CENTRAL LINE: Birthday Musings-
By Ehiogie WEST-Idahosa
Today, January 18 marks the addition of another year to my sojourn on earth. As I look back with nostalgia, I remember those days when we were given free books and ate mid-day meals in Government owned primary schools in Benin City during the golden era of Late Dr. Osaigbovo Ogbemudia as Military Governor of Mid-West Region. I also remember how we were brought up by our parents and the entire community had the latitude to enforce discipline against any child for behaving below the standard set by such communities.
I would not forget how teachers were revered and how much they helped to shape our various destinies. I still have memories of how many parents in those days with moderate incomes worked extremely hard to cater for their families. We grew up in very happy families. I remain eternally grateful to Late Justice Joseph Oghogho Idahosa and Mrs. Josephine Ikuagan Idahosa for the upbringing my siblings, relatives and I received under their credible leadership. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
I am immensely grateful to my wife Mienebi and children for their love, affection and care for me. My gratitude also goes to my siblings, extended family, bossom friends and esteemed clients for our worthy relationships.
I am inestimably grateful to God for keeping me till this day and granting me the privilege of witnessing the emerging modernization of Nigeria, my country. I pray for the rapid transformation of Nigeria into an egalitarian society where no man is oppressed as captured in the national anthem. It is my hope that we should truly aspire to hand over to our children, a banner without stain.
But, Nigeria must tackle corruption and work to reduce it to its barest minimum. Lip service to the fight against the canker worm would lead to nowhere. It is the reason why national institutions are not effective. It is responsible for the decay in the Nigerian society where anything goes. That is why our unemployment figures are high; infant and adult mortality rates are humongous; crime is prevalent; infrastructural development suffers from dwarfism; human capital development index is extremely low; illiteracy is still very high; economic and social migration is daily escalating; even the fight against terrorism is tainted by it. The toxicity of corruption is akin to the venom of the Black Mamba or King Cobra.
It is time for proportional punishment to replace handshakes for breaching our laws. The various Governments should invest in correctional centers and make it meaningful as the center of reformation and character modification.
It’s not so hard to implement the laws. All that is needed is the political will to do so. Nigerians obey and fear the law when they know that government means business.
Let the people also count. Let their voice matter through electoral reforms that would protect their votes. In that way they would take ownership of the country and work for its success, knowing that they all have recognizable stake holding therein.
Time and tide will come and go. So, let us accept the challenge of giving a new lease of life to our country and place it in the committee of civilized nations. We can do it. I wish Nigeria well.
