Why Personal Accountability Is Key to Nigeria's Survival

After years of agonizing meditation, vituperation, impotent anger, and self-flagellation, I am now convinced beyond any doubt that Nigeria cannot survive, much less thrive, without a systemic restructure. - Dele Farotimi.

The frustrations of many Nigerians remain impotent as long as we lack a system that works. When you decide to cut the queue at a shuttle park or lie your way to the front of a line at a bank, you become a bigger problem than the government itself.

When your decisions upset both your "friends" and enemies equally, take comfort in the knowledge that you are doing something right. - Dele Farotimi.

You cannot do what is right or stand for what is right without making enemies.

While I have often asserted that I cannot be held responsible for your challenges in language comprehension, it is my advice that you invest in knowledgeable literature to broaden your horizons.

Nonetheless, I am convinced that young Nigerians must come to understand that infantile radicalism is not the same as revolutionary ideology and that those who think differently from you have not necessarily sold their consciences. Do not mistake cacophonous garrulity for courage or crass insolence for bravery.

Resist the temptation to be among the intellectually indolent who foolishly believe that protests equate to a revolution. We are not ready for change when we cannot tell the truth or stand for the truth.

If you still encourage preferential treatment simply because someone is your acquaintance, bypassing those who know no one, then you are contributing to the problems in Nigeria that we all dream of solving.

Let me share a story. I know someone who has harbored hatred or strong dislike for me since 2014 when I was his posting team leader. Back then, the posting book was with me, and you had to sign in with me before the matron, doctor, or paramedic chief we worked with could do the final signing for the day.

Considering that I have always been a stickler for doing things the right way, here is where the problem began. People wanted to come late for posting, which, for me, was not an issue. However, since posting hours were from 8 am to 12 pm, I insisted that whatever time you arrived for your posting was the time you should record on the paper.

Nevertheless, some people would arrive at 11 am and want to sign in as if they had arrived at 8 am. My insistence on accurately recording the arrival time led to deep-seated hatred and dislike that persists to this day. Others adjusted, but one individual, in particular, continued to see me as the enemy. My question is this: Why would you arrive for an 8 am posting at 11 am and still want to record your arrival time as 8 am?

Why can't we simply do what is right and avoid the entire process of falsifying records just to have our way? What about those who arrived at 8 am while you were still sleeping and snoring in bed? Could they not also engage in the same illegalities as you?

We can begin to fix Nigeria by first standing in line at the bank without breaking the queue or causing confusion just to get to the front. Second, we can start fixing Nigeria by encouraging those who do the right thing the right way, even when it does not favor us or give us the immediate satisfaction of using shortcuts.

If you have a problem doing the right thing today, you will likely have a problem doing the right thing when you become a political leader.

Elephants are not in the habit of flying, and expecting the Nigerian police to enforce laws is not unlike demanding that an elephant take to the air. How do you enforce laws in a country that is essentially governed by unbridled impunity? - Dele Farotimi.

In conclusion, the transformation Nigeria desperately needs starts with each individual committing to integrity and responsibility in their daily actions. By rejecting shortcuts and embracing honesty, we can lay the foundation for a system that truly works for everyone. It is only through personal accountability and a collective dedication to doing what is right that we can hope to see meaningful change in our society.