By Femi Akinpelu Joseph
Few
weeks ago, the very inevitable nationwide #ENDSARS protests broke out across Nigeria.
And, from what appeared like a mere child’s play; the movement metamorphosed into an exercise that sparked a wild national participation – with keen
interest and attention from the global community.
But
just within 2 weeks into the very peaceful series of protests, the military, or
the ‘forces beyond the control of Lagos state government’ “intervened” and
suddenly interrupted the protests. They
aimed gunshots at the protesters – leaving scores of my fellow citizens killed
and seriously wounded; at the Lekki Toll gate.
I
remember saying it prayerfully when the protests began that “I hope this
current series of pretests turns out a fruitful exercise at the end of the day”.
I had said that prayer because I have studied, and have followed trends by
which our various government administrations operate – from when I was a child.
I had sensed it that they (government power merchants) may eventually turn the
whole thing upside down and play out one of their regular political dirty
games.
I
knew it.
Though
it was VERY painful to me, that the killings actually took place. Very painful!
We all know the level of crises, lootings and destructions that followed that
event.
Now,
where do we go from here? WHAT DO WE DO NEXT??
Do
you know?
If
you ask me, I think I really DO NOT KNOW, too!
But
what I do know is – WE ALL NEED TO CHANGE some of our ways! But who and who are
those bracketed in this category of people who need to change?
Everybody!
Yes –
you, me; your friends, relatives, neighbours, co-workers, and fellow church or
mosque members. We all need to change our evil and wicked ways!
For
us Nigerians to really experience the CHANGE or the TRANSFORMATION that we so
desire; both the elderly and the young people need to go through a thorough and
sustained MENTAL CLEANSING AND RESET. This is no joke at all.
From
my regular private studies and observations; combined with personal
experiences, I can confidently say that a much larger percentage of Nigerians –
leader and follower, young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated ARE
VERY CORRUPT! Yes, we are a corrupt, nonchalant and immoral people. And like we
all know, the leaders of today were once followers, yesterday – and it is the
same (corrupt) followers shouting and complaining today that would become
leaders, tomorrow. Isn’t it?
So,
if this is our reality, then what are we really fighting for? Just VANITY!
For
this reason – and if truly, you and I wish and desire that this country and the
entire Nigeria society is sanitized and filled with sane and disciplined people
who possess high moral values; then let it start with YOU.
I
want to substitute ‘SARS’ to attribute as many ills that I see in our society as
possible. And we must end those evil traits in us before we can possibly have a
healthy society to live in.
In the
context of this exposition, WHO IS A SARS?
If
you are one of them looters – who usually wait for something provocative to
happen, so you could take advantage of the general anger, and pounce on
people’s investments and cart away their property; you are a SARS.
Those of you that have been hoarding or hiding palliatives, cash or special
gifts you were sent to deliver to the less-privileged people, with the plans of
cashing out on them; you are a very wicked SARS!
If
you have the ideology that the “End SARS” that protest that took place last month
was just about some certain jobless and lazy Nigerian youths – who are just making
noise and fighting for no serious cause; then you are the most wanted SARS!
If
you have built yourself a reputation for owing people and not paying them
(their money, service bill/charge, salary, dues, or even things borrowed) – not
because you cannot afford to, but just so you could exert some power; to cause them
to worship you and make them look up to you always. You a SARS.
You
are part of the majority of people who believes that, you can never ‘hammer’
unless you do ‘yahoo yahoo’, join politics, become a runs girl, scam people or
collect kickbacks; you are a derailed SARS.
You
believe that until you use an iPhone, drive a Benz, live on the Island, join a
cult, sleep around to belong, and enslave yourself mentally to people more
privileged, then you are really a nobody; you are already a captured SARS!
You
go to church and pray every hour and minute of every day, but when someone
around you achieves something notable, you quickly become irritated and start
planning their downfall, you are such a big SARS!
If
you talk bad about people behind them, but when you see them – you begin to laugh
with them and start showing fake respect, you are a more dangerous SARS.
You
that when certain set of people greet you, you just look away and NEVER answer
them; because you assume it is money, they would ask you next, you are an ignorant
SARS.
All of
you that eat snacks in your cars or in public buses, and then throws the
wrappers or containers out on the road, or on the street; you are no better
than SARS!
Because you are a ‘beautiful’ lady, and with a hole somewhere in your body that
some men are running after – you now disrespect and look down on every man you
come across, you are a SARS, soon going into an extinction.
The
only reason you are nursing the ambition of becoming a governor, senator, or president
is to also go and “chop your own portion of the national cake”, and have power
to oppress others; you are a SARS too, sir. We need to end you!
The
main reason you hustle and struggle to be rich, is so that you can “show them”
and “pepper them”, and nothing more; you are an obsolete SARS.
You never
obey traffic rules whenever you are driving – but you always derive pleasure
oppressing pedestrians walking on roadsides, please, you are special SARS
agent.
You
like to always use the excuse of being ‘poor’ and ‘needy’ and then turn
yourself to a beggar; you never do any meaningful work and never live a responsible
life; you are a miserable SARS!
You never
attend classes or love to be absent from office, but you ALWAYS ask your
friends to sign for you and help you cover up with a lie in the office whenever
your boss asks after you; hmmm, you must be under-fire SARS.
You
see someone doing something very bad, that you know will be detrimental to the
good and growth of others, but you kept quiet because you think the consequences
will not directly affect you or your family – you are a despicably misplaced SARS.
You are
very good at changing figures or inflating prices when asked to make purchases
on behalf of your company or others, know today that you are a real SARS.
If
you possess ANY of the negative attributes listed above, and many more, KNOW that
you are one of our targets when we say #ENDSARS. You must REPENT and make a TURNAROUND
from your evil ways. Otherwise, you will continue to pose a danger to your community
and eventually destroy the society at large.
The
essence of this write-up is to challenge us all, individually and collectively (including
myself) to THINK deeply about our wrong mentality, our daily habits and lifestyle
that have been drawing us back as a people. We need to make a great effort to change
them and turn on a new leaf – and it is then that we can start expecting people
from amongst us to be voted into public offices; and be accountable in all their
conducts and in their official assignments.
If
not, nothing will change.
We ALL
need to make a concerted effort at purging our society of all forms of evil and
wicked – reducing wrongdoings to a very bearable minimum. Then, we can now
begin to search for light at the end of every dark tunnel in our national life!
RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXALTS A NATION… BUT sin is a REPROACH to any people – Proverbs 14:34.
Thank
you.
#ENDSARS
#EndEveryImmorality #EndBadGovernance #FranklinAvenue #GodBlessNigeria
