Phew! Sadly but expectedly, Nigeria is out of the World Cup. Even though many of us hoped that the Eagles would miraculously fly, we were not unaware of the 5Ps of life- Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance- which the Eagles woefully failed to exhibit. The World Cup may be over for many, but it has just begun for me. Congratulations to Ghana for securing second round qualification, but since Nigeria is out, may the best team win!
But seriously, I am certain that the Eagles’ calamity display at the World Cup has further strengthened the belief of many that Nigeria is a failed State. Indeed, it is only a failed State that budgets N10 billion naira for an anniversary celebration when most of her citizens live below poverty level; only a failed State has Honourable Representatives who turn the National Assembly chamber to a boxing arena in the name of moving a motion; and it is only a failed State that experiences acute shortage in the midst of abundance.
If Nigeria is a failed State, then the government and people of Nigeria have failed to do what is right. Many of us are quick to blame the government for being a national embarrassment, and I totally agree with that. We accuse the government of encouraging corruption by appointing corrupt individuals to manage public funds and offices- another statement of fact. As a matter of fact, to say that successive Nigerian governments have been a disgrace is an understatement.
But then, is the government to be blamed when parents use their children for drug trafficking, aid and abet their kids in examination malpractice, and encourage their kids in defrauding unsuspecting people?
The family is the smallest unit in a society, and it’s saddening that many of us have failed to raise a family worthy of emulation. If we cannot bring up our family to be orderly, peace-loving, diligent and God-fearing, then we must not complain about the government because it is being run by members of families who are just as bad as ours. The only difference is that they are in government while we are not!
A society that’s indisciplined and morally bankrupt will never get to the Promise Land even if the government is as upright as we can imagine- and Nigerians epitomizes these two traits. We cannot continue to blame the government for whatever happens when we have failed to make any positive difference. The bank MDs who almost wrecked 5 of the biggest banks in Nigeria were not appointed by the government; the carelessly parked truck that killed Dagrin was not parked by the government; our blind greed and desperation shouldn’t be blamed on the government; the ripple effects of our careless flouting of laws and procedures should not be blamed on the government.
Most of us go to church and mosque on Sundays and Fridays, respectively, but only do it for fun. Many of us claim to have conscience, but we hardly worry about it when perpetrating our evil deeds. So, if Nigeria is a failed State, we are a FAILED PEOPLE!
Let’s do what right in our families, and we shall turn around the fortune of this country someday. For me, Nigeria is a great country occupied by failed people- and failed people run down great nations!
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