The Liability Of A Corrupt Mindset In Nation Building: A Memoir From My Diary. By David Adenekan.

Pa Bisi Akande

"Tomorrow they will be on the streets protesting against the government. Is it not the same corrupt mindset from top to bottom? Who is fooling whom?" - David Adenekan.

The attached video clip is the metaphor of the liability of a corrupt mindset of average Nigeria in nation building. Please 🙏, endeavor to watch the less than two minutes thirty seconds video clip. It is mind boggling. 

Alas, who are we going to send to change the corrupt mindset of our people back home? From the top to the bottom, it is all about cutting corners, even when there is no need for this so called dialectic materialism.

According to a political philosopher, Allen Wood, dialectic materialism was doomed to be superficial because "creativity and critical thinking" was impossible in an authoritarian environment. Is Nigeria not an authoritarian environment when it seems the country is gradually becoming a free for all society where corruption is now the norm from top to bottom?

Is Nigeria not truly a wasted generation as postulated by Prof. Wole Soyinka? 

Again, who will God send to change this mindset that is deeply rooted in corruption?

In 2011, at the convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba North America in New York City,  I have the privilege to be one of the guest speakers and also to be part of the protocol officers to receive and cater for the welfare of dignitaries across the globe. 

Suffice it to say, I was sent to the event from Nigeria (I was leaving in Nigeria at a time with my nuclear family) as a proxy to represent a political father and a mentor, Hon. Olawale Oshun (a very strong political figure in the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a foremost Lagos Mainland Political Leader.

Baba Bisi Akande (a former governor of Osun State) was the National Chairman of the party and he traveled all the way from Nigeria to grace the august event as the Chief Guest of Honor. He also gave the keynote address. 

My humble self and three others (Prof. Labinjo, Barr. Ayo Turton and Barr. Alaade) were invited to Baba Bisi Akande's suite during the four days event and we started a conversation on national issues. I now asked a question, "Baba, what do you think about the average mindset of our people back home?" Baba Bisi Akande paused, he then "looked at me with sorry eyes, nothing can really be done to change the corrupt mindset of average Nigeria. The mindset is already made up of corruption and selfishness. You men of integrity and great valor (Omoluabi) in diaspora are the only people that can come home as a group to change the trajectory for a true nation building, you people in diaspora are the only hope of a better society"  Baba Bisi Akande declared without mincing words. Yes, A Memoir From My Diary. 

Baba Bisi Akande's declaration is the renaissance of what Awolowo did in the fifties and sixties when he assembled great minds (Egbe omo Yoruba) in London to come home as a group to develop the western region. It was a great transformation  as we witnessed the ever golden era in the history of Yoruba as a people.

THINK YORNNA (Yoruba Nurses Of North America), and may God continue to use organizations like YORNNA to bless our people and our country Nigeria. GBAM! 

David Adenekan Is The Editor Of Shekinah International Magazine And A Media Expert. He Is Also The Secretary Of Afenifere Diaspora USA. He Writes From Chicago, Illinois.
davidadenekan5@gmail.com.