The imperatives of re-branding Nigeria and the way forward
In this regard, if I may ask Mr. President, is he re-branding Nigeria as a country or the minds of Nigerians as people of the country? To me Nigeria as a country cannot be re-branded rather the minds of the people of Nigeria. This is because since our country came into being or existence with […]
In this regard, if I may ask Mr. President, is he re-branding Nigeria as a country or the minds of Nigerians as people of the country? To me Nigeria as a country cannot be re-branded rather the minds of the people of Nigeria. This is because since our country came into being or existence with the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorate in 1914 by the then governor-general sir, Fredrick Lord Luggard which gave birth to Nigeria, the name is still as it was born. The seven letters that formed the word Nigeria are still the same.
The colours of the national flag remain green white green. What then are we re-branding? It is the minds of Nigerians that need to be re-branded. Our minds have digressed or deviated from the right practice. As such we need to re-brand our minds. The fear of God has been petered out from our psyche resulting in filthy minds. The mind or the heart is the pivotal of the body. Without the mind, all the systems in the body are useless.
The mind is the catalyst of positive change for development. The mind is the barometer of socio-economic and political development of this great country Nigeria. To re-brand our minds, we need to re-devote and re-dedicate our minds to the services of Almighty God. We need to have more fear of God. We have problems; and the only way of mitigating our problems is to fear our creator. “God fearing is the corner stone of every development” Quran 65: 2 say: “Whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to him, He (Allah) will make a way for him to get out from every difficulty”. We are in difficult situation in this country. We should fear Allah so that He will make way for us get out from our problems. Same Qur’an 65: 4 says: “Whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to him, He (Allah) will make his matter easy for him”.
We are in serious difficulties. But the only way ut the present difficulties is the fear of God. The Bible says, in the book of proverbs 10: 27, “fear of the Lord prolongs one’s life but the year of the wicked are cut short.” Our leaders should be aware of this..It is said in the book of proverbs 9:10 that “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Our leaders lack wisdom of leadership. They should fear God so that He (God) will give them the wisdom of administration. Forsaking God by our leaders is the cause of our tribulations (suffering) today. It is stated that “no condition is permanent”. By this statement, we are hoping that our situation would change one day.
However, Professor Wole Soyinka said: “condition becomes permanent when you become blind to the truth”. Our leaders of today have become blind to the truth and that is why we are suffering in this great country. References have always been made to our past leaders that fought for independence of this great country Nigeria. These great past leaders were having the people of Nigeria in their minds. They placed the interest of this country above their personal interest. Their minds were corrupt free. They were conscious of the day of accountability.
The day when everybody shall be called upon to give account of his or her deeds. Today the reverse is the case from our leaders. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reported to have said: “Every leader is a shepherd over his followers and shall be asked of his flock”. Our past leaders were great minds of their generation. As we have celebrated 49 years independence anniversary, we need attitudinal change. Let our leaders change their minds and emulate from the track records of success of our past leaders.
We should be more patriotic Nigerians. It is the mind that triggered our action either right or wrong .Therefore there is the need to re-brand our minds. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reported to have said: “verily there is a flesh in the body. If it is purified the whole body is purified, and if it is spoilt, the whole body is spoilt.” He said that is mind (heart). We need to combat our minds for good.
Caliph Ali one of the four rightly guided Caliphs of Islam said: The similitude of combating his mind, is like a shepherd whose flocks are dispersed in a wrong direction, he becomes restless making sure that they are brought under control. He said that is how he combats his mind daily and he shall continue until he dies. The mind is always at the driver’s seat that drives one to anywhere. Some years back a research was conducted on devotion to God. Result released shows that Nigeria has the highest number of people that are devoted to God in the whole world. Ironically, Nigeria was rated as the second most corrupt country in the whole world. That shows that we don’t have sincerity of minds.
Our devotion to God is peripheral. No wonder then, it is recorded in the book of Matthew 7:21 that “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of God in Heaven”. Qur’an 2:8 says: “Among people, there are some who say “We believe in Allah and the last day” while they believe not”. Our minds are spiritually dead. We need spiritual injection to resuscitate our minds. We are blessed by God. We have abundant human and natural resources that god almighty has blessed us with for development.
But because of centrifugal forces of push and pull in the minds of our leaders have truncated development in this great country Nigeria. I therefore, exhort our Imams and pastors and every other Nigerian to be prayerful to God. God shall surely answer our prayers. With God all things are possible. Let’s be optimistic and not pessimistic. Our country is great and shall ever remain great. When the head is cut off the whole body is finished. Our leaders are the head, they should re-brand their minds and shun corruption and everybody shall follow suit. When our leaders are upright, we will pray for them and God shall guide our leader’s right as it is sung in the second stanza of the national anthem. When the minds of our leaders are re-branded and Nigerians in general, vision 20 – 20 – 20 is accomplished.
Galadima writes in from Rubochi Development Area, Kuje Area council FCT, Abuja.