Time to make a difference

By Adewale Kupoluyi

SIR: We do not need a soothsayer to tell anyone of us that all is not well with our dear country. Everything seems to be upside down. Security apparatus is in a mess, the unemployment level is intolerably high, our roads are death-traps, schools are in shambles with unstable academic calendars, hospitals are in bad shape, corruption everywhere, hunger is written on the faces of people, bad governance, ethno-religious crises, and lack patriotism have become common features in our daily lives.

Is this the way things would continue?  What then can we do as individuals and groups to bring about the change that we badly need? To continue to keep silent and doing nothing is to say everything is fine and postulate that we should maintain the status quo and continue with the rot.

The truth is that the situation of things has become so bad now and I doubt if any mortal person can single-handedly transform our nation from this quagmire into a sane society, but at least, we can each do our bits. This is my turning point that I should become this change agent.

No more over-speeding, excessive honking, driving with invalid documents and against the traffic; whether on busy roads or deserted ones. No more joining of reckless security and patrol convoys to evade hold-ups. To keep doing this is like taking an advantage of my fellow citizens in trying times. Why not wait until the traffic is clear and drive alongside other motorists rather than driving carelessly? To continue behaving this way is akin to road terrorism and partaking in the same lawlessness that we blame our leaders for. How then am I different from them?

My participation in future electoral process would be better than before. Without further delay, I would obtain my voter’s card that I have refused to collect due to my apathy to the exercise. With my reorientation and new disposition, there is no need to sit on the fence any longer. With my strong conviction, things would begin to change for the better when credible, competent and capable candidates are elected into public office.

Rather than seeing law enforcement agents as enemies and bad people, I would cooperate with them to stamp out cultism, senseless killings and other crimes from the land. Beyond fulfilling the New Year mandate, my pledge would transcend this month, but continues thereafter, as long as one lives. Just like managing success, I would struggle not to waver in this arduous task of pursuing a noble cause conscious that the unforeseen and pull-forces that drive us away from doing the right things are more formidable and compelling than the push-forces that lead man into the path of honour, dignity, progress, and life.

For me, it is really time to build courage, take the gauntlet and make a difference.

• Adewale Kupoluyi.

FUNAB, Abeokuta.