We are all so quick to nitpick about everything
that doesn't work in Nigeria, and yet are either hesitant or just too unwilling
to volunteer solutions towards correcting anything. We must change this
attitude. “Never complain about what you permit!” says Dr. Mike Murdock.
This country is certainly in no short
supply of armchair critics and backseat drivers. You can easily spot them in barbershops
and beer parlors, comfortably seated in the easy chairs, providing an
unsolicited running commentary on the state of the nation and the global
economy. Seemingly versatile, these ‘specialists’ know exactly how Nigeria can
win the FIFA World Cup, yet they haven’t kicked a football in ten years, have
never played the game competitively, and get all their knowledge from the
six-month old issues of ‘Kickoff’ and ‘Complete Sports’ magazines that they find on the coffee tables.
They have highfalutin' ideas on corporate finance and international trade, can manage the Nigerian economy much better than the Coordinating Minister, and yet
are still unable to figure out a way to make the sort of decent, honest living that
those working in the barbershop have somehow managed to do.
In the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “A long tongue generally goes with a short hand, and we are
most of us better at saying than doing.”
“The proof of desire is pursuit,” says
Wisdom teacher, Dr. Mike Murdock. He gives this interesting account of a lady
who, in conversation, mentions how she would love to play the piano, to which
he replies nothing.
The next time they meet, she states
again, “Oh, how I’d just love to play the piano!” He still says nothing.
The third time, however, when she
begins her speech, he cuts her short with a crisp query.
“Do you own a piano?”
“Nope,” she replies.
“Well, do you plan on buying a piano?”
he further asks.
“Nope, can’t afford it,” is her
response.
He prods further, “Are you taking
lessons, then?” to which she shakes her head.
“Then, shut up!” is Dr. Murdock’s final
retort.
We must begin to act. The fact is that
if we don’t, then others who are far less capable, will. Then we will find
ourselves as the armchair critics, endlessly nitpicking and complaining about
how much better it could have, or should have been done.
This composition is a speculative effort
in abandoning the apathetic attitude with which I have customarily approached
socio-economic and sociopolitical matters which directly affect me. It is dawning
on me with increasing lucidity that sulking passivity by the sentient, yet imperturbable
folks is what enables mediocrity to entrench itself and even burgeon.
Just take a look at the power sector.
What hitherto had prompted the occasional giggle or a good party joke gradually
metamorphosed into a positively horrific nightmare…and nobody’s laughing now!
In light of this (no pun intended!), I hereby commit to enthusiastically
exercise my right to freedom of expression by making my speculative and practical
input, however modest, towards making a difference. This piece is intended, for
me, to be archetypical of such efforts.
Attitudinal change precipitates focused
effort. Once we realize that indeed we can, and should, positively influence
change by whatever degree or scale we can, then we must immediately proceed to
act upon our convictions. I am in total agreement with Mohandas Gandhi’s
assertion that, “Action expresses priorities.” After all, faith without works
is dead.
Seizing every opportunity that presents
itself to live unabashedly by the life codes that I have chosen, I hereby venture
to make a difference. As a firm believer in the power of suggestive influence, I
will embark on a noiseless campaign of change by positive influence, regardless
of by whatever infinitesimal degree or measure. One can only imagine the
positive impact on our society if we all decided to bloom wherever we are
planted!
“Should every man defend his house,
Then all would be defended;
If every man would mend a man,
No comments:
Post a Comment