nigerian? Remember what you do is reflecting and will reflect on your children and their offspring. We have often used the old chestnut;” that everybody is on the take, that is why things are the way they are ” I have got news for you: you are either the problem or the solution. You are a Nigerian after all, so you choose.

So I ask you, what   makes you a Nigerian? Before you answer, make sure that you have proved your worth to be called a Nigerian…

I believe a good citizen makes a good country and it is time we act as we deserve the right to call ourselves Nigerians.

Leadership lead by example

My workplace and Operation Black Vote organised an event to mark Black History Month and we invited the leader of the Labour party, Ed Miliband as guest speaker in the UK.

Every October, in the UK we celebrate Black history month to mark the achievement of black people in history.

Yes, I know that one month is not enough   but that debate is for another time. So we got in touch with his people and his people got in touch with our people . Other than the protocol, the planning went   smoothly; there was no pomp and ceremony. Well other that handful of police and the local politicians were visible as this man could very well be the next prime minister of the UK.

As any good politician worth his salt, he knew that every vote matters and he came to garner the black and the young vote. In the borough where I work, the   Black minority group is fast becoming the majority.

The message was that of hope and opportunity and   that there had to be education and employment opportunity for the young people and that the broadest shoulder should bear the biggest burden. I couldn’t agree more. The rich and the privilege cannot think that they are above the law and outside the realms of the common responsibility that they have to pay tax or invest in the people.

He asked us to hold him to account and that if he does not do what he promises in a year of getting in government we should call him to account. There was lot of emphasis of the young being present in ensuring a brighter future. If Nigerian politicians could learn anything: is that we have to place greater priority on all our young people and not just privileged few.

They have to bring Nigeria in parity with other countries. In order for Nigeria to take its proper place in league of Nations we have to ensure that education, sustainable opportunities, training, health care and good infrastructure to safeguard the human rights and improve the quality of lives of all Nigerians at the core of their manifestos.

Anything less, Nigerians should vote with their conscience and let the politicians know that the votes are not for sale or should be taken for granted.

We have for, far   too long left our young people out in the cold to fend for themselves and not given them the opportunity   for their family and the young to work their way out of poverty. I detest politicians who consign our young people to political thugs and beggars or hustlers . We should be better than that and the young they say after all, have the future. So what are we doing to make the future of Nigeria safe for them to inherit?

Every reason to recognise a good Nigerian, Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh

Nigeria has been given the all clear; it is Ebola free. The alternative is not worth thinking and   we owe so much to the front liners, the first defenders who risked their lives to ensure this virulent disease did not wipe out scores of people as it continues to do in other neighbouring West African countries.

Much of this credit we have to recognise is that of the brave Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who diagnosed Mr Patrick Sawyer and with her professional and civic responsibility helped to contain the outbreak at its source. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the doctor on call at the First Consultants Hospital in Lagos where Sawyer was brought, prevented the dying man from spreading it further, Benjamin Ohiaeri, a doctor there who survived the disease, told Reuters. We agreed that the thing to do was not to let him out of the hospital,” Ohiaeri said, even after he became aggressive and demanded to be set free.