daveP:


By May Ebute

https://thenews-chronicle.com/there-is-something-wrong-with-nigerians/

Don't you agree? Seems we need the military strong arm again!!?

Best article I have read ever since my birth in Nigeria.

daveP:
Sure! And they are ready to kiss the feet of the rich white in turn are so so comfy with passing a few currencies around, and feel the world owes them some respect cos of this act. I agree too. Most Nigerians are so so uncouth and have bad environmental sanity, most especially the ladies. Behind outside and very very dirty and unkempt inside. Seems the only clean world to them should be their rooms(that's of its even clean, tidy).

Not to talk of boundary disputes, and like that streetlight issue, selling to the highest bidder will continue to give the imbalance our society currently experiences. Lemme not go into Phcn and the NPF.

Lolz. ..abi

Shelumiel:
From what I have read , everything being said here dwindles down to poverty. The poverty in Nigeria is something worrisome

Bunkum. Poverty what. You steal not work ?, you block drains instead of collecting your trash or digging a pit and dumping them in it so you can burn it every weekend. Soumds more like ignorance and sloth to me.

Solution? Restructure. to transfer responsibility of society building from the government to the people making responsibility a joint one. The colonial mindset we have inculcated in our DNA since pre independence where authority alone regulates society and the citizens have a mindset of not cooperating but antagonizing (resisting, disobeying) authority has to change.

In all activities, all purposes and functions the average Nigerian views situations and takes decisions based on a 'them versus us' perspective. Any authority is viewed with antagonism. We need to reform to view society as a collective endeavour.

This 'e no consan me', 'no be my property' irresponsible mindset can only be changed by restructuring to give every citizen an equal stake in society building.

Your post is really straight to the point and your observations are all correct. The behaviour you described is what Ex President IBB called "the Nigerian Factor". The Nigerian Factor was considered by his Military Government in things that involved planning and application of models and systems that had worked perfectly in other countries to Nigeria. They usually didn't work in this country unless tailored to our environment.

Hence, I am not a proponent of democracy as practiced abroad at this time because we abuse it. I am also not a proponent of Human Rights as practiced in the more civilised parts of the world. It doesn't work for us currently, as is evident around us.

The long and better fix would be a revamping of our educational system, with mass sensitisation of the populace. This will take at least a generation.

The quick fix would be a patriotic, but strict, detribalised and BRUTAL military regime for 10 to 15 years!

I know most won't agree with me, but remember that we are a people that have and are constantly glorifying and choosing corruption over more noble ideas and deeds.

For example, in the PDP Presidential Primaries amongst the candidates was Dr Datti Ahmed who was (in my opinion) the best candidate for a progressive Nigeria. He polled only 5 votes because he couldn't make "Dollar Rain".

*Failed Leadership.
*Poor Orientation coming down from years of improper or no enforcement of guiding laws and regulation.
*Weak and in some cases, ineffective justice system.

Quality leadership will create proper laws and ENSURE that they are enforced. When there is a lack of political will to enforce guiding laws and regulations in all sphere of life, the people will tend to act lawless. Remember, Man is selfish naturally.

Education will come in next in order to change the orientation of people in a society. However, this is heavily dependent on the las paragraph. When proper laws are created and enforced, education will help people to understand that it's no longer business as usual and also guide on proper conduct.

Whether you love it or not, a strong justice system is paramount to building a sustainable community. Unfortunately, Justice and law enforcement is not cheap. That is why you see that an Ibori can be tried with Government money over in the UK while over here, our Police Stations cannot afford to provide witness statement sheets for recording of witness statements.

Also, you must understand that corruption starts like a drop of water and it is cheaper to nip it in the bud early as when it grows out of hand, it becomes very expensive (just like the Nigerian case) to curtail, not to talk of extinguish.

In summary, we need to vote in the right leaders so that we can have people respect the laws of the land. The right leadership strengthens the rule of law and ensures that it (the rule of law) has the bite to prosecute law breakers whether big or small.
Corruption didn't start this big. It always starts as a drop of water or a little bribe here and there.

With our current state at the moment, technology is the cheapest way we can catch up with the west in terms of enforcing the rule of law.

When I do have more references, I'll modify this comment or create a new comment.

Shelumiel:
From what I have read , everything being said here dwindles down to poverty. The poverty in Nigeria is something worrisome

I think everything dwindles down to indiscipline.

Bujari's first 8 months of power (before he became power-drunk) in 1984 put a stop to all that rubbish. Those were perhaps our best years. That was also when the national environmental sanitation day was instituted.

Shelumiel:
Sir , some people are might be rich on the outside , but at heart they are poor . My mum worked for the Patience Jonathan in 2015 . The woman being the first lady , and with all the wealth of the nation at her feet was poor at heart ; she was having trouble paying those who worked for her , and even when she did pay , it was always half payment! So some people are just like that . It could be based on their past experiences with poverty that has brought them to have that kind of mindset

You have identified the problem but you are calling it something else. Its greed plain and simple. Dont get me wrong every being has it in him. But it is celebrated in Niggeria. The greedier you are the better. If I become commissioner today and I dont steal the same people who I am suppose to serve their interests will call me a fool.

