A Non Governmental Organization, Centre for Ethical Conduct Orientation and Empowerment, has noted with dismay, the level of indiscipline and careless attitude of citizens on matters that concern the Nigerian nation, identifying them as some of the factors meditating against the growth of the country.
Director of the organization, Comrade David Owah Adekunle, who stated this said for the nation to regain its footing as a powerful nation in the comity of nations, there is urgent need for the people of the country to be adequately re-orientated to begin to own the country, rather than see it as belonging to the political leaders only.
This was contained in a statement signed by the media consultant to the organization, Yabagi Mohammed, according to which the Director described an average Nigerian as a patriotic person who always wants his country to grow, but that most of them were bacoming disillusioned with the prevailing situations in the country.
The statement further enjoined the citizens to take some responsibilities about what has led to the sorry state the nation is in at the moment. It said that had the citizens been proactive, the situation would not have deteriorated to the level it has.
The statement read in part: “While Government is responsible for the citizens’ welfare, safety of life and property, responsibility also beckons on them to be patriotic , law abiding and ethical both in conduct and discharge of duties.
“It is sad that people of the country are more concerned about government role than their own obligations to the society they live in. This fact is however becoming too much of a burden on the government in the face of the economic recession the nation is suffering.”
The statement further charged Nigerians to own the new government initiative, especially the “Change Begins With Me” message of the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari, which aimed at attitudinal change and value system redefinition in tandem with the reality as envisioned by government.
“The Change Begins With Me campaign only seeks to charge us to be responsible. It seeks to entrench in us the message that citizens should not only look forward to what government can do for them, but that they should take initiatives, improve their potentials and look within themselves to how they grow their person and make the society a better place.”
The NGO is out to recognize exceptional members of the society, whenever they may be and beam light on them and their positive contribution to the society, carry out enlightenment campaigns, train indigent members of the public, provide scholarship for the children of the poor, serve as a voice for the voiceless and ensure that government is accountable to the citizens at all times.
