To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: that’s one of the mean of the verb word ‘change’ according to Dictionary Reference.
We all go through a form of change or the other in life. And in the Nigerian context at the moment, we are counting down to the general elections and the word ‘change’ is on most Nigerians’ lips – from people clamouring for change at the national level to the other part looking forward to change in Lagos state and not continuity or consolidation.
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The truth, Nigeria needs a change but what change are we looking for, before we go a little further, I’d like to share a recent happening in my vicinity.
Towards February this year, Oshodi motor pack in Lagos witnessed two clashes of hoodlums under one week with a couple of buses burnt among other human casualties which resulted in presence of armed military personnel at the popular garage and up till the second week of March. People attributed the clashes to political activities of supporters of the top two parties in the state.
Fast-forward to post clashes – apparently the security agencies keeping watch over the area in a bid to avoid further breakdown of law and order are extorting bus drivers operating in the pack by collecting N100 as toll fee especially at night. And driver that refuse to drop something get pulled-over.
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Enough said, back to our ‘change.’ Either we are on the same page or not, we all know that the nation needs an overhauling which in actual sense is different from what we are clamouring for presently.
On a person note now, neither APC nor PDP is the problem of this country so long people from the north would prefer to vote for a candidate because he/she is from the north or those in the south would still want to cast their vote along ethnic line.
So long as our military personnel would keep extorting us. For as long as a top officer of the force would want 20 civilians dead for every uniformed man killed. So long accountability at all level remain nothing to write home about.
So long as we keep celebrating corrupt public office holders, and even the ones in the private sector. Elective office holders do boost of delivering their promise quality public education whose standard are actually too low for their own kids. The real change would be when our public office holders are comfortable with having their own kids in the education system – the quality education they have provided.
A politician would spend two terms of 4 years each as a state governor and after leaving office cant bank on the same improved health care delivery he delivered while serving as a governor.
Aside the benefits availed to serving politicians, the likes of ex-governors and presidents have access to life pensions whereas faithful civil servants on leaving office after serving diligently for decades would have to stage protests in the sun and rain to clamour for the payment of their unpaid pension.
One of the features of the real change I’m taking about is the image below, shared on 2Pac’s Facebook page.
However, it’s not just about having public office holders placed on minimum wage but putting in place a strong and independent antigraft agency and not a celebrated toothless dog for the fight against corruption.
The change I want is equity where every Nigerians irrespective of status, religion or ethnicity is treated equally. A change where accountability and transparency are entrenched in the system with every arms of government, departments and agencies giving periodic account of their dealings to the public.
A change where the local, state or federal government won’t only remember the abandoned projects in my constituency when it’s only few months to an election.
The bad roads in my vicinity only spring up on the map of my local and state government during this electioneering period, and that’s totally out of the league of the change I want. I want a change where I can held elective office holders accountable with no much risk to my safety.
Months to the election, the federal government intensified her efforts to end the reign of insurgencies in the northern part of the country while also gearing up on some of her abandoned projects and state governments aren’t left out either, a case of the reduction of the Lagos State University skyrocketed school fees few months ago.
Since everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, neither APC, PDP or any other political party is not the problem that the country is facing at the moment, it’s much more on the individuality. Our sentimental and partisan approach to issues of national interest, our regards to non-performing public office because we are both card carrying members of the same party, our level of intolerance to people that we share religious, ethnic or political difference.
Do you truly want change? As one of the top brands in Nigeria would put it – it’s in YOU!
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