|
Reassessing Our Value Systems By Tola Ojo Every society is identified with peculiar characteristics of its people such as the beliefs and values that which invariably forms their common identity. The value is the beliefs, standards, principles about what is right or wrong and the extent to which they are respected. The kind of value adopted by a nation greatly determines the level of its development. Every Nigerian family would be proud to instill in their wards good virtues of hard work, honesty and patriotic zeal to defend the integrity of the family as well as the country at large. Unfortunately inordinate ambition to acquire wealth is gradually eroding away some of those values. In the advanced countries, the achievements of individuals are based solely on their passionate contribution to the development of their fatherlands, while in Nigeria individuals are celebrated based on their smartness to divert public funds to private accounts. Those who are supposed to be behind bars are bestowed with chieftaincy titles and honorary degrees which have also contributed to the deterioration of our value system. Appointments into public offices are no longer seen as a privilege to serve, but as new opportunities to take one’s share of the national cake. No wonder, the fence of an average comfortable Nigerian is like a prison as a result of high disparity between the ruling class and the governed. Despite the proliferation of places of worship, the extent of corruption and moral decadence in the society has propelled one to ask; where has moral values gone to? It is neither strange to see beautiful ladies working down the street naked in the name of fashion, nor is it news that selling the sale innocent babies to strangers. A nation where smugglers have vowed to remain resolute in their unwholesome business; where fake drugs are continuously brought into the country despite the ruthless effort of NAFDAC against counterfeit drugs; where substandard products are sold to the general public in spite of the endless warnings by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON); where the sight of corpses of victims of ritualists or armed robbers lying on the street do not excite emotional feeling. Why do we believe so much in importation instead of developing our local industries to reduce unemployment which is one of the causes of restiveness? How long do we continue to pay lip service to our developmental policies? What about the dignified pen robbers in the society who have continued to plunder our resources to the detriment of the less privilege? How do we explain the situation where some security personnel aid and abet crime for gratification? While inflated contracts on fictitious projects are awarded to non-existing firms, jobs are offered not to the most qualified but those with right connections even if they have failures in their credentials. Where is our core national values and pride if I may ask? Despite all the abundant mineral resources that the Almighty God has blessed us with, the rate of poverty in Nigeria is still very high; the gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider by the day. It is only in Nigeria that citizens celebrate their visa to leave the shores of their fatherland, some even go to church for a thanksgiving, simply because of the poor economic situation. While some are in prison, others have lost their lives in the expedition for greener pastures abroad. Think of a situation where public office holders spend millions of naira of our tax payer’s money to employ the services of marabouts to perpetuate their stay in office, instead of fashioning out ways to better the lots of the downtrodden. It is glaring that some of those entrusted with the mandate to serve have continued to fail us as mind boggling revelations continue to trail different probe panels initiated by the National Assembly, contrary to the effort of the anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC. It is appalling to note that those that contributed to moral decadence in our society are our so called illustrious sons and daughters who are held high in their places of worship, Ouch! It’s so painful. Our present predicament definitely does not portray the aspirations and wishes of the founding fathers of our dear nation who ensured that the country remains united in all ramifications despite ethnicity and cultural diversity. It is obvious that the younger generation is keenly watching as future leaders, but would they fair any better since it is assumed that corrupt society breeds corrupt leadership. Our present political and economic situation has multiplier effects on the value system, which invariably centres on the youths. We need to overhaul the entire system through absolute reorientation of our value system. The family must super-head this crusade by ensuring that their wards are raised with morality of good conduct. The government should be more proactive in their approaches in alleviating the suffering of the masses. Our Ivory Towers should ensure that the award of degrees is based on character and learning. The media has a vital role to play by enlightening the masses on the implications of poor value system. The anti graft and security agencies should be proactive in their crime prevention while the judiciary should be fearless in timely delivery of judgments. We should all work towards a corrupt free society where the electorates are given free hands to choose their leaders; where leaders are dedicated to serve with utmost sincerity; where the youths are giving adequate opportunities to contribute to the national development; where public servants are motivated to put in their best to discourage corruption; where hard work is rewarded; where religious leaders preach morality instead of prosperity; where there is resounding team spirit devoid of greed, selfishness, dishonesty, corruption, mediocrity, manipulation, fraud, tribalism and nepotism. Tola Ojo.
Dept. of Mass Communication, Lead City University, Ibadan.
|