Social norms are the unwritten rules of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that are considered acceptable in a particular social group or culture. Norms provide us with an expected idea of how to behave, and function to provide order and predictability in society. It is also part of the standard behavior shared by members of a social group. Norms may be internalized—i.e., incorporated within the individual so that there is conformity without external rewards or punishments, or they may be enforced by positive or negative sanctions from without. The Makoko video that is currently trending on the social media on my mind., can
The video says it all – res ipsa loquitor! The education model of leaders and the led. The Makoko video is a testimony of a country led by the greedy, selfish, blind, irresponsible, irresponsive and condemnable leaders “Rulers” at all levels whose children are educated in very expensive schools abroad and the led in schools in slums in NIgeria. Sad and unfortunate events culminating in very bad upbringings. This is completely a validation of my new book published by Lambert academic publishing, “NIGERIA NEEDS A NEW NATIONAL MODEL”
After watching the Makoko video and I contrast with the pictures of the kids of the ruling elites graduation’s ceremonies in the United Kingdom, United States of America and many other Western nations. It was a very sober moment for me, as I was ruminating and reflecting on the many challenges confronting us as a nation; I then begin to reflect on issues ranging from poor infrastructure, education, healthcare, and near system collapse. It was in the circumstances and reflective mood, that I remember the joint statement by Robert Rotberg and a former American Ambassador to NIgeria, which goes thus: –
NIgeria has recently designated a failed state in a joint article in Foreign Affairs by political scientist Robert Rotberg and former American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell. In their article, “The Giant of Africa is Failing”(May 31, 2021), they declare: “If a state’s first obligation to those it governs is to provide for their security and maintain a monopoly on the use of violence, then Nigeria has failed, even if some other aspects of the state still function. Criminals, separatists and Islamist insurgents increasingly threaten the government’s grip on power, as do rampant corruption, economic malaise and rising poverty.
Flowing from the above, and, as a nation at crossroads, we need to focus more on the flawed system that is not working for all, than the excitement of power-grabbing, which is presently excitement within the ruling elites. A few years back, Nigerians, were so excited about ‘Change’ that was sold to the unsuspecting citizens. The ‘change’ manifested in the present situation that we find ourselves. Therefore, it has become imperative that we should look beyond power changing hands, it is important to take a holistic approach and reform the system first of all, before any steps, unless we are not serious about the real change.
It is also important for us as a nation at crossroads, to begin with, a process that produces the kind of leaders that puts the interest of the nation first, above every other consideration. No nation that is conscious of the well being of its citizens will allow individuals who have dual citizenship, divided interest or allegiance to other nations to hold sensitive positions. Nigerians aren’t going to be direct beneficiaries of the appointments of some individuals who probably had carried out the imperialist agenda and won’t protect our interest as a nation. Hence the need for the cognitive dissonance to the Mind Restructuring advocacy.
It is, therefore, expected that we recognize the need for a collective resolves to begin to demand for the irreducible minimum, which is absolute loyalty, honesty and loyalty to the nation and the well being of the citizens. Never again should a nation so blessed with unimaginable resources turned out to be designated as the global capital of poverty. NIGERIA NEEDS A NEW NATIONAL MODEL.
ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS
Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI
