Dignitaries without Dignity

Where is our dignity as a Nation?

I will rather be a common man or an average citizen with dignity, impacting lives positively, raising high moral standards and setting the pace for others (younger generation) to become men and women of honour.

I'm trying so hard not to write this piece with deep anger, it takes a lot of patience to live in a country like Nigeria, looking at a society where men of honour are no more, impunity has become the order of the day and no one seem to be accountable for anything to anyone any more. What has become of Nigeria leaders? I don’t care which political party does what, but let’s address ourselves as individuals; where is our dignity?

If my father for instant promised me 10,000 Naira tomorrow to buy books, its normal for me to believe him because I know my father is a man of honour and integrity, and he will keep to his word. If by the next day he cannot fulfil his promise to me, it is normal for me to trust my father to meet up with the promise or ask why he is yet to fulfil it. I understand that it is for men to will, but God alone empowers to fulfil.

However I think by ethical standards, my father should be able to explain why he cannot meet up with his promise and probably say “Son, I know I promised you and this is the reason why I haven't fulfil it yet but I won’t fail on my word, just be patient with me a little more” As a son I should be able to see the sincerity in my father’s face and in his voice which should be enough motivation for me to be patient with him and never lose hope.

Now my big question is do our leaders see themselves in the position of fathers and mothers who are to positively shape the future of their children (The Nation), to love and protect and never to disappoint them by keeping the promises made? How can one be a leader and not ready to serve? Instead they just seeking their own well-being, possessions, segregating children (region, race, ethnicity and parties). How do one earn the trust of a nation if one cannot protect them? How can one even sleep at night when insecurity has taken over the land and just continue with business as usual?

I can go on and on with questions as it burns in my heart and which I believe is the state of heart of many Nigerians; questions that never we never got answer for rather it has given us restlessness, sleepless night, insecurity, emotional breakdown, and despair.

I remember while growing up our parent taught us to keep praying and believing God will change the situation of Nigeria for good. I held unto this believe for 3 decades now, yet things are getting worse year after year and today I asked myself; prayer always? Will God come down from heaven to bring the change we desire or is not we humans that God will use as agent of change?

Pardon me, this is not about the change any political party is campaigning about today but I'm talking about the change that Nigeria citizens and all our well-wishers clamour for day and night. Come on! Is all human hearts from the most high God at all? Why has corruption eating deep into our Nation? Leaders don’t even think they are accountable to the citizen any more. What kind of democracy are we practising by the way? Poverty has taken over the land and the poor are getting poorer.

For instance our Senators earn far over 100% of the minimum wage. Then I asked are the civil servants slaves? Are our leaders actually serving us or try to milk us to death? And to make matter worse, there seem to be no punishment for corrupt leaders any more as impunity has become the order of the day.

Well I may not be good with analysis but I hope all well-meaning leaders from any political party whatsoever will read this and take time to reflect on how disappointed citizens of Nigeria have been over the years. I hope they can make conscious effort and prove to us that they are men and women of honours, show to us they have the interest of the country and citizens at heart, and stop sacrificing our lives for all their meaningless and dirty political games.

I call on all citizens of Nigeria who has been hoping for a better Nigeria and good governance to act wisely, let no one brainwash you and I. Let us constantly engage our leaders when things are going wrong, what we expect of them, and above all let no one buy our rights with just what we will eat today and destroy the lives our children tomorrow.

I call on all political leaders today to stand for something and stop falling for anything, to fight for the freedom our land, grant citizens in the far north, south, east and west the benefits of democracy. Make way for us to enjoy the fruit of this land, a land blessed with so many potentials, a land other nations of the earth should envy and long to be part off.

Let our leaders show us the father-figure in them with dignity, make us proud of our country again, and give us voice in the foreign societies. Let’s make our society an enviable one that Nigerian in Diaspora will crave to return home and live happily again rather than how some are living as slaves in other countries. Please do something, please!

Let our so call dignitaries bring out the dignity in them, dignity for service I plead. God bless Nigeria!

Steve Kay