Reference:


Bunkum. Poverty what. You steal not work ?, you block drains instead of collecting your trash or digging a pit and dumping them in it so you can burn it every weekend. Soumds more like ignorance and sloth to me.

Sir, go and take survey and see how many people who have blocked drainages come from the rich .It will surprise you than 90%+ come from those who can barely feed themselves.

Jaqenhghar:

You have identified the problem but you are calling it something else. Its greed plain and simple. Dont get me wrong every being has it in him. But it is celebrated in Niggeria. The greedier you are the better. If I become commissioner today and I dont steal the same people who I am suppose to serve their interests will call me a fool.

Point of correction : poverty and greed are not synonymous, rather it is greed that stems out of poverty.

1x2x3:


Bro without a cctv ordinary picture is enough to capture anyone in a developed country because they have a biometric Database.

Do you know people can easily take pictures of these rascals but what can our security operatives do with mere picture of a face without identifiable database?

If someone mistakenly transfer 500k to you before it is as good as gone but with BVN you know you can't take that money and get away with it. So automatically you will behave according.

We are talking of 2 different things my guy. You are talking of combating crimes. Okay what of for example the smaller stuff like indiscipline..
when people rush food at weddings instead of patiently waiting for their turn. You need CCTV for that or do you need people to monitor you to tell you to stay in line. Ive been to weddings in Niger where their hinger pass our own 100 times. They dont rush food at weddings or misbehave the way we do.

Shelumiel:
From what I have read , everything being said here dwindles down to poverty. The poverty in Nigeria is something worrisome

is it poverty that makes corpers throw their waste into drains? Thats not poverty.

Shelumiel:
From what I have read , everything being said here dwindles down to poverty. The poverty in Nigeria is something worrisome

You're so funny.
And you think it's poverty that makes one do wrong. You're 100percent wrong. Our problem is attitude. Until we have attitudinal change to virtually every issues. I want you to go back and read gently the submission pointed out on the write up. It encapsulate our may problem as a nation and until we're ready to change and do the right thing, the nation can never move forward. As few are making it better, the rest would be pulling it down.
Most of the people destroying the system today are not poor people. Poverty is not a yardstick to do evil. There are many poor today striving to make sure things are done mannerly.

Godfullsam:


I think everything dwindles down to indiscipline.

Poverty leads to indiscipline; poverty leads to moral decline ; poverty leads to violence ; poverty leads to anarchy .

Ugosample:


it's the repugnant mentality prevalent in that $hithole


Even back in the day when I used to volunteer in different villages across Africa, you will not see them rush food or goodies and they are in a much worse state than Nigeria (well except the Liberian, those ones are even worse than Nigerians)

Exaclty. That rushing food mentality is encrypted in every Niggerian's DNA. Even in London you will see 2nd and even 3rd generation Niggerians rushing food at weddings.

Shelumiel:
Point of correction : poverty and greed are not synonymous, rather it is greed that stems out of poverty.

Thays your theory. Like I said I have been to very wretched countries worse than Nigeria they breathe and sleep in poverty and yet their people are not greedy. They are polite disciplined l and well mannered.

ihatesycophant:

You're so funny.
And you think it's poverty that makes one do wrong. You're 100percent wrong. Our problem is attitude. Until we have attitudinal change to virtually every issues. I want you to go back and read gently the submission pointed out on the write up. It encapsulate our may problem as a nation and until we're ready to change and do the right thing, the nation can never move forward. As few are making it better, the rest would be pulling it down.
Most of the people destroying the system today are not poor people. Poverty is not a yardstick to do evil. There are many poor today striving to make sure things are done mannerly.

Sir , except you are willingly to deceive yourself, poverty is the major cause of Nigeria's woes today . Imagine being paid 2k to sell your vote just because you have not been paid salary for the last 15months. Please which right thinking person would want to sell his right to choose a leader all for the sake of 2k ? What would prompt such an act ? Poverty . Yes. Poverty is powerful.

ihatesycophant:

You're so funny.
And you think it's poverty that makes one do wrong. You're 100percent wrong. Our problem is attitude. Until we have attitudinal change to virtually every issues. I want you to go back and read gently the submission pointed out on the write up. It encapsulate our may problem as a nation and until we're ready to change and do the right thing, the nation can never move forward. As few are making it better, the rest would be pulling it down.
Most of the people destroying the system today are not poor people. Poverty is not a yardstick to do evil. There are many poor today striving to make sure things are done mannerly.

God bless you. Truth is Niggerians have gotten used to the habit of excusing every negative vice. Stealing they say poverty. An armwd robber they say he doesnt have a job. So not having a job is an excuse to rob and kill people. SMH

From all indications, majority of the problem stems from GREED and LACK OF LOVE. As long as it doesn't affect us directly, we don't care.

What happens if we do the right thing, even if not for us, but for our children to meet a better Nigeria?

What happens if we love someone else like ourselves and we won't want to vandalize amenities cuz we don't want others to suffer, just as we won't want to experience such if it was done to us?

What happens if we flush a public toilet after use, or leave it cleaner than we met it, and the trend continues?

