Change Begins With You!

Nigeria, a nation with a population of more than 180 million people spread across 910,710 sq metres is richly blessed with  human and natural resources ranging from natural gas, crude oil to cocoa, iron-ore, rubber, limestone and a fertile land for agriculture. However, her people live mostly on a low standard with many only able to put daily bread on their tables and those of their family.

Corruption, the bane of our development has eaten deep into the fabric of every sector - administration and politics, education, health and even the legal system. Everyone eagerly longs for a Messiah to come block the loopholes and rid the polity of this evil called corruption. It seems to be a part of our lives, such that the policeman expects you to drop a 50 Naira note (used to be 20 Naira) whether or not your papers are complete.

Your company makes goods delivery to other companies, where the security man also expects to get something to increase your chances of getting in, else your truck might as well spend needless hours waiting.

You step into a hospital (public or private) in haste to see the doctor, the receptionist  keeps you waiting until you slip a Naira note into her hands and you wonder what magic immediately brings a nurse to your rescue.

These and many more are the experiences I have had, heard and confirmed.

The sad thing however, is the fact that everyone expects  'No Corruption' to start from the government or their neighbours. We all complain about the state of the country, when our fathers, mothers, relatives and friends are those at the helm of affairs as the Dean of department, Permanent  Secretary of a ministry, Chairman of a local government, Head of civil service or Member of house of representatives.

We wail and lament about who a 'good' man should be, but until the moment we realized as individuals that we are the initiators of the change we need, our mere talk on newspaper headline review every morning on radio and the numerous programs on TV will only end up as fantasies.

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius

It starts with you demanding to be represented only once on the government payroll, don't have your unborn children registered as civil servants. Refuse to pay that policeman the usual tip even when your papers are complete, do not demand extra pay from a citizen who appears in your office to apply for passport, drivers' licence, births certificate and the likes.

Only when we see change as starting from us can our concerted efforts make corruption a thing of the past.

Photo Credit: fitandfabyoublog.wordpress.com