Earlier today, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the National Re-orientation programme themed, ‘Change Begins with Me’.
At the event, the permanent secretary of information and culture, Ayotunde Adesuwa, said that the onus of being the desired change lies squarely in our hands for we are the change that we seek.
She went on to state that, “the beautiful, orderly and progressive nation we want to live in is possible if we all one by one look inwards and change those things that we do that prevent us from realising our vision”.
The Field Marshall and Commander-in-Chief of the Change Forces, President Mohammadu Buhari also called for attitudinal and mindset change in the private and public life of Nigerians.
Some of the areas he put under the spotlight are: our personal behaviour, our conduct, the way we engage with our neighbours and friends as well as how we relate with the larger society. This at a critical time of economic crisis? After we were sold on the “Change” axiom a little over a year ago? Please!
Honestly, this #ChangeBeginsWithMe smells and looks like a repackaging of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) for democratic times.
After all, Lai Mohammed did say that “the war we have today is the same war against indiscipline, the same war against corruption but now, because we operate in a democratic system, we are now using persuasion to drive it”.
Well, if it smells like WAI and looks like WAI, surely, it must be WAI. And that’s a scary thought.
Nigerians are not taking this with their arms folded. They are bombarding Twitter with a flurry of tweets.
And nope, it is not in support of the campaign.
https://twitter.com/i_am_dayoB/status/773860225141108738
https://twitter.com/SayUrViews/status/773862004184473604
In d spirit of "Change Begins with Me",will @MBuhari order d use of made-in Nigeria cars 4 official use @GarShehu @ggfnigeria
— Lanre Johnson (@LordOJ) September 8, 2016
In d name of “Change Begins With Me’’ campaign,can we ask that all "juicy"secret recruitment done by this govt be reversed and opened to all
— Lanre Johnson (@LordOJ) September 8, 2016
Reps padded budget with N40bn and nothing happened or will happen, yet you tell me the average man to believe #ChangeBeginsWithMe? Rubbish.
— Andy Madaki (@AndyMadaki) September 8, 2016
Only yesterday, @PoliceNG took over all the suburban roads in Oyo state to take N50. how does #ChangeBeginsWithMe
— TanCultureMedia (@ValleysPride) September 8, 2016
Launching Change begins with me when Police is harrasing BBOG, DSS + EFCC arresting Journalists & Bloggers, all promises failing? Good luck.
— Andy Madaki (@AndyMadaki) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheQuestionneir/status/773854283926237186
You dont need 2b a prophet 2 knw dat @MBuhari “Change Begins With Me’’ will end like OBJ “Heart of Africa” & GEJ “Rebranding Nigeria” #Waste
— Matt (@OgaMadam24) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/wildeyeq/status/773846642600644608
https://twitter.com/AustinYugo/status/773851261473087488
https://twitter.com/SJFindlay/status/773816916293058560
https://twitter.com/er_rays/status/773842006288236548
You people are mad with this #ChangeBeginsWithMe. May God punish una generation.
— TAYO TAIWO 🇳🇬 (@tayotaiwo83) September 8, 2016
Newspaper allowances for Office holders while I cant buy newspapers as I am living the News but #ChangeBeginsWithMe
— Negrodamus (NDr): The Return (@AN0WA) September 8, 2016
Dear @MBuhari #ChangeBeginsWithMe , the IGP of police is threatening innocent and harmless #BBOG protesters, change begins with you too!
— Rebekah (@enobong) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/SayUrViews/status/773864094277505024
At first #apc Change then #pdp Change d Change & now #buhari has come with #ChangeBeginsWithMe next PDP will say #changeendswithus #nigeria
— GΞORGΞ HΞCTOR ☬ (@hecxtreme) September 8, 2016
But I wasn't the one that brought about the 97% vs 5% theory! now you see why #ChangeBeginsWithBuhari and not #ChangeBeginsWithMe 😞
— SiiMEONY (@siimeony) September 8, 2016
Corruption and shirking of responsibility smells badly in that hall.. Even the acting is bad.. Wtf. #bringbackourrice #ChangeBeginsWithMe
— Blank as your brain (@Timi_MetalEd) September 8, 2016
Dear @MBuhari before l trend #ChangeBeginsWithMe
please change Forex to rate @ 29th May 2015
$ 1 = N199
£1 = N308 pic.twitter.com/ti73TOLC8Z— Adetutu Balogun, MBA (@Tutsy22) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/SomiEkhasomhi/status/773852657127653376
Epic fail this #ChangeBeginsWithMe, they should have launched this in June 2015…
— Olumide-Mynder (@rednym) September 8, 2016
U just bought a bag of rice for 22k and u put on ur radio only to hear Lai Mohammed say #ChangeBeginsWithMe pic.twitter.com/XoLEBG8ejH
— marius obidiozor (@macob23) September 8, 2016
When I see Lai Mohammed laughing at #ChangeBeginsWithMe launch pic.twitter.com/pp1FMUGkvC
— Blank as your brain (@Timi_MetalEd) September 8, 2016
While they are doing this #ChangeBeginsWithMe nonsense – they are yet to address the looming issue of petrol pricing.
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) September 8, 2016
This #ChangeBeginsWithMe is a stupid waste of money.. For once I'm happy Nepa took the light mahn.. pic.twitter.com/PtbHDpEaJG
— Blank as your brain (@Timi_MetalEd) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/Bhattousai/status/773861303953883136
https://twitter.com/TheQuestionneir/status/773860511020638208
https://twitter.com/ThaVincent/status/773859937034338305
https://twitter.com/Chichom_/status/773828097909125120
Nigerians pls we must get ready to reject any #ChangeBeginsWithMe nonsense hashtag,change must begin with the government and politicians
— Tomide Akinribido (@MrTomide) September 8, 2016
#ChangeBeginsWithMe looks like the official "I can't do it" campaign.
— 2_mosh 🌊🌴 (@Moshood__) September 8, 2016
As WAI seems dead on arrival so #ChangeBeginsWithMe .
Me here is who?
— BROUHAHA (@BrouhahaNG) September 8, 2016
#ChangeBeginsWithMe but you took the country into recession in 1984 and repeated the same feat in 2016.
Buhari Change should begin with you
— Politrician (@Franeb) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/JGracechild/status/773863504289882113
#ChangeBeginsWithMe is the president's attempt of distracting himself from his responsibilities! https://t.co/uqlfpC5Tc4
— Rebekah (@enobong) September 8, 2016
