It is an indisputable reality that almost all of us contribute in one way or another to the negative attitudes that impede the development and advancement of our country.
These attitudes are not limited to our leaders alone; they cut across all levels of the people in the society.
Together, we have undermined the moral foundation of our country via dishonesty in our daily interactions, routine disobedience to rules and regulations, tardiness to work and public events, and the abuse of public authority for private benefit.
Exam cheating and dishonesty have even become commonplace in our schools, and corruption, bribery, and short cuts are all too frequently viewed as the quickest routes to success in business and government.
Many of us criticize the shortcomings of the government while ignoring our own terrible and regrettable contributions to the continuation of these issues.
Until we collectively confront and change these personal and collective negative behaviours, by embracing discipline, honesty, and responsibility, Nigeria’s progress will remain slow, no matter how capable or sincere our leaders may be.
In actuality, our collective actions in our homes, workplaces, schools, marketplaces, and other settings greatly add to the issues our country is currently confronting.
However, we tend to blame our leaders for every problem, ignoring the fact that they are a reflection of the society they govern.
How many of us honestly pay our taxes, follow basic traffic laws, or treat public property as our own? Yet we complain about poor governance.
Many people continue to litter the streets and expect the government to clean them up, despite our desire for a clean and developed Nigeria.
We demand jobs, but some refuse to work diligently or take responsibility for self-improvement. This hypocrisy raises a fundamental question: what do we really want as Nigerians?
We all know that true development starts with individual transformation. If each citizen commits to honesty, discipline, and a sense of responsibility and belonging, the leadership will have no choice but to reflect those same values.
Therefore, until we fix ourselves and do the right things always, our demands for good governance will remain as a cry in the dark.
We should note that our homes, workplaces, and everyday attitudes are where real change starts, not Aso Rock or state government buildings.
