Lately, pundits have been writing a lot about the changes that Nigeria needs and how President Muhammadu Buhari is just the perfect person to bring about those changes. Bravo to PMB and Nigerians because there are signs of those changes happening at the highest levels of government.
For the first time in Nigeria’s history high ranking officials in the previous administrations are being investigated for misappropriation of funds, the President is refusing to nominate corrupt citizens to serve as ministers, he refused new cars, agreed to reduce the number of aircrafts in the presidential fleet and astonishingly agreed to cut his own salary in half. These are all great changes but Nigerians need more than just change, we Nigerians need growth.
There are fundamental differences between change and growth. Change is an an effect. It depends on something or someone outside of oneself to make a difference. Growth, on the other hand occurs, from within. It is the conscious effort or labour on ones part that produces a transformation that is seen on the outside.
Nigerians must grow in order to for this nation to be chnaged and for us to grow, we must transcend our previously held points of view and be willing to shift our cherished habits, beliefs and opinions. We must begin to respect and believe that our lives and the lives of everyone around us are sacred. How many Nigerians are willing to drive safely for the sake of making Nigerian roads safer for everyone.
PMB can give us better roads but he cannot make them safer. That remains the onus of every Nigerian. Second, we must stop letting money be the greatest motivator in our lives. For most Nigerians that I know, their problems begin and end with money. If we would cultivate our God given gifts and talents we would have more money than we know what to do with it. The Japanese, American and European societies are affluent because they are not money chasers. They dream and take actions by making things that the rest of the world wants and needs. Bill Gates invented Microsoft before he became that rich. Oprah Winfrey had something to share with the world before the universe rewarded her with billions of dollars. Barrack Obama shared his gifts before he saw his first million dollars. We must stop putting the cart before the horse.
I have observed how lately nothing has brought so much joy to Nigerians as seeing former corrupt officials brought forward to account for their misdeeds. This is good change that will benefit society. However, it will be an illusion to think that corruption will suddenly vanish from the society. Who and what allowed these politicians to pillage, plunder and stay in power for so long? Growth requires Nigerians to not sit idly while corrupt politicians steal and rape the country.
How many Nigerians are willing to put their lives on the line for their brothers and sisters? PMB is not going to be there forever. Would you fight to demand justice for Nigerians?
To grow we must shift our opinions and beliefs about health. It is sad that educated and affluent Nigerians still treat obesity as a sign of opulence. A healthy country is a vibrant country and a vibrant countiy is a prosperous country. Growth requires us to change our beliefs and attitudes about our healths
To grow we must question our unexamined beliefs about God. We simply believe that God will come down and solve Nigeria’s problems but that will never happen. Nigerians must be the way for the development of Nigeria by serving their brothers and sisters. When you grow and transform yourself, the world will replicate the change in you.
Nigeria gained her independence from Britain in 1960 but we have not genuinely exercised that freedom. We have placed ourselves in boxes for too long, boxes of old beliefs and cherished habits. Box of accepting every injustice heaped on Nigerians without marching in protest, box of patiently waiting for God to come down and affect or effect changes in our lives without rolling up our sleeves.
Life is not a soccer match where only the members of the super Eagles are charged with winning the match for Nigeria. PMB and his ministers cannot do it alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play.
President Obama recently encouraged world leaders to change their attitudes about Africa. I would add, Africans, let’s change our attitudes about ourselves, let’s transform ourselves and see the quality of that transformation being reflected. Peace and blessing Nigeria!