By  CALEB AYANSINA

The high rate of crime, indiscipline and other societal ills in the country have been traced to the neglect of the country’s cultural values. In the olden days, things worked well as people had respect for the culture, but these days the story is no longer the same and that has had a very negative impact in the development of the country.  So there is the need to go back to the abandoned cultural values as it remains the best option for Nigeria to get it right and move forward.

• Mike Omotosho, Rotary Gov. District 9126 Nigeria.

This was the view of the District Governor of Rotary Club (District 9126, Nigeria), Dr Mike Omotosho. Omotosho who spoke with Sunday Vanguard recently described culture as one of the major tools to promote attitudinal changes in the country for a better Nigeria. And as a way of actualising that, he said, the Club had prepared to launch a 4-Way Test Code on Feb. 23, to instill in to the heart of every Nigerian the act of honesty, truthfulness and sincerity that build a better society.

The 4-Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  According to Omotosho, “for the desired change to happen in the country, it must begin with us, therefore, both the leaders and the followers must live by example, by asking themselves if their thinks, utterances and actions are true, fair and of mutual benefits”.

“The reality of it is that everything you want to do start with the thinking process, so if our people are not properly cultured, the whole process will be faulty, but the moment we get our mind right then, naturally, things will change. “When people understand the attitudinal change that can be applied anywhere; in school, in business, in reporting, in the banking sector and in what we do on daily basis, it becomes habit and habit is your culture that is what you are known for.

“I don’t believe every Nigerian is corrupt, but they say Nigeria are corrupt, and it’s not fair, because that is what they come to associate us with, as attitude, Nigeria has been labeled that way. It is not fair and not true, all Nigerian are not crooks, but that is the label we are talking about. “One question I usually ask myself is, why is that Nigerians behave orderly when they travel to abroad, but back home they behave disorderly? The answer is because the culture allows that so, the moment we begin to change, things begin to change for us.

“Ironically, there is nothing that can change our culture, it must start with us as a person. So, it’s what we do on daily basis that becomes habit, and that habit over times becomes culture, so, we need to go back to the root, and say okay, how do I begin to think differently as a person, so, if I change my way, others do the same, then, they will not begin to label us as corrupt people again.”

Omotosho also disclosed that the launching which will feature brief lecture about the four way test, as a re-orientation tool,  cultural activities like; drama, poetry, traditional performances would have in attendance, the Minister of Power, Work and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and Com. Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna North, among others.