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Although this thought is mentioned last, it is undoubtedly one of the cornerstones of building a great nation. A leader’s role is not merely to govern but to inspire their citizens to actively participate in creating the change they wish to see. This begins by engaging people from various walks of life, no matter their social status or background, and motivating them to embrace the vision of national transformation. When citizens are involved and feel like stakeholders in their nation’s progress, the path to change becomes swifter and more effective.
However, in many countries, particularly Nigeria, there has been a long-standing issue where leaders tend to dismiss the potential contributions of citizens. They often view the thoughts, ideas, and innovations from the populace as insignificant or unrealistic. This mindset has fostered a gap between leadership and the governed, slowing down progress and deepening the problem of bad governance.
A practical solution to this is reprogramming the nation’s psyche by redirecting its energy towards positive change. When the citizens are inspired with the right kind of motivation, they can become ambassadors of change, working at every level to uplift their communities. This effort requires a coordinated approach, using various media and influencers to propagate the right information and foster a collective sense of responsibility.
Take the case of South Korea, where national transformation was fuelled by the government’s deliberate investment in its people. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest nations, but by involving citizens in the nation-building process through initiatives like the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement), which promoted self-reliance and community development, the country was able to achieve remarkable progress in a few decades. Citizens were not passive; they were empowered and played an active role in the development of infrastructure, industry, and education. This strategy turned South Korea into one of the world’s most advanced economies.
In Nigeria, by contrast, centralised governance often stifles local initiatives, and citizens are rarely encouraged to take ownership of their regions’ development. For instance, Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil revenue has meant that local economies, especially in agricultural sectors, have been neglected. Citizens in rural areas, especially farmers, are not empowered to take charge of their economic growth due to top-down governance structures and a lack of decentralised power.
Moreover, addressing bad governance in Nigeria is inextricably linked to addressing bad citizenship. As discussed earlier in this book, governance and citizenship are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other, and where one is flawed, the other is inevitably affected. Corruption at the leadership level is often a reflection of corrupt practices within the general populace. Citizens engage in bribery, nepotism, and other vices because they see it as a means to survive within a broken system, further perpetuating the cycle of bad governance.
To tackle bad citizenship, there must be an investment in transforming the mindset of the people. This involves educating the populace on the importance of ethical behaviour, civic responsibility, and active participation in the democratic process. Nigeria can learn from the example of countries like Rwanda, where post-genocide leadership has focused heavily on civic education and community engagement. Rwandan citizens now participate in monthly Umuganda (community work), which not only fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their country but also ensures that citizens actively contribute to its development.
To sum up, the reformation of Nigeria, and indeed any nation plagued by bad governance, must involve the transformation of its citizens. This book is not just a blueprint for governmental reform; it is a call to action for every Nigerian to take responsibility for the country’s future. As the saying goes, “A nation rises and falls on the character of its people.” It is through the collective efforts of inspired and responsible citizens that Nigeria will truly transform and thrive.