The Probe

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For today, I wish to talk about the just concluded world youth FIFA U17 championship hosted by Nigeria with Switzerland emerging as the world champion.

Just this morning while listening to the Sports news on 92.3 Inspiration FM usually anchored by Wale Scott. (He likes to say, I am the voice you must be aware of and if not for anything, at least for your heart, do some sports).

The topic of discussion centred on the just concluded World Under 17 football championship hosted by Nigeria (another topic of discussion is the quality of hosting). The issues raised during the 20minute or so phone in programme were:

1.Alleged misappropriation of funds by local organising officials

2. That cars/vehicles ordered for the tournament were still on the high seas meanwhile the event itself is over.So what happens to these cars?

Lots of calls came in to contribute to this topic and one common trend was that Nigerians who called in did not expect anything better from the organisers so they complained bitterly and rang off. Others said they wished the matters would not be allowed to die down just like that .The last set of callers simply called to say more or less that Nigeria is doomed (in not so many words).

I listened with sadness to these calls. To call in to contribute to the programme was a nightmare as the phone line was consistently busy all through the programme.So I have decided to share my thoughts with you on this page.

I thought to myself that if truly there was misappropriation of funds, then I, as a Nigerian  have a right to be angry (as you should be too whether home or abroad) and demand justice but more importantly ensure we get justice.Not just talk about it and resign to fate because then, we would continue in rut and continue with the endless complaints.As Edmund Burke said, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing".Key word here is "do".

I was delighted during the course of the news when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan stated that there would be a probe into the funds management.This was good news indeed and I believe we should follow it to a logical conclusion rather than just complain and leave the issue hanging. In the words of Dennis Wholey, "expecting the world to treat you fairly becuase you are a good man is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you becuase you are a vegetarian". Accouuntability must be demanded.

There would be one of three(3)  possible outcomes to this probe:

1. The probe ends up exposing culpable members and we can ensure adequate prosecution (this pushes us one step further to proving that public office is not for looting). I am all for this and intend to keep pushing.

2.The probe shows the news was all untrue and we can be proud of the men/women we have put in place to serve the nation and they should be honoured.

3. The probe leads nowhere or is suspended -however, this would happen if we all go to sleep and take no action (by action I do not refer to complaint only).

We as a nation must ensure we hold our leaders and public servants accountable on all fronts (more importantly ourselves - more on this, when I write on the topic, "the enterprise of me") . By accountable I do not mean vociferous outburst on our leaders but dogged actions to show we hold them accountable and it matters to us what is done with our collective fortune.

If we all show we have a stake in this country and that every single kobo spent by the government is not just  national cake or free money, but it is as much my money as it is yours, we would be better and can enjoy the goodness of this wonderful land called Nigeria.

This call however means that I also will hold you accountable for your actions while I expect you to do same where I am concerned. This means, I am expected to actively challenge the driver that shunts the line, do same for the guy in 4x4 jeep along lekki-epe expressway taking pedestrian side of the road thereby creating 3 lanes where there should have been two.

Frederick Douglas my all time icon and hero (from slavery to freedom to public speaking in europe and finally newspaper and book publishing - amazing man) in North America once said, "Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress".

Most of us don't do anything because we have not seen that connection yet but truth is we pay heavily for it collectively.The unruly driver that shunts the queue at the filling station creates impetus for others to do same if he gets away with it.This leads to buying fuel in 6 hours (because there is now anarchy at the filling station, the queue is no longer maintained and it has become a free for all situation) rather than in 30mins or less.

The so called "oga" who creates a third lane may go scott free but behind him are 20 danfo/molue/bus drivers who believe that if the big man can do  this and get away with it, why not them as well.In not taking our time to caution the "big man", within 20 mins, the road becomes unpassable for us all and that function/event/meeting we were in so much of a hurry to get to sometimes becomes unattendable.What is saddening is that most times, men and women who had no idea how this situation started are usually the eventual victims.

Tell me, have you not suffered such before?

There is the role for the government establishment (I am by no means asking we usurp their roles and make them redundant or condone their inactivity), but I believe you and I would be more effective in some key areas if only we see the connection(s).

Nigeria is set to be better. You and I would make it so.

On a brighter note, CONGRATULATIONS to all NIGERIANS and the SUPER EAGLES on their qualifications for the WORLD CUP (SOUTH AFRICA 2010). We need to quickly start to work from yesterday to ensure we do well at the nations cup  and eventually the world cup.

I believe in NIGERIA. Long live my fatherland.