The soul of a nation is not merely reflected by the leadership but forged in the daily actions of its people. Nigeria, a country of immense potential, is caught in a paradox. While we cry out for change, we often undermine it with our own hands. Corruption, inefficiency, and broken promises are not just symptoms of leadership failure; they are mirrors of a deeper issue within our society.
Imagine a community eagerly awaiting the restoration of power, yet someone in that very neighborhood cuts down the cables that could bring light. We lament the absence of electricity, yet our own hands sabotage the transformers delivering power to us. When rail tracks are torn apart, when streetlights go dark, we are not just dismantling infrastructure; we are tearing apart the fabric of our collective future.
It’s easy to point fingers at the government, to say that it’s their duty to lead, provide, and protect. But leadership is a reflection of the governed. When terrorists destroyed the Kaduna-Abuja railway, it wasn’t just the tracks that were damaged, it was our faith in ourselves as a people. In the East, when individuals strip the tracks for scrap, they don’t just sell metal; they sell out their own future. When a drainage cover vanishes or interlock blocks disappear, it’s not just theft; it’s a dismantling of hope.
We demand accountability from our leaders, yet we fail to hold ourselves accountable. A nation is not only built by the policies of those in power; it is sustained by the integrity of its people. Every choice we make, no matter how small, contributes to a larger narrative that defines who we are and who we will become
Take for instance, an experience in the market. I had gone in the afternoon to purchase a product at a certain price, only to return later in the day to find that the price had drastically changed. When I questioned the seller, his response was both startling and telling. “We call Onitsha every hour to get the latest price,” he said. But the goods he had were purchased at the old price. Despite this, the seller hiked the cost, justifying it with the market trends he claimed to follow. This isn’t inflation. This is a deliberate, conscious decision to exploit others.
A similar situation unfolded during President Tinubu’s inauguration. As soon as the announcement was made that the fuel subsidy would be removed, many petrol stations still sitting on subsidized fuel immediately raised their prices. In that moment, it wasn’t about the government’s policy or the broader economic implications; it was about seizing an opportunity to capitalize on the uncertainty of others.
In the education sector, examination malpractices continue to undermine the integrity of learning in Nigeria. Parents who bribe officials, teachers who allow cheating, and students who willingly participate all contribute to an erosion of values that should be the cornerstone of national development. When the next generation grows up learning that shortcuts and dishonesty are the keys to success, what hope do we have for future leadership?
Healthcare, a sector that should be synonymous with compassion and care, is not immuned either. Some private hospitals inflate prices for medical procedures, taking advantage of patients in their most vulnerable moments. What’s more tragic than knowing that your health, or that of your loved ones, is subject to price-gouging, even in emergencies?
And then there’s the public service sector where corruption thrives not just at the top, but also at the grassroots level. Citizens bribe officials to avoid proper procedures, whether it’s obtaining driver’s licenses without tests or skipping legal requirements for building permits. A glaring example is the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Despite repeated assurances from the Director-General that getting a National Identification Number (NIN) card is free, countless Nigerians have been forced to pay staffers just to have their data captured.
Even in everyday transportation, commercial drivers routinely hike fares during bad weather or festive periods, taking advantage of the desperation of stranded passengers. The issue here is not about rising fuel costs, but rather a simple, opportunistic decision to squeeze more from those who are at their mercy.
These instances illustrate a painful truth. Corruption is not confined to the corridors of power; it lives and breathes in the actions of everyday citizens. When we point fingers at our leaders, we forget that we are often complicit in the very system we criticize. We forget that every time we exploit a fellow Nigerian for personal gain, we are perpetuating the cycle of corruption that plagues our nation.
To rebuild Nigeria, we need more than a change of leadership; we need a change of heart. True progress will only be achieved when we hold ourselves to the same standards we demand from our leaders when we choose integrity over exploitation, empathy over greed, and unity over division.
In the end, the future of Nigeria depends not just on those in power but on each of us. We stand at a crossroads where our actions today will define the nation we pass on to future generations. The choice before us is clear: Will we continue to perpetuate the cycles of corruption and exploitation that have held us back, or we will rise above them?
Change will not come from the top alone. It must come from within. Each act of integrity, each moment of accountability, has the power to redefine our country. It is time to look beyond the rhetoric of leadership and embrace the power of citizenship. The greatness of Nigeria lies not in its potential but in the actions of its people.
So, ask yourself: What kind of citizen are you? The answer is not just a reflection of who you are but a blueprint for the Nigeria we can build together. Our nation’s future is not a distant dream it’s a choice we make every day. Now is the time to choose wisely.
Stephanie Sewuese Shaakaa writes from Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.
