The True Meaning Of Change By Mohammed M Mohammed
We sought, we work, we campaigned and voted for change. Thanks be to Allah for giving us our heart desire. This new down is the wish of the majority particularly the down trodden who for years suffered untold hardship in the hands of the minority power mishandlers and their bed fellows the so called disingenuous power brokers. Despite what we went through that motivated us to yearn for change it seems we do not really have a good understanding of this refreshing word change. As such it has become imperative upon us to explore and clearly understand the true meaning of change particularly as it apply in a democratic set up and how it works in other democracies across the globe to impact positively on the life of the common man. First and foremost let’s look back history line in countries that agitated for change and got it. Starting from post colonial era to date the following countries experimented and succeeded in implementing a positive change; South Africa, Ghana, India, China, Brazil, Singapore, U.S.A., etc. Just as it happens in Nigeria, change was initiated in the above mentioned countries by leaders with tested and proven credibility. This I believe is rooted in the fact that, any positive change must be spearheaded by people with high level of integrity, selflessness and total commitment to leading their people to the right path that will take any nation and its people to greatness. On the other hand, change will never be complete if the followership remains on its old ways of retrogression. Whenever we hear of change then something is amiss, in other words we sought after change only when we realize that, we are not on the right track, the existing appliance is not functioning well, our thought or actions are not yielding something of value or beneficial to us, to the system or to what we cherish. As such one has to change his thinking, the faulty appliance, ways of doing things to get a different result from the old in effective one. This is based on the premise that, doing the same thing and expecting a different result is absolute madness. So, if you need a different and better result then, you must alter from the old feeble ways. After years of struggle the change is now with us, for us and by us, in similar fashion making it work is and must be by us .To achieve this, we must change with the change by altering our thinking and actions from all the old bad ways that brought this great nation down to its knees. Also, as we all know the new bride in town called change was spearheaded by great and patriotic leaders who have the interest of Nigerian masses in heart under the able leadership of the President –Elect retired General Muhammadu Buhari, the fearless, incorruptible General and the father of our political revolution. The big question I want to ask my dear reader is, what do we give the politico General in return for the bravado and sacrifice shown by him for more than a decade in an effort to liberate us from the ills bedeviling this nation ? If we really believe in the change we fought for and the father of the Political revolution, we must support the elected President with obedience, discipline, hard work and dedication to the father land to institute true transformation that will take this great nation to its rightful place as the giant of Africa and a force to reckon with in the global arena. This is what the nationals of South Africa, India, Singapore, Brazil, etc did to their leaders that brought change to enjoy the fruit of change and transform their nations to world economic powers . To take this great nation to prosperity and peaceful coexistence we must embrace positive behavior with outmost sincerity, by so doing, this and future generation of Nigerians will benefit from the abundant resources we are endowed with. And for the General we have no iota of doubt that he will deliver by God ‘s grace. The only advice I will offer to our beloved father of modern political revolution is to remind him of what he already knew and believe with that, Nigerians are very hard working and intelligent as such, the first thing we need from the incoming administration is an enabling environment for economic self reliance so that every able and willing Nigerian will be up and doing to create wealth for self and nation. Finally I will reiterate the fact that, change is a two way traffic on one lane is the need for selfless and patriotic leadership and well disciplined and committed followership on the other lane. I will conclude with a reawakening from the general some decades back in one of his speeches mentioned that “ We have no country but Nigeria, we must remain here to salvage it together. So help us God. |