Before you raise your glass to celebrate the resignation of Madam Speaker, it’s not yet ‘Uhuru.’ The whole episode was no surprise, but a confirmation of what we all, collectively, have become. A friend said, ‘It’s a complete lack of humility and total disregard for others.’ Over and over, again, we always find ourselves in such similar situation. If the reader will permit me, I will like to go back to fundamentals. Is it a Nigerian thing or is it a black issue? A black, and a Nigerian for that matter, will measure up to anybody from any race anytime, anywhere, in any field, but only individually. However, in spite of his attributes, he is unable to live to expectation in a group – his group. What is responsible for this phenomenon? Is it the individual that is responsible, or is it the society (his society) at large?

God in His wisdom, created each one of us as a creature of self-interest. Yet, the same God, made it impossible for the individual to exist outside of his or her community. Mankind, therefore, from the onset has a daunting task. How will this creature of self-interest operate with less friction within the societal moral plane his community has imposed on it? If mankind must to exist inside of his community, it has to interact. In so doing, moral codes are developed. These are series of agreements that guarantee the survival of the community. And, anything immoral is destructive of that survival. Is it a lack of understanding to believe that an individual’s interest is greater than that of his or her community? For a start, it is the community that validates the individual’s sanity. You cannot just wake up and say that you are a normal person; it is the community or group that certifies you as a sane person. For that, to say the least, each one of us owes the community a duty.

Mankind also, due to its self-interest, craves for recognition. Without which it feels it is nothing. Yet again, it is the group or community that feeds that egoism. Every member of the community whether we think the person is irrelevant or not, is a member of the body that validates our sanity. Only a wise person will recognise this. I may not readily accept it, but everything I do, unconsciously, begs for their (my group’s) approval. If you think that every time you look at yourself in the mirror when you dress up, it is for your approval, you have another think coming. Try and walk about naked. You see what I mean? So, others in the community are very important in our lives: we don’t have to like them, but they are essential. For that reason, we cannot afford to have total disregard for them.

Naturally, we are selfish individuals, but the moment our selfishness comes to the fore, particularly if one is in a position of trust, that trust becomes suspect. The sensible thing to do, therefore, is to vacate that position – at least. Other societies are less forgiving. In most societies around the world, a suggestion of an individual’s natural self-interest over and above the collective-interest is not tolerated and has become a measure of civilisation. Nigerian society, and indeed the black race, is less demanding. This could be attributed to the fact that most people in our society have not realised how potent the societal grip is on an individual’s wellbeing. A friend suggests it could easily be put to test. ‘Most of these corrupt officials’ egos can be dwarfed by simply ignoring them or failing to give them respect or recognition,’ he says. ‘If you ignore a “big man” or fail to recognise his presence, it’s like stabbing him in the heart.’ There have been cases when such big men went to a corner to cry, in spite of their vast wealth and position. Such weapon is within the grasp of even the least in any society.

That would be the day! The day an unpopular corrupt leader is treated as if he does not exist will surely be the day Nigeria turns a corner for the better. Does that mean that all along, the few bad selfish individuals that have cheated the rest of us are not the bane of our society? Probably so: we, the rest, could be the problem. We have failed to demand probity from those we readily validate their sanity and have, in spite of their antisocial attributes, feed their self-centredness. It is a broken synergy. When Madam Etteh vacillated about stepping down from her stained public position, she was only acting naturally as a Nigerian would. It is the duty of the society to ask her to step aside, and the society did. Should she have waited, guilty of stained character or not until asked to step down from that high pedestal? Well, I suppose it is the level of her understanding. In a society where mediocrity thrives, it is not uncommon that such low intelligence could easily have risen to high places.

To expect that certain individuals will not put self over the interest of the majority, in reality, is to live in a dream’s land. Societies have discovered that vigilance is the keyword. Society needs to increase its surveillance. We have to start questioning everything and assume nothing. It is now conventional wisdom. Surveillance could save the society from insincere individuals and probably save the individual from himself also. The position of public trust is not a private affair and should be scrutinised thoroughly. It is not enough to declare assets to occupy the position of trust in a society. Those willing to occupy such positions would need to give account of how they came about every kobo of their asset; otherwise, they should stay clear of public life. But we have not gotten there yet. Until, as a society, we are bold enough to go that extra mile, we should not expect much from our public officers.

By the way, it is being suggested that the coveted sovereign conference should be shelved, and in its place should be a national economic conference. Somebody, I know, who had just relocated from the United States of America came up with the idea. The fellow’s frustration in reactivating a dormant company was his reason. Though he paid the necessary government charges in back taxes, he still had to cough out well an extra N150, 000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand naira) that he dropped on multiple tables to get the job done. I asked him why he had to pay that much. ‘My file did not move an inch for three months,’ was his reply. Such payment is not only in the public sector; sometimes it is even worse in the private sectors. Public servants in particular from the messenger to the president will be given a questionnaire at the economic conference: “what remuneration do you want to be paid at work to prevent you from collecting bribes or egun-je?” Let’s find out; it could all the while be a futile battle against corruption. Maybe the country is not even in a position economically to run a government.

Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick, the author of The Devil Must Be Laughing.

Robot  # 1 | 02.11.2007 12:20

When Madam E...Read the full article.