Politicians from different parts of Nigeria continuously urge people to be selfless in the state, and not to put themselves first. Recently, two sitting governors have advised the civil servants in their states to forfeit some part of their pensions and salaries towards growth for the state. Other governors who have not publicly voiced this thought, act it out by owing their workers for long periods of time. These workers are owed for long periods because the governors have to embark on ‘more important’ matters ‘for the state’.
Children who should be in school loiter around, hawking and begging as the miss out on education. This is because they are not to put themselves first, since politicians are engaging in more important matters for the state. Sections of the country who have complained of marginalisation are advised not to put themselves first. This is because they have to sacrifice their resources and internal politics for the good of the state. This maxim of not putting oneself first raises the question: why are the people not to put themselves first?
The assumption that people should act selflessly and ‘not to put themselves first’ can be utopian and unrealistic. Nobody acts without putting himself first. The Charity Organizations put their fulfilment and satisfaction of helping people first. Philanthropists put their reputation, praises and status first. The religious person puts the salvation of his soul and the satisfaction of his heart for charity first. The law abiding man puts his safety first to be free from punishment and causing chaos in the society, and so on. Even God created the world for his glory.
You cannot have a relationship with me without putting yourself first. I tell you what I can offer and what I desire in the relationship. You tell me your own. We negotiate. Then we agree. From that moment, the agreement begins guiding us because we made it freely to take care of our interests.
Nigeria was formed by forcing different communities into one, and seizing their rights to their resources in hope for money. Now the people all look up to government to obtain the money and not value of agreement for cooperation and production. But nobody has the moral right to advise other people not to put themselves first. Nigerians are not wicked people. They are just reacting to the uncertainty caused by the absence of a true agreement to cooperate and become a nation.
The government we have is without consent of the constituting ethnic communities. And until there is a national conference where all ethnic communities can discuss and agree based on their interests, there will always be chaos. Till then, no one has the moral right to advise others not to put themselves first in the Nigeria. The patient dog that was waiting for the fattest bone in Nigeria, died of hunger some years ago.