Many a times, as individuals, we talk about the need to change and we still end up the same way we are.
Gone are the days when someone would fool me at the turn of the year, decide to make some new year resolutions, and one week after, remain the same.
It is a popular saying that one cannot give what he or she does not possess.
Let me add here by asserting that one can actually give what one does not ordinarily possess.
Sounds absurd right?
Yea, but in my analysis, you shall begin to understand my assertion.
What then is change? According to my Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, the word change could mean either to "make or become different".
Change could also mean to "replace". And finally in this context, change could mean to "exchange".
When we talk about to "make or become different", we talk about being a completely new person from what you were originally known to be. It could be in form of looks, appearance. One literally passes from one form to another.
When we talk about change being to "replace", it is self-explanatory as we just replace what was there originally with a new, fresh one.
Lastly, when we talk about change being to "exchange", we talk about swapping two things interchangeably. In this form of change, those things can still be the same, only that they'll begin to function in opposite capacities.
For the purpose of this article, I want to stick to change being to "make or become different", which is perhaps the best ever form of change if you ask me.
Let me now juxtapose all I have been saying since to what I am about to say.
Looking at Nigeria as a whole from some 26 years back when I was born, I have been witnessing the same thing over and over again.
Even history books about Nigeria taught me no different.
Nigeria has been threading on the dangerous path of monotony in most spheres of life.
Take a look at our government, a typical example of abject monotony.
I remember reading about our past and present leaders growing up. Unfortunately, the past and present leaders I am still witnessing now that I'm all grown.
Of what use is change when nothing refuses to change.
Of what use is change when no one refuses to change.
How will someone spend donkey years in government office and nothing significant happens, and that same individual comes back after a 10-20 year cycle to contest for another government position.
That doesn't sound nice in my ears.
The type of change that takes place in Nigeria is what I call "recycling".
We recycle almost anything, from Ministers to Commissioners to Heads of parastatals to permanent secretaries to Local Government chairmen and most recently Presidents.
Mr Government official, what impact did you make in office 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago? Why do you still feel the need to return to office? What do you want to do better now that you weren't able to do 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago?
Why should I repose so much faith in you to better my life now when you failed to better my life 5, 10, 20 years ago?
These are pertinent questions every Nigerian needs to ask his/herself.
A peep into the list of delegates for the National Conference got me all riled up.
I mean, I've known some names on that list ever since I was born.
Sir/madam, why do you still feel the need to participate in something that is supposed to plot the direction of my life and the lives of so many Nigerians in the long run?
I guess this question should be a rhetorical one.
Almost in all spheres of life, nothing has changed.
Take a look at the sports sector, most notably football, the same administrators, the same coaches going all around in the same recycle.
Nigerian football would have been better than where it currently is today if not for recycling.
Change is needed to make progress!
I look at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos and I shake my head. A national edifice that once used to be the pride of this great nation has coiled into self-recluse.
I only go there to attend parties every saturdays as it has become an entertainment centre rather than a sports complex.
The Nigerian Premier League was so wretched, that a baby would fall asleep midway through a League game. Thank God that it's a bit better nowadays.
This is what you get when you keep recycling old legs or you keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.
It is a shame that in 2014, Nigerian football clubs still depend on their respective state governments to survive. What ever happened to sponsors?
I stand to be corrected, I don't think there is any club side in Nigeria that can survive on its own without the influence of their state governments.
Why should that be so?
A look our new national team jersey leaves less to be desired.
We have to be that change people are looking for wherever we may find ourselves. No one wants to act the fool anymore.
The youths of today needs to rise up to the occasion and be that agent of change our society so badly needs.
Let me stop here before I bore you out.
Cheers to the weekend!!
JimCaddy!
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