•Secondary school girl shows that integrity is not negotiable
In a nation where many sincerely think theft, cheating and general dishonesty are the most effective ways to get ahead, 19-year-old Labake Samson has demonstrated that honesty is still the best policy.
Miss Samson, a student of Muslim High School, Sagamu, in Ogun State, came upon a purse containing N18,000, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and several important documents. Instead of doing the conventional thing and claiming it for herself as her own share of the national cake, she went to the bank on which the ATM card was drawn and got its officials to contact the owner of the purse.
This display of public-spiritedness and civic awareness is increasingly rare in Nigeria. This has become a nation of shameless politicians who invoke ethnicity and religion rather than admit to wrongdoing. It is a country of scammers, hustlers and tricksters who have so infected ordinary business dealings that all transactions must be double-checked several times before they can be concluded. It is a place where ethical behaviour is the exception rather than the norm.
In explaining her actions, Miss Samson stated that her upbringing was a crucial factor. Her mother had warned her repeatedly against doing anything bad and had told her to be “God-fearing, honest and contented.” She said the thought of taking the money had never crossed her mind, even though she needed a new uniform and school supplies.
Miss Samson is the kind of citizen Nigeria needs as it battles its way out of economic recession and seeks a befitting place on the world’s stage. She upheld her principles in the face of temptation, and was determined to do the right thing, in spite of the inconvenience to her.
If more Nigerians could display these qualities, more public funds would go into the development projects they were meant for, and less would be found in luxury apartments and soak-away pits. Citizens would be more respectful of the rights of others, and would be less interested in exploiting the vulnerabilities of their compatriots. People would be more interested in serving a country they genuinely love, rather than manipulating a nation they openly despise.
Miss Samson has been deservedly rewarded: she was given N2,000 by the owner of the purse, in addition to N1,000 each by three people who were impressed by her honesty. In truth, however, her act was its own reward; the benefit of an untroubled conscience and the clear knowledge that she acted in accordance with ethical principles cannot be assessed in monetary terms.
Nigeria must become a country where ethical behaviour is the norm. For this to happen, dishonesty must receive the disapprobation and sanction that it merits. The Buhari administration’s war on corruption, despite its flaws, is a valid starting-point because it has sent the unambiguous message that acts of corruption and financial malfeasance will not go unnoticed or unpunished. For a nation that glories in impunity of the very worst kind, that message is vital.
However, the real battle is for the hearts and minds of Nigerians, and the goal should be to change the attitudes that make dishonesty and cheating so widespread. An important strategy in this regard is to de-emphasise the crass materialism that has become so ubiquitous in everyday life. A people who worship money and the material goods that it can buy will never adopt honesty as a personal creed. Citizens in positions of leadership, especially political leaders, must downplay the display of material wealth and emphasise qualities like hard work, honesty and ethical values which are the true wealth of any society.
The best way to appreciate the honesty of Labake Samson is to offer her scholarship so as to encourage others, as well as build a society that is worthy of her sterling qualities.