Why is honesty now seen and regarded as a big deal or even a very big deal in Nigeria and by Nigerians, and indeed elsewhere worldwide? Is honesty not supposed to be a commodity for most people? Why is honesty nowadays in Nigeria, and even elsewhere, seen as a scarce or very scarce commodity? Rather, nowadays, it is dishonesty that is seen and regarded by most people as a desirable commodity, which is not scarce, but of ample provision among the populace? Allied to dishonesty, is corruption, which is seen and regarded by at least many if not most people in Nigeria and elsewhere as something enviable and desirable also. Dishonesty and corruption on the one hand, and honesty, integrity, and incorruptibility on the other hand, are seen as the rule and exceptions to the rule respectively, instead of the other way around. This should not be the case at all. For instance, about six months ago, sometime last year, a young Air Force man, a Non-Commissioned Private in the Nigerian Air Force, was instantly promoted to the rank of a Corporal, by no less a person than the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, for his h honesty in returning a large sum of money worth thousands of US Dollars. He had found this left behind by somebody — an unknown person — in an Air Force Aircraft he was assigned and scheduled to work in. This news was carried over the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network News, on Friday, 26th July 2019. Although I am personally in support of such honesty being recognized and rewarded by the highest possible authorities at one’s work place or even country, but does it necessarily have to be celebrated nationally or otherwise? Such as by being a major news item in a country’s national television network, which is watched by millions of Nigerians and other non-Nigerian foreigners resident in Nigeria? More so, the event even being superintended by no less a person than the highest ranking and Chef Air force Officer of the country, instead of the young man’s Head of Command or Head of Unit in the Air Force? Is this or could this be some form of advertisement, self-promotion, self-glorification, of the Air Force and the Armed Forces, or indeed even propaganda? What signals and message is this actually sending to Nigerians? That it is a very big deal to be honest now in Nigeria? And that perhaps it was and is even wrong and unwise for people to be honest, in these days and times of ours, of a pervasively and endemically corrupt Nigeria? If a relatively lowly young man and Air Force recruit, or any other young man for that matter, returns tens of thousands of US Dollars (or whatever amount of money in any currency, including Naira) and as a reward for his honesty, he is promoted to a Corporal, it is all well and good! But beyond the deserving promotion for the worthy young man for his honesty, why was no further immediate tangible or concrete reward given to him? Such as a grant of items for his immediate welfare included along with the promotion, for such a “rare feat” (which, however, is neither the first time in Nigeria, nor would it be the last) in contemporary Nigeria of returning such a huge sum of money in a hard currency — in fact the “hardest” world currency of Dollars? For example, in this case, such necessary further reward could include: Gifts or presents to him of a Bicycle, or a Motorcycle, or even a Car; freely donated appropriate housing accommodation in the Air Force Barracks; or even based on an “Owner/Occupier” basis; or at least his house rent for one or two years paid for him “upfront” by the Air Force authorities; or even in other work places, as the case may be. Is this really teaching other young men to be likewise honest, and return such money (which is equivalent to Millions of Nigerian Naira) they find in the course or line of their respective duties or otherwise elsewhere — as the “proverbial” and veritable “lost and found”?! In any case, why “celebrate” a person, but not his virtue? Why not rather help a young man — or any man or woman indeed, regardless of age, the older or elderly ones inclusive — to be actually better off tangibly and constructively? Why not therefore “celebrate” such a person beyond and over and above promotion on his job at his work place? Rather than “promoting” such a person only just potentially, and devoid of his immediate and continued welfare? Nigeria has therefore unfortunately been so much infested with and by corruption, especially so, since independence. But most especially and retrogressively or in retrogression, worse so, since the past 35 – 45 years. Financial and economic corruption and bribery in particular, has become so pervasive and endemic in the Nigerian society, especially within the aforementioned period. So much so, such that it is nowadays in contemporary Nigeria wrongly, unfortunately, and lamentably, seen as something that has come home to stay, or rather, “come home to roost”. This is conversely, ironically, curiously, and “interestingly”, seen by many if not most or a majority of Nigerians — even those who are honest and not necessarily corrupt in any way — as the general rule. Rather than the specific exception that it is or should be. Even more unfortunately, lamentably, and woefully in the darkest doom, it is now apparently evident and clear that perhaps a majority of Nigerians feel and act as if people should rather be dishonest than be honest, as reasonably and sensibly expected of them. Surely, a majority of Nigerians at least now feel that honesty doesn’t pay, but dishonest does pay. But is it necessarily so at all, or at least always so?! No, not really! No, this is not the case at all, even if it seems so. Many Nigerians lamentably now feel that it is “foolish” and “silly” for one to be honest, unfortunately. Nowadays, many if not most Nigerians — most disturbingly, the younger ones for that matter — also conversely feel that it is “wise”, “in vogue”, and “trendy” to be dishonest. Still many other Nigerians feel that it is better and even best if one doesn’t have any integrity whatsoever. What an irony! What a folly! What a frailty! Still others feel that corruption and bribery is something desirable and enviable in our country, or even anywhere else. In what way does throwing away honesty and integrity to the harsh dusty winds really and truly help one, at least in the long run? Ideally and also really, truly, and in reality, this should not be the case at all. No! Instead every Nigerian or at least most Nigerians should have the lofty aim and goal of being honest, and a person of good, unimpeachable, and incorruptible character, with reasonable integrity. Not only for now and for the near and distant future, but indeed for posterity, and for one’s successors and indeed progeny to inherit, maintain, and perpetuate. |
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