BEN SEN(SE)

Watching TV and an attempt to just make common sense stokes my anger and further confirms that after so many years our journey to redemption in this country seems further from the end than the beginning.  I am surprised that Ben Murray Bruce will come out to tell teeming listeners and fans that the problem with Nigeria is a lack of unity, and the unity in countries (or in the names) like United States of America, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates is what makes these countries great. I just cannot imagine someone of his caliber and standing coming up with such a pedestrian analysis of our condition; to put it mildly.

If just being unified will bring the change that we so need, then all of us united in the sufferings, all of us united under the harsh conditions; would have achieved it long ago before we had the good fortune of listening to him weekly. If unity was our problem, then we would have been heading to the soccer pitches to solve our problems as no other place in this country congregates such a large number of united Nigerians.

Unity is not the Problem. Nigerians are, and can be unified in many more ways than have been thought possible. The problem sir is a lack of responsibility and accountability in our society. This two are the parents of corruption and all the major ills that have robbed us of our pride of place.

If those entrusted with authority and leadership took up the responsibility of doing what was demanded of them, putting the responsibility of their office ahead of their personal gains or perks, we will be in a better place. If those that have gone contrary to their responsibility had been held accountable for their expressed or implied breach of responsibility, we will be in a better place. If responsibility and accountability are what they should be, corruption will not be so rife and neither will all its other addendums.

I have witnessed in the United States where a pedestrian challenged a driver for attempting to run a stop sign. He felt it was his responsibility to caution the driver; he did not pass the buck neither did he wait for the police to show up; still in America I have also experienced random strangers helping a lady with a baby carriage down the subway stairs without any expectation of gratification, in fact they leave before the second thank you is audible. The citizenry must be personally responsible and accountable for the society they want to live in.

Nigeria can just be Like Charles Osgood wrote, “There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.  Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job.  Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.  It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have”. So if we are going to make it, every hand must be on deck, all boots must be on ground, and we must take up the responsibility of playing our part as should be, and hold those that need be, accountable, whatever their position or place in the society.

So please when next you come for our hearts and souls Mr. Ben, come correct.

God bless Nigeria.