What if we could just wait 20 seconds and allow the car in front to pull into a turn before we move, instead of trying to go first and cause an accident?

What if we could dispose trash and litter the proper way without causing an eyesore, cuz we value our environment and our health?

What if we are determined not to break any civil law not because its an obligation, but the right thing to do?

Rich or poor, young or old, ruler or peasant: we could achieve better by having mutual respect for each other and doing the right thing.
Making a better Nigeria starts from you and I, before it spreads to a larger scale.

This is the type of question any right thinking African should be asking. I wish I knew the author because I used to ask a similar question in the past. I did my research and it even led me to write a book. But even if I tell him the answer, he may find it hard to believe.

In brief, the problem is that we are living in a society we didn't create, so we don't know ourselves. Our society was created by Britain.

It is the values inherent in a culture that make members of any society to act right. You create those values that will make you act right with your own language, education, religion, which would have evolved for thousands of years through your ancestors. In other words, anyone born in such a society would instinctively act right because he/she would have inherited language, education, religion and even genes from parents pointing them to the right direction. But when someone imposes language, education, religion on a society (like Britain did here) such society can only use it to destroy themselves because there will be no harmony among themselves. This is the short answer.

Details at https://www.nairaland.com/4595660/intellectual-slavery-worst-legacy-colonialism

DEHVEHLOP:
No 1 problem is illiteracy which is highly rampant in the Eastern part of the country...







Shiorrrrrr

Nnamdi Kanu amaka

illiteracy isn't BC rampant in the south east. Check your records. South East has the highest number of literates compared to even the southwest

Jaqenhghar:

Thays your theory. Like I said I have been to very wretched countries worse than Nigeria they breathe and sleep in poverty and yet their people are not greedy. They are polite disciplined l and well mannered.

Sir , did those countries fit into the bottom three of the world's poverty index ?

lexy2014:
is it poverty that makes corpers throw their waste into drains? Thats not poverty.

Sir , have you bothered to find out the background of such corpers? It seems you take education as a yardstick to refinement.

Shelumiel:
Sir , have you bothered to find out the background of such corpers? It seems you take education as a yardstick to refinement.

Did u also bother 2 find out urself? Is it only poor people that steal public property?

lexy2014:

Did u also bother 2 find out urself? Is it only poor people that steal public property?

Sir , how many rich people steal public property ?

Shelumiel:
Sir , how many rich people steal public property ?

D politicians that steal what are they stealing? Is it private property they are stealing?
Then also answer this question: "Did u also bother 2 find out d background of d corpers?"

Shelumiel:
Sir , except you are willingly to deceive yourself, poverty is the major cause of Nigeria's woes today . Imagine being paid 2k to sell your vote just because you have not been paid salary for the last 15months. Please which right thinking person would want to sell his right to choose a leader all for the sake of 2k ? What would prompt such an act ? Poverty . Yes. Poverty is powerful.

you are still living in a bubble to think that Nigeria's problem is poverty

It's greed and moral bankruptcy

It is about what has been learnt from cradle. I am of the opinion that we can use our Schools, from kindergarten especially to begin this change process.

Our School curriculum need total overhaul. Environmental studies should be introduced to Schools. Children should be taught everyday about how to safeguard the environment. There are many things we should start teaching our children from School.

It is our mentality that is very poor and we need to catch the young ones early before they catch the poor mentality too.

Shelumiel:
Sir, go and take survey and see how many people who have blocked drainages come from the rich .It will surprise you than 90%+ come from those who can barely feed themselves.

Are there no blocked drains in Victoria Island, or in Maitama Abuja, yes or no. Are there no bad, misused, abused toilets at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (you cannot travel abroad without at least a half million naira investmment)....and on and on.

On the other hand I am privileged to visit rural communities from time to time and in some you can actually see the scorch marks of constant sweeping and can not find a single fallen leaf thoughtless of trash. Some of these folks get by subsistence agric and see selling a bunch of plantains every market day an achievement. There you will see transformers and street lights failing not from frequent vandal visitation but the opposite (absolute neglect).

You simply cannot lump poverty and crime or vices in the same pot as a brew society must drink to. It is a false narrative my man. There are rich vandals, there are poor vandals. There are rich thieves, there are poor thieves. There are rich miscreants, as there are poor miscreants. The underlying factor is an atmosphere of responsibility or the lack of it that causes society to prosper or decay.

Shelumiel:
Sir , did those countries fit into the bottom three of the world's poverty index ?

Yes. Go and look at the stats on Niger. You think Nigeria is the worst when it comes to poverty?

Nigeria is void of equity and justice. The people have taken matters into their own hands, everybody is a law unto himself thereby creating a state of lawlessness.

It has nothing to do with poverty.

OdiaI:
It is about what has been learnt from cradle. I am of the opinion that we can use our Schools, from kindergarten especially to begin this change process.

Our School curriculum need total overhaul. Environmental studies should be introduced to Schools. Children should be taught everyday about how to safeguard the environment. There are many things we should start teaching our children from School.

It is our mentality that is very poor and we need to catch the young ones early before they catch the poor mentality too.

That is the only way actually. But the problem is who will teach them? You cant teach what you dont have