I was privileged the other day to have talks with three persons; one is my maternal cousin, a brilliant guy who after studying literature decided to venture into the field of law, the second is a chemist turned civil servant and the third is a broadcast journalist. During these respective conversations, we x-rayed the problems bedeviling our dear country, Nigeria but dwell more on problems facing the state of harmony, Kwara State. The Kwara before now had children who wanted to study medicine, engineering, law, geology, pharmacy, accountancy,…the list goes on. This was because there were people you could see around, televised about, organizing career talks in schools, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields. But today, our models have been third-classed citizens who have retired into politics and hooliganism. It is therefore no offence to carry the big hemp and pose with it by the road side, boast of harmful ammunition in your possession because there are people and institution who may very likely need your service (s).

In Professor Pat Utomi’s analysis, a country, state or society can not be given the right developmental treatment by its third class citizens. He framed a class room kind of drama where you have best brains giving their school the best image and market across its shores while others in the class find comfort in scheming how to attack neighboring enemies through their ‘school two’, as it was then called. These are students who later become useful tools for politicians and rulers alike. They are celebrated than the brilliant ones. That is why it has been comfortable for the private companies to host and reward talent champions in: ultimate searches, talent hunts, most pretties, most sexies, miss universe, miss facebook, miss saucy etc with mouth watering prices ranging from millions, to houses, to cars etc. But brilliant student gets N5, 000, laptop, wrist watches, bicycles etc. So, who is fooling who? Which trade and line would students and pupils have loved to toe if not the one that has no regard for education and best behaved brains? We must stop complaining about the deplorable state of our educational and other social systems if we won’t stop liking the ventures that promotes thuggery and indecency.

Today is very bright, brighter than the yesterdays where things were archaic, systems were run with due process, fuelled with forward spirits. The days when people were sponsored through education, air-lifted to orientation camps, had choices to choose profession and industries. But our brighter days only lies in the rich making the poor cry the more, ignorance sitting on golden stools, medocrity ordering civil operations, nepotism scaling selections and mutiny leading reward orders.

In our own days,  you can not campaign on programs or policies but criticisms, sentiments, inducements, and exploits. No candidate would deem it fit to tell you how he intends to better the statutory lots. But in sane climes, these are necessary. Before anyone consider public offices, he must have researched thoroughly that he would know where best to start, what best works, how best to deploy government arsenals to upgrade developments in critical areas. But alas! I doubt the readiness of these faces parading themselves as messiahs. If you won’t agree, may I ask: how have they, individually affected their respective communities?, how have they used what has been at their disposal, intelligence at least, to better the lots of fellow indigents?. There is a yoruba saying, ‘eni ti yio da’so fun’ni, to’run e laa ko ko wo’. You can’t give what you don’t have. It is therefore necessary, to consider these critical factors before we dream alive again for the next four years.

Maybe at this juncture, I should reflect a bit on what makes government going. Government starts with the people then elected representatives. Most times, the elected appoints able hands to give government a wider overview of problems confronting it and also serve as government tools in the distribution of dividends of democracy. This can only work when professionals are appointed portfolios related to their chosen career not otherwise. But also, a critical machinery is needed to conduct these businesses well, that is the civil service.

In all, before all these are sewed together, the mind must be better framed to appreciate its independence, uniqueness, and responsibility. When the mind understands this, then it becomes free from inducement and coarseness. And thereafter helps reform the social institutions having direct impact on people. Doing these will better the lots of all without bias to any order.

Let it therefore be echoed that no one will help you lay your bed, because you shall lie on it yourself.

The write rcan be contacted via @iaabubakar on twitter