Mind Restructuring: Justice, Equity, And Fair Play -By Richard Odusanya

The progress of a country, in a continent like Africa, as in the case of Nigeria, rest squarely on the shoulders of its citizens, Africa has failed to institutionise the principle of fairness and equity because of enormous pressure and personal greed! The continent’s baffling romance with issues of tribalism and religious bigotry, needs to be quenched because it blinds us completely from reality of life thereby threatening our dear existence as a nation.

Africa has got a lot of potentials, resources both natural and human par capita and so many gifted individuals who are specially gifted, resilient and doers, that’s why we do great things in sports, music and arts when trained very well. But as a corporate entity, we failed woefully. Not until a person discovers a sense of purpose that it produces drive for pursuing it and that drive inspires others to want to join in the pursuit of fulfilment, a desirable positive outcome won’t be achieved.

We live in a country, the most populous nation in Africa, where our young men and women have no pride and no interest in Africa. When they want to enjoy themselves they sing the praises of football teams from Europe and America. It is Chelsea FC, it is Manchester City, it is Real Madrid and Barcelona, but not Enyimba FC of Nigeria, not Al Ahly of Egypt, not Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia, not TP Mazel of Congo, this is the continent of Africa, that we are confronted with. This is a scar on the conscience of humanity.

Psychologically, every African has the passport of another country in the innermost chamber of heart. Nowadays, many are merely just existing rather living. Our young men and women today want to run away from Africa. When you go to the embassies of the United States of America and many European countries our youths have made long queues seeking the Almighty green card, that is the Africa with which we are confronted with. And why must we constantly remind ourselves of these realities, because throughout the ages the battle has always been the battle of the mind, and as long as our minds are conquered then we as Africans are going nowhere.

Africa today, has issues ranging from poor leadership,election rigging, kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, cronyism and nepotism. we go to the polls every four or five years to re-elect “select” desperate and selfish elements and then expect them to do that which is right and good. What a continent?! Her greatest deficit has always been it’s leadership and we accept the status quo. Our leaders have failed us, and the irony about it all is that we will still allow them to continue with a fraudulent electoral process. “The forest kept decreasing yet the trees continue to vote for the axe, they thought it was one of them because the handle was made of wood.” – Unknown

A case study of the ongoing unrest in South Africa shows the deep-seated inequalities that have increased during the pandemic. The looting is as result of having too many poor people living in the midst of plenty and abundance. South Africa is well developed and organize but the wealth doesn’t go round.

Also, in Nigeria as an example, the government is extremely nepotic in nature, the Federal Government treats her citizens as if they are second-class citizens in the country. How can a leader treat one part of the country’s criminals with levity while the other part is treated with brute force? Selective justice breeds is sycophancy. Justice is all about fair play, and to keep individuals within the boundaries of the laws of the nation.

There are killings and destruction of properties by herdsmen, kidnapping by bandits and lot more and the leaders keep silent and treat the cry of hapless citizens like that of a recalcitrant child. And tomorrow they will come out and start sharing rice for hungry people and they will vote for them.

A good leader should enable others to embrace a vision, initiative or assignment in a way that they feel a sense of purpose, ownership, personal engagement, and common cause but all of these exist not in my country. Sometimes we’re tempted to say ‘Black man has some fundamental problems that makes it difficult for him to rule himself well’. Other times we remember people like; Nelson Mandela, John Jerry Rawlings, Thomas Sankara and Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola GCFR, who paid prices for the vision they have for their people.

Again, we will continually remind ourselves of these realities, because throughout the ages the battle has always been the battle of the mind, and as long as our minds are conquered then we as Africans are going nowhere. If we must have the continent, country or community of our dream, it must start with a change of heart and a change of mind, a resolution to do that which is good and right. Africa needs to recover her educational heritage!

ARISE’O COMPATRIOTS
Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.