CONSCIENCE. COMPETENCE. CHARACTER.
These three words have become my daily anchor. But this morning, a deeper thought confronted me: beyond these three, there are three verdicts that no Nigerian, whether powerful or ordinary, can escape.
The verdict of History. The verdict of Posterity. And the judgement of God.
History is recording.
The verdict of History will remember each one of us for the actions we individually or collectively took to put Nigeria in the direction she is today. It will remember the policies we made and the ones we condoned. It will remember those who were in power and those who kept quiet while others were in power. Silence in the face of injustice, history teaches us, is complicity.
The verdict of Posterity will also not forget.
A time will come when our children will ask us pointed questions. Where were you when Nigeria was being looted? Where were you when conscience was suppressed for selfish interest? When competence was sacrificed on the altar of loyalty? When character was traded for crumbs and stomach infrastructure? Posterity will not forget our conscious efforts, whether we built or destroyed, whether we spoke or remained silent.
And finally, the judgement of God. That one is not negotiable.
Every one of us has been given the opportunity to use our conscience rightly. But if we choose the other way, suppressing our conscience because of selfish interest, because of party loyalty, because of ethnic or religious affiliation, that judgement awaits us. Whether we are dead or alive, blind or seeing, sick or healthy, our generation will be remembered for our actions, good or evil.
This is a sobering thought. But somehow, this morning, I am still dreaming.
Like Martin Luther King Jr. said many years ago, “I have a dream,” and one day that dream materialized, I have a dream this morning too.
I have a dream that Nigeria will be delivered. That her glory will be restored. That her light will shine again for the world to see.
Not because politicians will become saints overnight, but because ordinary citizens will finally choose conscience over convenience, competence over mediocrity, and character over corruption.
We will be judged. All of us. Let us choose to be remembered well.
_Richard Odusanya writes from Nigeria. He is the convener of WITNESS 2026._
