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| President Buhari, Nigeria |
Opinion
Toye Faleye
The APC-led Federal Government may have struck at what
the Nigerian nation desperately needs now as it swims in debauchery and
attitudinal degradation in all facets of its life. By launching
“Change-Begins-with-Me,” it shows the regime of President Mohammadu Buhari is
set to liberate Nigeria from the stranglehold of moral bankruptcy that has
impeded its growth and development for quite some decades on.
The Nigerian nation has for long been contending with
massive corruption, drug pushing, tribalism, nepotism, favouritism, religious
bigotry, ethnic jingoism, and lots more, which attitudinal failure encapsulates.
The “Change-Begins-with-Me” initiative, as we were
made to believe at its launch September 8, would have individuals shun ignoble
attitudes and be equipped with the breastplates of integrity, honesty,
patriotism and other pleasant attitudes to battle the principalities of
indiscipline, improper conducts and other despicable behaviours.
How Buhari makes a success of this noble initiative,
as compared to his tremendous exploit when he introduced “War Against
Indiscipline” at his first shot at power way back in 1983 remains to be seeing.
When he brought WAI, as it was fondly called then, he was armed with dictatorial
mien worn by military leaders, wielding decrees menacingly to get things done.
But now, the environment is strikingly different. Human
rights activism, democratic tenets, rule of law, social media outburst and
vigorous advocacies would limit and caution him if he intends to employ the
measures he adopted under WAI.
The best Buhari can do now is to sermonise through the
media via his Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and
National Orientation Agency (NOA), appealing to Nigerians to embrace the new
line of thought.
“Change-Begins-with-Me”, as they say, begins with
individuals who are ready and committed to riding on the path of moral
rectitude and wear attitudes that elevate a nation. For the initiative to
succeed, it must start with the leadership of the country. It must begin with
Buhari himself, who already is known for his lofty and exemplary qualities. He
must be fair and just. He must not favour a particular section of the country
against the others.
The members of his cabinet must imbibe the spirit of
the new order hook line and sinker. The National Assembly members, Buhari’s
political aides, ambassadors and politicians must all be in the spirit to
uphold integrity, decency, accountability and worthy conducts. No misuse of power.
Profligacy, philandering, impunity, political gangsterism and brigandage must
vanish never to be seeing or heard of again among our leaders. The leadership
of the country of present must be upright in their execution of the regime’s
programmes.
“Change-Begins-with-Me” should embrace renewal of
character, a rebirth, a complete ablution that reflects total attitudinal
change in all spheres. All our leaders, both in the state and at the federal
levels must be ready to embrace the principles of patriotism and altruism to
create a new Nigeria that all will be proud of.
This must be a time when the toga of selfishness,
personal aggrandisement and dirty politicking must be shed. Let the legislators
across all levels do away with free-for-all in the hallowed chambers. Let them
shun irresponsible legislation, avarice and political hooliganism. Let
corruption from the leadership be done away with. They must be fair, just,
honourable and above board in all their dealings.
For the rest of the citizens, it’s time to sing a new
song that will lift up the nation among other nations. Enough of child and drug
trafficking, rape, vandalisation of government properties, economic sabotage,
unfair and undue price increase of items, cyber crime, advance-fee-fraud, ritual
killings and other social ills.
“Change-Begins-with-Me” is the order of the day. This
is an era of moral rejuvenation. It’s time for moral re-armament as Peter
Howard said of one of the thoughts of Frank Buchman in his book entitled Frank Buchman’s Secret, “…. When men
change and are gripped by the fire and passion, the purity and honesty and a
moral ideology, miracle happens. The foundation is laid of a new world, not on
the shifting sand of corruption and compromise, but on the rock-like character
of God-directed men and nation.”
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