The Promotion of Strong Individuals ended Ethical Practices in Nigeria-Prof. Olagoke
- By solomon2day
- On 02/11/2020
- In Special Report
I
n Nigeria of today, the national ethics of Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labor, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-Reliance, and Patriotism are missing in the daily lives of a significant number of the leadership and followership. Concerned Nigerians insist that the leadership dictate the pace for the followership. This, has, however, sadly, resulted in the disconnect between the leadership and the followership. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the focus of successive administrations in the country on the promotion of strong individuals rather than strong institutions put paid to the observance of the national ethics. Excerpts :
Why are all the elements of the National Ethics missing in the lives of a sizable number of Nigerians?
In the time past, Nigeria was rated very high, and most important dignitaries from abroad including the then Prince of Saudi Arabia received their medical treatment in hospitals in Nigeria. Then, the universities were just about four, but they ranked very high among their counterparts in every part of the world because of the quality of education and the standard of services offered by their lecturers. Though crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956, it was fully developed after the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
However, mismanagement of this made successive administrations to abandon agriculture for development. This brought in the era of uncontrollable corruption, making every government be successful in promoting strong individuals rather than strong institutions. In the process, national ethics got lost for institutional indiscipline to take over. The dignity of labor became a farce while the quick money-making syndrome which is not limited to all sorts of human rituals became the order of the day. It is very unfortunate that all agents of socialization have been eroded for things to fall apart. Since the fratricidal war of 1967 to 1970, national ethics have been missing national life. To this extent, ethnic bias and kleptocracy have replaced the senes of nationhood and patriotism, making the leadership totally disconnected from the followership. Using the recent nationwide protests, as an illustration, Nigerian leaders must realize that the ability to control the children, youth, and followership lie in the positive impact one can make while in the position of power to do so. Sanity can only reign when destitution and abject poverty are out of sight.
nce of the national ethics. Excerpts :
Nigeria Prof. Sabitu Olagoke National Ethics