"AKPABIO IS CORRUPT!" --by Nickz

(Image source: chuckperrin.com)

“Udom is bad luck to the state,” an angry keke man fumes. “Umana is a criminal! What did he achieve in his time?” Another aggrieved party spits out. “Akpabio is corrupt! He left us in debts!” A roadside newspaper reader barks out. On and on, they throw verbal darts at these political figures, judging from how they feel about their effectiveness in dispensing their duties. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes they’re wrong, other times, they just need better orientation.

Personally, I don’t comment much on politics but I observe and learn a couple of things from it and see how to apply the lessons in an apolitical dimension. So many persons, including you, are guilty of what I’m about to point out. Don’t fret, I’m not gonna accuse you of stepping on an innocent ant, though we’re all guilty of that.

The whole gist lies around honesty and good morals. For so many, it’s easier to spit venom at politicians and others than to look inwards and see the log in our own eyes. These men’s misdeeds or shortcomings may seem more obvious to the world because of their status and positions but as for you oh keke driver, don’t you think you need to work on yourself? Why can’t you show good morals and obedience by waiting when the traffic light goes red on you? It’s hard for you to give out N20 change to a customer who took a stone-throw drop and paid N50. All you say is, “oga no change”. Is that fair? What would you do when the state allocation comes in every month under your control?

To you oh drycleaner, why do you keep people’s hangers for yourself instead of returning it along with their shirts? Why do you keep the things you remove from the pockets of trousers? You think they are trivial. Is that what the customer told you? To you oh admission officer, why do you shake your head at newspaper headlines when you took heavy bribe to give admission to a dunce? To you oh tailor, why do you lie to the lady to come back the following day and pick her clothes when you’ve not yet run scissors through the material?  Do you care how she’ll feel when she comes? To you oh son, why do you take your father’s house and give out on rent to tenants because he’s in the hospital bed? Why do you disrespect the old man? Do you know how hard he worked to erect that building? To you oh employer, who doesn’t want to take the intelligent and passionate applicant because his father’s name doesn’t ring a bell or because he’s from a different tribe, is that justice?

To you oh student leader, why do you hijack all the money you received during a courtesy visit and sideline other stakeholders? Is that the way forward? To you oh woman, who sneaks to a neighbour’s farm at sunset to pluck her pumpkin leaves, did you help when she planted and watered it? Why do you want her to come and meet a fruitless labour? To you oh civil servant, when you go to work by 10:30am and sign the time book for 7:45am, how diligent and truthful are you? Was it not that same job you fasted and prayed for? To you oh child, when you lie to your father after squandering your school fees on frivolities, what kind of leader would you be in the future? To you oh husband/wife that has a secret lover, I hope you wouldn’t complain if the government also cheats on you. To you oh mechanic, who remove good parts in a customer’s car and sell it, claiming that it’s faulty, what would you do if you were placed over ministry of works? To you oh preacher, who uses church members’ brains for selfish purposes, what kind of governor would you be? To you oh bank customer, why can’t you return that pen you borrowed to fill the teller? Or did you accidentally put it in your pocket? To you oh undergraduate, why do you apply “nanotechnology” in examination halls? If you cheat today, will you stop tomorrow? Why do we not see all these? Why don’t we point fingers at these? Why! Why!!

So much criticism on others, little on ourselves! We ignore the “little corruptions” we see from “insignificant” people. The truth remains; you could have probably done worse if you were in a political office. If you can positively affect the little environment around you, then be the first to throw the stone. My advice; don’t wait for the big jackpot before you become the change the world needs. Let good governance start with you and your family. Show respect for others’ feelings, let your light shine before men and stop exploiting others with that “small” capacity you find yourself in.

Back to our leaders; please Sir/Ma, abhor every form of corrupt practice and misconduct. The youths of the future are watching, the poor and oppressed are crying for their rights. Remember you are there to serve with diligence, not to scoop in negligence.