President Muhammadu Buhari has urged citizens to embrace change, during the launch of the National Re-orientation Campaign, ‘Change Begins With Me.’
Nigeria: The Change Mantra
Not too long ago, on March 17, 2009, to be precise, Nigerians were roused to a blistering campaign on attitudinal change. Its pass code was: Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation. And it was from the fertile ideas factory of the then Minister of Information and Communications, the late Prof Dora Akunyili. May God rest her beautiful soul.
A few years later, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) under Mike Omeri launched a fresh campaign anchored on the slogan: Do The Right Thing. Yet the effort met with similar indifference by Nigerians whose attention it was meant to catch.
The answer was not too far to locate. There was an apparent disconnect in the campaign between the people and those in government.
What lessons have we brought to the table to guide our policy makers in their latest attitudinal change campaign? The initiative, launched in Abuja on Thursday 8 September 2016 has theme; Change Begins With Me.
It is good to galvanize the populace to be on the same page with the government in its various initiatives towards making Nigeria an utopian state (if there is any such thing) in all its ramifications, be it political, social and economic. But from my observation, the people that should have been mobilized to buy into these projects have always been inadvertently left out. Hence they are often dead on arrival. The reason is not difficult to locate: our policy makers love putting the cart before the horse.
Let the truth be told; the “Change Begins With Me” campaign came too little and too late. It is belated. For me, the change mantra started way back when President Muhammad Buhari was sworn in as the President of Nigeria. The people voted massively for him because they saw in him a renewal of hope, a rebirth of sort from their seemingly hopeless estate. The frenetic chants of Sai Baba almost became the national anthem of Buhari fanatics who showed their loyalty in diverse forms. Some trekked hundreds of kilometers to Abuja while others gave their last coin to celebrate PMB’s second coming.
A change slogan like this should have started with a well thought out advocacy programme a year ago beginning with the rural populace; comprising farmers, traders, community leaders, traditional rulers and school children. It should have come with juicy and attractive welfare packages that will translate into training them how to fish. Had this been done, it would have been easier for the people to key into it. It would have been easier for the people to engrave into their hearts an undying love and commitment for positive change.
The government should learn how to put smiles on people’s faces – like the ongoing efforts for mass employment for the millions of unemployed, before dreaming of how to mobilize them for change of attitude. This is certainly a challenge for the government with its current advocacy campaign, to draw new people and new nation out of Nigeria.
However, hope is not completely lost as Mr President has pledged personal commitment and leadership for the project. His apparent goodwill and honesty will definitely be an added advantage. The people must start seeing the reflection of change which they are noticing from the President. The cabinet members should cue-in by conducting their affairs transparently. National Assembly members too should take a new attitude in which they put the interest of Nigerians first in their agenda and shun extravagant living. The Judiciary too must begin to to fight corruption within its fold and desist from trading judgement with money bags. The Nigerian Police that interface more with the public must be the show piece of this change.
This is absolutely necessary in order to encourage Nigerians to key into the change mantra.They must walk the talk. This must be expressed through some variations, including:
* Showing strong leadership sensibility.
* Establishing trust by proving practically to taxpayers and voters that as leaders, they are dedicated to the society, community and the people.
* Restoring confidence and demonstrating strength and leadership through actions and programmes that beam strong rays of hope for the future. And of course, ensuring fairness and justice.
Even before President Buhari got to power, he had foreseen the enormity of the problems facing Nigeria and the Herculean task of changing the culture of governance.
But no matter how hard he tries, President Buhari cannot do it alone. For the campaign to succeed, all hands must be on deck. Those charged with the implementation of his initiatives must pull the country out of the current recession. This is one battle we must win for our country.
Olamiti, a media consultant, lives in Abuja.
