By Helen Ovbiagele, Woman Editor
‘IF the foreign exchange rate is one naira to one U.S.  dollar, which of you would like to go queue up for             U.S. visa, or do the U.S. visa lottery,  so that you can get out of  Nigeria to go live there?” asked this young Pastor during his sermon.  No hand went up.

“What about if the naira is neck to neck with the British pound as it used to be before the early eighties?  Would you go struggle to get a visa to go live and work in the United Kingdom?” “No!” was the thundered response. “If you’re not a naira  millionaire or billionaire, but are  able to get a decent job with a decent salary, and you have a decent accommodation, and basic social services like clean water, regular power supply, good and affordable health care, education, transport, good roads,  and a fair amount of  security of lives and property, would you like to check out of the country and go do menial jobs abroad so that you can survive?”

“For where?” shouted a member of the congregation.  “We go stay here and prosper, by the grace of God.   Our country na our country.  We go struggle here for a better life.” “And then we can only go abroad for a change of environment, on holidays,” shouted another person.  “Who wants to go suffer in another country where they despise you, are suspicious of you and they maltreat you?  God forbid.  See how they treat Nigerians in Europe, U.S. Asia, and even in South Africa.  They don’t want us around in their country, but people go because things are so bad in our country.”

“That’s great.  Just great,” said the Pastor.  “You’re all responding very well.  I’m encouraged.  What you mean is that if  living conditions in this country are what they should be in a decent society, none of you would want to emigrate.  Is that it?” “Yes.”

Decision-making positions

“Good!   In that case pray for our leaders and those in decision-making positions, so that God will guide them to make the right decisions which would ease the pains of living in this country and move the nation forward.  Pray for the President so that he will enjoy good health and have the confidence and peace of mind to rule the nation.” Silence in the auditorium.

“ The Bible says we should pray for all those in authority. This is so that they will guide us aright.  If out of grudge and malice we refuse to pray for them, a good sense of judgement will elude them, and they will begin to fumble and stagger in the dark, and their mis-rule will plunge the entire country into darkness. That will mess up the lives of all Nigerians.

We shouldn’t let that happen.  Are you willing to pray for our rulers?” “Yes Pastor,” came the weak response. A short prayer was then said for our rulers. “Now, pray for yourselves,” continued the Pastor, “ that every Nigerian  will endeavor, as we embrace the new year, to  live an exemplary life, which will attract blessings  to our nation.  It is easy to blame the next person or our rulers for the deterioration of things in Nigeria, but what about ourselves?  Are we, collectively and individually, not contributing to the mess the nation is in?

Let us examine ourselves and make amends in the coming year.” I thought that was good reasoning on the part of that Pastor. More often than not, we blame the government or, other people for the predicament Nigerians are in; bad roads, very poor power supply, lack of security of life and property, poor quality healthcare, education, transport, etc.

But who’s government?  People – Nigerians.  When there’s a bad government, are we not partly to blame?  Those people in the seat of power didn’t seize power all by themselves, but with the aid of Nigerians; either through elections or by appointment.  When we say that elections are rigged, human beings (Nigerians) are involved, as human beings helped to effect the rigging which puts in power, totally incompetent people who ruin, or appoint people who ruin our economy and everything good about our nation.

If we refuse to help anyone rig elections, and we refuse to be bribed to vote for anyone, rigging would grind to a halt.  Our politicians should have enough self-confidence to present themselves, talk to us about what they will do with power if given, and then leave us to decide whether they’re worth voting into power or not.  If those voted for, don’t perform well, then we don’t vote for them next time.

Power should be in the hands of the people, not the politicians.  This will ensure accountability on the part of the latter and they will not take our people for granted.  If public officers are not performing, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye, but bring that non-performance out into the open, so that it can be corrected. Political parties too should monitor their members who have been voted into power, to ensure that they’re delivering the goods.

Elections promises should be kept and we should see them.  Gone should be the days when contracts are inflated, and/or, not executed at all; yet, money is collected.  The public is fed-up with the EFCC being sent after some people for one financial mis-deed or the other.

Weren’t human beings around when these acts were being perpetrated?  Also, when rightly  proved beyond any doubt that a person has swallowed public funds, it’s best to get back that money from the person, than waste further public funds and time through lengthy trials, and eventually a jail term.  Get back the money and let the person go live with his/her conscience afterwards.

When we moan about how corrupt the nation is, we should remember that those who ask for bribes and those who give bribes, are equally guilty.  If you bribe to get a favour, you’re encouraging bribery.  If you buy examinations papers and answers for your child, you’re encouraging corruption and exam malpractice, and also helping to raise incompetent workers for the nation’s workforce.

This is because that your child that you helped to cheat his way through all institutions of learning, will come out with very poor knowledge in his career or profession, and he’s sure to perform badly in the position that you help him secure in an organization, and may always face the sack. His lack of knowledge and self-confidence in his field will make him have an inferiority complex which may lead to some social vices.   If it’s a lady, she may have to always  sleep with men in order to get on in life.  Let’s face it; parents will not always be around to prop up their children forever.

This is why we must instill hard work, integrity, honesty and a sense of responsibility in our wards, right from an early age.  Teach them to be proud of achieving through their own personal performance.  Refuse to allow them indulge in expo.

Those Nigerians who are lucky to have jobs, should endeavour to perform well.  That’s one way to move the nation forward.   Lackadaisical attitude towards our jobs doesn’t earn us respect, and it doesn’t show patriotism and that we have our country’s interests at heart.

That’s why many expatriates treat Nigerians in their employment anyhow.  We shouldn’t say because it’s our country, we shouldn’t bother to work well.

If citizens of the western countries we love to go ‘seek greener pastures’ in, had this sort of attitude, we won’t be attracted to the development there, and want to go live and work there. This new year, let’s resolve to put our country above our own personal interests and together, work towards making it great, so that we’ll be the envy of the sub-region.

A happy new year to all readers of this column, particularly those who started with me, and have remained with me, not minding the flaws. god bless you and yours. Amen