As a nation, we experienced one of the biggest protests of our history. It went the way it went and ended the way it ended. But it is clearly not done and dusted yet. The aftermath of the looting and destructions that followed the protests heavily remain with us. The deaths of citizens and law enforcement agents remain in our hearts as families and friends continue to mourn and wonder what exactly happened to their loved ones. The Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continues its deliberations, inquiries and probes on the Lekki shootings. These have been challenging times, even as the COVID-19 situation still lurks in the corner.
This period has been full of lessons for everyone. Life itself is always full of lessons if you care to listen:
Big lesson for the leaders. If we continue to neglect the youth, the result will be catastrophic.
Business owners. Learn to disrupt your business so that when an external disruption comes you can stand firm, grab the opportunity and move on progressively.
Students. When an unusual holiday settles in, don’t give yourself a holiday. Pick yourself up and develop yourself in your area of interest and passion. This will give you an edge in life and you never have to wait to get a certificate or a degree to live the life you want.
Mothers and Wives. Unusual times call for unusual measures. Create more income source. Manage your expenses. Learn a skill. Set your home as you want it to be. Enjoy your kids. Make money and be happy. Don’t stay home sleeping away your life on the shoulders of another human being.
Fathers and Young men. Daily drinking, pub sit outs and extramarital affairs all year round don’t have to be a lifestyle you cling to. Your spouse and kids also need your quality presence, time and contribution in their growth. In no time, the kids will be gone. Old age will force you to sit at home. and you will begin to learn that from scratch.
To all Leaders: Every money you embezzle, you create a hungry and angry youth who comes to take away your peace and security and that of everyone else. I am no judge of who has taken from the youth because I do not know. Yet, we all know that the level of poverty we have with us today is largely a function of misappropriated and looted funds.
Greed, selfish interest, impunity is too much in the land. And it begins from all our little corners, homes, businesses and office desks. Everyone is playing a role. Are your actions adding to the problem or contributing to the solution? It will tell soon, someday.
To everyone. You can develop the genuine leader within you. We all need to consciously work on our Leadership skills and abilities. Many in leadership positions are not Leaders. Leadership is influence; Leadership is Service; Leadership is producing other leaders; Leadership is positive change in the lives of those you are leading. So, are you a leader? Not everyone in a position of power or authority is a leader.
To the Youth. I agree with the words of Victor Ndoma Egba, “You may have lost the past, but the future remain yours – yours to lose or yours to gain; it is in your hand.”
Still on the Looting…
Regarding the looting that took place in some cities across the country. Artisans we call in for various tasks in our homes and offices joined in exhibiting their skills in the way structures were looted, stripped bare and damaged.
Your hunger, poverty and frustration does not excuse your action. You bear full responsibility for your actions and be ready to reap what you have sown in one way or the other because that’s just how ‘Miss Life’ works.
Young people, fathers, mothers, children, responsible-looking women and men joined in the looting. Oh, who will advise who? Then on Sunday, we dress to go to Church. Our tarry nights, praise and worship, and hearing of The Word need to become more obvious in our lives. If you have been trusting God for your needs according to his riches in glory, why not continue to trust God even in the face of temptation? Looting is an action that only brings sorrow and discomfort. Some persons who said it was okay to loot palliatives would not do such themselves.
Someone who can loot palliatives can easily justify looting any other home, office or business. It becomes your way of thinking. Before you know it, you can no longer be differentiated from a thief and an armed robber. Even these ones began in a small way. Choose your thinking habit, your actions, and hence your life.
Choose to be a nation-builder by your actions. Hoarding is not nation-building. Looting is not nation-building. Singing the praises of looters is not nation-building. We all can make Nigeria a better place.
Truth be told, many are hungry. It behooves on us all that we ensure we are sharing what we have with others. In our kind of circumstance and environment, everyone is trying to have a better life. Even that person who looks good and comfortable to you, have their struggles too. So, we are in this together and must keep sharing as much as we can. Don’t eat while someone you can help is dying or in dire need. You can’t help every person in need, but you can help one or more persons.
The conversations going on at various levels, various groups and channels, including on TV, Radio and in the newspapers on where we are, and on the way forward, are commendable. We must keep engaging one another. Let’s hear the voices of younger persons be included in the conversations and engagements too.
I believe that the genuine #EndSARs movement have not downed its tools. Conversations are likely ongoing. This cannot end just like this. The tank of cankerworms has been led open and we will need to work together to clean it up.
Let’s look forward to a better Nigeria in all areas: With leaders serving the people and not just serving themselves as has been the case; where everyone has his or her basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, means of livelihood met, with positive harnessing of potentials, and abundant opportunities to serve the nation with all one has been endowed with. So, I genuinely and freely receive, but also give back multiple-fold and selflessly to my country.
Life can be quite simple but also very complicated. This is a thinking time for youth and for anyone who wants things to change and get better for the masses. No giving up on getting the country to be in a better place.
Working Across Generations
The root of the older persons in charge are deep. Just opposing them to get power from them may not really work. Inter-generational collaboration, a growing together, working together, mentorship, partnership between the young and old, mutual understanding and upholding principles and values as a shared choice for the good of all, would more likely work.
If my daughter wants to be in my position or take my place, she can’t achieve that through force. She will only provoke a defensive stance from me. But if she and I genuinely give space to mentoring, dialogue, working together, sharing of common values and principles that benefit all, then in no time, she will do even better than I have done.
At the end of the day, young or old, we all have the same tendencies. A humble protesting youth today could become a political tyrant tomorrow. So, it’s about setting in place working policies that favour the young and old working, learning and growing TOGETHER, not for the purpose of teaching the young all the vices, fraudulent and corrupt practices, but really, that everyone begins to really love this country and be selfless in service.
A country grows and prospers when her citizens live by Values, Principles and work towards the common good of all.
A CHANGE OF HEART FOR ALL IS WHAT IS REQUIRED – young, old, citizens, leaders and all.
I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, …to defend her unity.
It begins with me!
Together We Can… Work as Old and Young for a Better Nigeria!
So, Letting Go of selfish interests and solely personal gains, Matters!
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