By Richard Odusanya
SIR: Our experiences in Nigeria over the years have shown that we have a system in place that enables and encourages fraudulent activities. Successive governments at various levels have demonstrated and shown how incapable they are of good leadership and are therefore very poor at managing any business no matter how lucrative. As a nation, our mind-sets appear to have been configured towards dishonesty and prone to material benefits and selfish accomplishments. This is evidenced by the rottenness and dilapidated condition of virtually all our critical assets and infrastructures.
Examples abound in our defunct national carrier (Nigeria Airways), National Shipping Line, Nigeria Railways, and all the steel industries, just name it – even the refineries have suffered the same fate.
There have been reports on sales of jobs going on at federal establishments. But this would appear a tip of the iceberg compared to the fraud in the oil industry and many other unwholesome activities of many of our public office holders. The question to ask is: what role is religion playing in all of the Nigerian misadventures given the level of religiosity in social spaces?
And now, most shamefully, the Secretary-General of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Ms Fatma Samoura has reportedly told Super Falcons of Nigeria that it is because of players like them that FIFA decided to pay prize money directly to players. The FIFA secretary general, who addressed the Super Falcons after their goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland in their dressing room, was quoted to have noted that they had to “face the reality of Nigeria” in coming to the decision.
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If because of Nigeria FIFA will consider a new strategy for payment of players’ allowances, one can only imagine the level of trust deficit for Nigeria even at that global stage!
Today’s globalization realities are intertwined with technology. Trust is difficult in a situation where leaders loot the treasury and ignore the yearnings of the people. It is time for leaders to become accountable to the people. It is time for leaders to become good stewards of the resources of the state. People get tired and become cynical when promises made by leaders are not kept. People want to see basic amenities provided for them: security, adequate health care, good roads, potable water, and a constant supply of electricity, to mention a few.
Clearly, the issues of paradigm shift cannot be said to be over-emphasised. It has become imperative that we change our ways before it is too late.
We need to activate such through the platform of agencies of government like the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Self-centredness shouldn’t become our 21st-century religion.