WHY WE MUST BE INTERESTED IN ‘OCTOBER 1ST’!

One comment I have repeatedly heard from fellow Nigerians (at home and in Diaspora) in the last 15years or more when the independence celebration draws near is: “how does the INDEPENDENCE concern me?” Someone close to me asked same question about 3weeks ago... The question repeatedly reverberated in my head for the better part of the month, and as I made to prepare for the ‘Proudly Nigerian Summit’, I decided to make this subject my focal point. Hopefully, the culture of asking this question will gradually die a natural death. I am dropping an excerpt of my speech here and on my blog (www.suleemmanuel.blogspot.com) Enjoy!

Any bachelor or spinster will tell you that personal independence infuses a deep sense of responsibility... As we clock 48years as an independent nation, it is time for us as individuals to sit, think and ask ourselves: “WHAT IS THE [true] MEANING OF [national] INDEPENDENCE?” What is the original concept of INDEPENDENCE? Like we implied earlier, Independence talks about being Responsible. Thus, an INDEPENDENT nation is a Nation that is RESPONSIBLE for itself; an independent nation stands face-to-face with the pains or gains of her actions and inactions. An INDEPENDENT nation knows that if she doesn’t act on her dreams and goals, no other nation will do it for her. An INDEPENDENT nation knows that every minute not wisely invested is a national loss... But, there can’t be an independent nation without independent nationals... A responsible nation is a mirror of responsible citizens...

If our country must have a life, then we as individuals must have a life - an independent life! Here, Independence doesn’t typify alienation. We have repeatedly noted that Independence talks about being Responsible. I have always said that a larger part of our national problem stems from irresponsibility and irresponsible living. It is irresponsibility mentality that silences our sense of responsibility and makes us feel it is normal to [continually] put the blame of our failures on somebody else. The irresponsibility mentality tells you that if things are not working in your life, it is [always] somebody else’s fault... there is God, government and family to be blamed! This mentality unconsciously puts someone else in charge of your life, thus making you think, act, and complain like a slave. Typical of mediocrity, it is cheaper to live this way. This is the path taken by persons who are mentally defeated... they don’t believe there’s anything good they can do for themselves by themselves.

More than ever, our most urgent needs are not water, light, roads, schools or hospitals. Our most urgent need is responsible leadership and responsible citizenship. The amenities comes with it.

It is wicked and an utter expression of irresponsibility to have the means, but yet refuse to lighten up or beautify your street, develop the roads or sink a public borehole – folding your arms until govt. does it. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can help create directional signs in your area, if there is none. It is wicked and unpatriotic not to pay your PHCN/NEPA bill when it’s due. It is wrong not to make your due financial contributions for the maintenance of the public light transformer, but yet you don’t battle an eyelid in getting a generating set for your family! It is wrong to wait for govt. to force you to clean your environment.

We need to be truly responsible. Responsibility actually epitomizes RESPONSE TO ABILITY... All forms of individual and national irresponsibility must be die a natural death. While I absolutely disapprove of community development efforts that are politically motivated, the ‘me-myself and I’ attitude is most horrible. We must be our brother’s keeper once again; feeling each other’s pain and delighting in our gains.

Dear friends, we have a responsibility to make our life WORK... Each one of us has a responsibility to make Nigeria WORK. Bad leaders may have made bad deposits in our National life, what have we done as individuals? What is your contribution? It is only a man who is depositing positivity that has a right to complain about other’s negativity. You may not be able to change everything, but there is something you can do right... Every change begins with one man!

It is time to be truly RESPONSIBLE for our lives and quit handing out our responsibilities; this is your role in Nigeria’s progress. This ‘INDEPENDENCE-DAY’ celebration beckons on you to RESPOND TO YOUR ABILITY!

© Sule Emmanuel, October 1st 2008

ARTICLE LINKS

National Development

• How did we get here?
• Towards a better Nigeria
• Why we must all be interested in October 1st

Business Growth and Entrepreneurial Development

• Effective customer relationships
• Customer value is everything

Success Motivation

• Face your fight
• Bring something to the table
• In the face of challenges
• Do Something
• The SUPPORT Language

Relationship

• Who said I must be like you?