NOA: Before the prayer crusade

Before transforming into its present name and structure, successive administrations in the country established similar bodies from which the NOA could be said to have taken its roots. They include the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), a brain-child of the military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, which scope was later expanded and called War Against Indiscipline […]

Before transforming into its present name and structure, successive administrations in the country established similar bodies from which the NOA could be said to have taken its roots. They include the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), a brain-child of the military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, which scope was later expanded and called War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAIC); the Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reconstruction (MAMSER); and the National Orientation Movement (NOM). Except for the WAI that practically impacted on the moral fiber of Nigerians, others were no more than mere instruments of propaganda that survived to serve and promote the interests of their proponents. The NOA was established by Decree 100 of August 1993 to among other mandates put together all efforts and resources utilized by MAMSER, the NOM; and the WAI in the fields of public enlightenment, social mobilization and value orientation.

It would be recalled that earlier in the week, the Director-General of the NOA, Alhaji Idi Faruk, called on Nigerians to come out en-masse for the “National Prayer Day for Peace” which supposedly took place at 12noon on Thursday September 29, 2011. While the agency may have good reasons for organizing a national prayer day, this column believes that it is getting her priorities wrong. We consider it a wrong ordering of priorities for the NOA to be crusading or praying for peace in a country where injustice is the norm rather than the exception. What Nigerians expect the NOA to do in the given circumstance of general insecurity of lives and property in the country is to crusade or pray for justice to first prevail in the land.

It is, perhaps, necessary to remind the NOA of one of the un-written social laws of human existence which provides for justice to be enshrined in all matters as a requirement for peace. Professor Tam David-West would say, “With justice reigning supreme in the land, all other things would fall in place. No mutual distrust; no crises; no tension; no violence”. Our position does not by any stretch of the words legitimize violence or suggest its supremacy over dialogue. Violence in whatever form, of course, is not in itself a solution to felt injustice. After all, Mahatma Gandhi adopted and succeeded in using non-violent approach to oppose and repress injustice in India. Nonetheless, it is our considered opinion that the safest journey to peace begins with justice permeating all human affairs.

Anyway, the Director-General of the NOA may be given the benefit of doubts for putting the cart before the horse, at least, for two conceivable reasons. First, the NOA may not be too different from similar government agencies established to play the tunes dictated by government, whether or not such melodies are compatible with the interests and needs of citizens. Second, it seems to be more or less typical of chief executives of public organizations in Nigeria to cheaply and conveniently have recourse to religious leaders and institutions in order to save the face of government in situations of failure. They always forget to remember that religious leaders do not have police, army, prisons or courts of law through which justice can prevail in the land. Leaders and persons in positions of responsibility find pleasure in discussing religious crises and religious dialogue but would shut their eyes and ears to discussing and addressing injustice, corruption, crime and poverty.

If our hypothesis which suggests that the NOA is getting the ordering of her priorities wrong is anything reasonable, we would be stating the obvious to declare that the NOA, an agency saddled with duties of value orientation, is herself in need of some rationalized orientations. Day in day out, Nigerians especially youths who are naturally impatient with abnormal situations have been witnesses to how justice, honesty and hard work have become victims of persecution in the country. The plight of Justice Ayo Salami is a relevant case in point. Yet, the NOA is not seen, through its activities, to be doing anything that will reverse the trend. Similarly, Nigerians are living witnesses to how corruption, indiscipline and organized crimes have been turned into and extolled as virtues by bad and wicked leaders in Nigeria. Inspite of the publicity and stage shows that accompanied the senate probe of the FCT and sale of FGN houses as well as the House of Representatives probe of the power sector among twenty-eight other probes carried out by the fifth National Assembly (2007-2011) in Nigeria, not a single person indicted by the reports has been convicted. The failure by concerned authorities to sincerely prosecute and convict those found guilty by law does not only encourage potential offenders to engage in corrupt practices but further foreshadows such an act as deliberate injustice.

In addition to crusading for justice, the NOA would leave footprints on the soil of ethical values by inculcating in contemporary Nigerians (through her programmes) attitudes that reflect universal ethics and values. This may include respect for elders and constituted authority, kindness, humility, good neighborliness, hospitality, modesty, chastity, patience, perseverance, honesty, hard work, courtesy, patriotism and above all tolerance. Nigerians in the past two decades have become very intolerant. You can rarely go through a newspaper in Nigeria today without reading stories of how acid was poured on a fellow human being or about how little disagreements led to communal clashes; all over flimsy matters. There is certainly so much for the NOA to do in re-orientating Nigerians with mindsets that sprout from a genuine sense of responsibility. The hostility, suspicion and mistrust with which Nigerians react to even the salutations of those who differ from them in religion and tribe are quite frightening. This is one area NOA can do so much.

What is the NOA also doing to compel government to make Religious Studies (Islamic and Christian) compulsory for students in Nigerian secondary schools where moral laxity is the order? What is the NOA doing about radio and television programmes that are very alien to our values with their strong cultural influence on the character of our children and youth? The NOA can collaborate with relevant agencies to regulate programmes aired on the several FM radio stations and television stations in the country. Many have so much time for music and fashion with little for programmes that have concern for values.

This column is not in a position to fashion out strategies by which the impact of the NOA could be felt by Nigerians especially at this critical time of its political history. We are convinced that they know it better. If authorities at the NOA feel they are up and doing, then it is either that the steps they are taking are wrong (as suggested earlier) or that the tools they are using to meet their targets are questionable.

The scope of the moral and cultural re-orientation agenda of the NOA should be broadened to cover institutions and corporate bodies. Government must be made to realize and appreciate the fact that if the “fight” (sorry, the romance) with corruption is to be reduced, there is need to ensure unlimited access to quality education; healthcare; clean portable water. Efforts must be made to reduce poverty and unemployment; in addition to paying workers wages that will take them home and not to the bus stop. May Allah (SWT) give those in leadership positions the wisdom to initiate programs that will benefit Nigerians and humanity, amin.