by Olumuyiwa Olumide

A public servant is just what the names implies he/she is: he should be at your beck and call and cleaning your shoes if that is part of his job deliverables. We have grown accustomed to making excuses for ineptitude for public officers in this part of the world; while giving our “servants” ample room to manoeuver and wriggle out of their duties and responsibilities.

Some persons make it sound like serving in public office equates to doing the people a favour. And the condescending manner many government officials carry on, lends ample credence to this aphorism (and reinforces it somewhat). They seek for an appreciative audience from amongst the unenlightened, semi educated, unexposed, poverty and slave minded Internet device wielding local champions on Social Media. It is a pity that we have allowed ourselves to be so brainwashed, used and abused.

If you haven’t left the shores of Nigeria before, you most likely have a relative abroad, a neighbour who has travelled abroad, a colleague who has at least been to Ghana or Gambia. If you still do not fall into any of these categories, surely you must have seen a Hollywood movie or two (even in your caveman-like habitation without public power supply). You may have come across a magazine or newspaper that depicts the quality of life that is obtainable elsewhere.

For it to have remotely even crossed your mind that this is the best Nigeria can become, shows that whatever little (or not) education you may have acquired, was an effort in futility, both for the educators and your lineage. And I say this with all due respect.

No one is forced to run for office, no appointment is shoved down the throat of anyone. Once you cannot put up with the demands of an office, the next best thing to do will be to step aside. A public servant is just what the names implies he/she is: he should be at your beck and call and cleaning your shoes if that is part of his job deliverables. We have grown accustomed to making excuses for ineptitude for public officers in this part of the world; while giving our “servants” ample room to manoeuver and wriggle out of their duties and responsibilities.

As a people, we have refused to have one single, clear voice. Instead we fall for the oldest trick in the book from the ministry of distraction (tricks as old as mountains themselves)–religion, tribe and creed. We keep saying the leader should hail from my region or my religion. Yet as the days evolve, save for the overfed traditional rulers, a few cotton brained tribal warlords and jet flying men of God, what really do we, who come from the “chosen” regions, benefit?? How has your bank account fared simply because the President is partly Igbo? Good grief!!!

But I tell you what, you can touch the lives of 170 million Nigerians (spread across tribes) in one fell swoop with the following rather ‘infinitesimal’ actions as a leader:

▪ If PMS at the pumps went to as low as N40 per litre.

▪ If there is so much electricity that Nigerians switch off their freezers and leave their chargers at home.

▪ If we have road networks that can only be bettered by the German autobahn (built in the 30′s).

To borrow from Barrack Obama, Yes we can.

We have a NASS that gulps N150 Billion yearly. Their minds should be on overdrive and they should be kept on their toes by us. We should constantly breathe down their necks and not bicker amongst ourselves instead.

In the final analysis, always remember that in the NASS, every one there, be they from Ogoja in Cross River State to Ogirimagongo in Kogi or from Isale – Eko in Lagos to the Nation’s capital in Abuja–we are all fully represented in parliament. The PDP and the APC, the Christians and the Muslims, all are in the house together sharing laughter, warm embraces and wads of cash.

It may be time to shock them for once and focus on what’s important. Nigeria can catch up with the rest of the world if we for once focus on our common good and quit the bickering and the divisions sown within our midst by the politicians. Who cares if the President hails from a minority tribe as long as he delivers on his promises? I mean, who ‘effing’ cares?

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Olumide Olumuyiwa tweets from @MrEnclave

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.