Sixteen months after the change train left the aversion station, there is little doubt that there is palpable disenchantment pervading the socio-political and economic atmosphere. There are complaints of hunger and starvation. Inflation is sky high. Jobs are being lost daily but new ones are as scarce as the proverbial coins on the masked face of masquerades. In the circumstance, it is difficult to fault the despairing spirit of citizens who voted for change.
President Buhari seems to understand the challenge that his administration faces: focusing on the task of economic revival, placating innocent victims of economic malaise, and encouraging them to bear the pain a little longer. At every opportunity since he took over the reins of power last year, he has assured Nigerians that he too feels their pain. The gesture is needed and appreciated but even he knows that it is not sufficient for the desperation that afflicts the people.
The new campaign recently launched by the President may have been inspired by the obvious need to carry the people along. If “Change begins with me” catches on and it succeeds in having citizens internalize the idea that everyone is a change agent, it might as well be the prescription that has always been missing in our national therapy.
But we have been there before, haven’t we? From ethical revolution of the late 70s, to the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) of the early 80s, to the Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reform (MAMSER) of the late 80s, and the War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAI-C) of the mid to the late 90s, Nigerians have been preached to ad nauseam. That we still remain the same or indeed, have become worse, appears to be a strong sign of either the incorrigibility of Nigerians or the ineffectiveness of the sermons. There are good reasons to believe that it could be a combination of both.
Nigerians behave as if they are generally immune to correction. Whether it is in the matter of reckless driving or in jumping queue for lack of patience, or in the indiscipline of lateness to work and its attendant low productivity, there has been no discernible changes in our social and economic attitudes in the last 56 years. Indeed, there appears to be a deterioration instead of improvement.
A state governor recently saw first-hand the incurability of our lackadaisical attitude to work when he confronted civil servants whose first order of early morning business in office was to pay obeisance to the stomach god with a bowl of amala and gbegiri. Recall that this attitude was one of the targets of the disciplinary efforts of military governors between 1974 and 1979. Three decades later, we are still learning. And tragically, we’ve evolved into more sinister pastimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and political assassination.
That the various campaigns have not been effective is undeniable. But beside the apparent incorrigibility of many Nigerians, it is also true that the leadership at the helm of those campaigns have led less by example than by precept. By leadership, I mean, not just the military president or governors or the civilian president and the cabinet, but all those in positions of authority who are seen by citizens as role models.
It was not unusual for those in such positions during the military era to see themselves as above board and to exempt themselves from the rules that they laid down for citizens to follow. But Nigerians are not dummies. They quickly found ways of adjusting and acting without being caught. Whereas if they knew that leaders followed their own rules, they too were willing, even if reluctantly, to toe the line.
For this new campaign to succeed, then, its architects have to learn from the failures of past efforts. The new campaign is for change, in line with the change agenda of the administration. But the change agenda is comprehensive, with emphasis, for citizens and leaders, on attitudinal changes; for leaders on commitment, positively, to efficient delivery of services, and, negatively, the avoidance of corruption and injustice.
The campaign enjoins that the positive change in attitude must begin with every individual citizen.
In fairness to the president and his team, I think that the idea of a campaign of this nature is excellent. It is anchored on the challenge of getting individuals to have a good attitude towards the common good of all without needlessly jeopardizing the good of the self. It is of course true that leaders must lead for followers to follow. But the role that a citizen has to play cannot be delegated to the leader and vice versa.
It is also true that an important piece in the big puzzle is the overarching national goal that both leaders and followers subscribe to as worthy of their sacrifice. There is no need for the Buhari administration to reinvent this wheel because it is clearly identified in the constitutional statement of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in Chapter 2 of the constitution. The entire chapter with its twelve clauses encapsulates the Nigeria of the founders’ and constitutional framers’ dreams.
Unfortunately, in the 37 years since the words were first accepted as our national ethos in 1979, we have not moved an inch closer to the implementation of even its most achievable objectives. The unity that is predicated on everyone sharing a sense of belonging anywhere is still very much out of reach of sections of the country. While the southwest has become a common home to many citizens from different parts of the country, the same cannot be said of some other parts. It is the responsibility of leaders to lead in the effort of national integration. But it cannot be accomplished by mere exhortation. Determined effort by way of example is essential.
Political violence is condemnable and must never be condoned under any circumstance. As a democracy that has come to stay, we know that the maximum an administration has is four years at the end of which it is returned or rejected. Therefore, a non-performing government can and should be tolerated or impeached. Violence is not part of the equation and cannot be a good substitute for valid elections. This needs emphasis because if violent pays at one time, it can equally pay at another time. What goes around comes around. No one has the monopoly of violent uprising against a government that is legitimately elected.
Exemplary leadership and committed followership are the key to the success of the new campaign. But it must start with leadership example. And every level of governance, across every zone, must buy into the change mantra and become its most eloquent exemplar. While it is a most difficult scenario to imagine—that leaders in Nigeria can, in deed, commit to disciplined practice of virtue, it is not impossible. How I wish for a pleasant surprise. For simply put, hypocrisy defines its absence. But if exemplary leadership is effectively realized, I am most certain that followers will have no choice but to gladly fall in line.
Finally, then, let leaders lead and followers will follow. From the President to the Ministers, from the members of National Assembly to State Legislators, from Governors to Local Government Chairmen, from First Class Obas, Sultans, and Emirs to Chiefs of all ranks and classes, from Permanent Secretaries to Administrative Officers, from the Security Chiefs to Military Commanders, from the Inspector General of Police, to Commissioners of Police and officers, from the Chief Justice to Magistrates, from Vice Chancellors and Provosts to Lecturers and Graduate Assistants, from Chief Imams, General Overseers, Prelates, and Archbishops to Pastors and Evangelists, there is a clarion call to leadership initiative and action.
President Buhari has called on everyone with an urgent invitation to get on board the change train. If the campaign for discipline and respect for national values enshrined in our constitution is to be successful, it must start with everyone. And when we assume its leadership, we can expect those looking up to us to follow suit. Change is as simple as having disciplined leaders lead from the front.
