Today, I want us to talk about national transformation from the perspective of everyday principles, such as truth and honesty. In the real sense, truth and honesty are some of the most fundamental principles for building and developing a great nation.
“Let the people know the truth and the country is safe.” – Abraham Lincoln
The most advanced and developed countries get to that level based on the basis of fundamental principles of truth and honesty.
“The truth is the only thing worth having, and, in a civilised life, like ours, where so many risks are removed, facing it is almost the only courageous thing left to do.” – E.V. Lucas
A week before the last Nigerian presidential elections, I received a letter from a young man, who wrote about his dilemma. On his way from church, he ran into a political party jamboree in his neighbourhood. It was also a display of a rare largesse, where bags of rice, beans, etc., were flowing. The next day, the man too, like several others, went back to collect food items and cash. He admitted such charity was not right or in the country’s best interest, but he had an alibi or that it was right for him to have a share of the national cake.
He, however, thought his actions were justified since others were going to take it where he did not. Secondly, he was also in need. Thirdly, he believed everybody was corrupt in Nigeria. For those reasons, he managed to silence his conscience. How many millions of Nigerians do the same?
In the real sense, day-to-day and street-to-office corruption is highly detrimental to national growth. Many Nigerians presume only politicians are corrupt. The commuters who bribe the policemen also think they are not corrupt, only the policemen are.
A sister recently told me about her experience while rushing to the church in the company of her pastor. They were stopped by a policeman who demanded for ‘pastoral blessing’ of the day. The pastor justified the bribe he gave; after all, even the bible says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” According to him, it is scriptural.
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” ― Albert Einstein
One of the greatest indicators of truth and honesty in a country is easily seen in observing how people drive and their attitude toward road safety rules. Do they try to beat the system or follow the rules?
In Switzerland, and generally, in Europe, there is nothing to celebrate when a man brings a purse or bag of money that does not belong to him- and which he found in a restaurant, store or café- to the police station. That is regarded as the normal duty of a citizen. The difference?
In most European countries, if you are offered money or food in exchange for a vote, it is regarded as a corruption of the highest order. In this case, both the giver and the taker face severe consequences.
If Nigerians, and Africans generally, are to experience a true national transformation, we must purposefully begin a campaign for national reorientation. We need numerous movements championing the cause for truth and honesty in every aspect of our daily affairs.
“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.” Isa. 59: 14-15
A lot of our people like to talk about how Singapore went from the Third World to the First World. The Singaporean government enforced the principles of truth and honesty with punishment for all kinds of offences:
If you are caught chewing gum, you are penalised. You pay an amount of $1,000 or a year in prison.
If you cross the road in the wrong place, you pay a fine of $200.
If you are found littering the place by throwing bottles or paper on the ground, you are either imprisoned or heavily fined $800.
If you are caught spitting or defecating in public, you are heavily penalised with prison or a heavy fine.
If you are caught throwing a cigarette butt, you would be penalised with a similar punishment. $1,000 for the first offender and $5,000 for repeated offenders.
If you are caught with illegal drugs, you are sentenced to death.
Eating in public transportation or smoking at an outdoor bus stop incurs fines ranging from $500-$1,000.
If you are caught vandalising, like making graffiti. You can have a maximum of 24 strokes on your bare buttocks.
If you use the toilet and do not flush it, you will be caned.
If you walk about undressed or nude, even in your own house, you would be heavily penalised. If you hug in public without permission, you will be penalised.
If you criticise other religions, you are going to prison.
If you tell lies, for example, introducing a stranger as your friend, it is considered deception, and you go to jail.
If you log into an internet connection that you have not paid for, it is considered harking, and you must pay a $5,000 fine for it.
If you are caught in an unlawful sexual relationship, two years imprisonment awaits you.
Mutiny, discharge of a firearm, treason, and murder are punishable by death and robbery is punishable by canning and prison.
Driving under the influence is punishable by hefty fines and prison terms.
Piracy is punishable by a fine of $1,000.
Theft and shoplifting are punishable by heavy fines and racism attracts heavy penalties.
Without these kinds of strict enforcement of penalties for offences, Nigeria and Africa will not be able to progress from our current state of underdevelopment. It is not the amount of money or natural resources a nation has that determines how civilised or developed it will be. Singapore, Switzerland, Austria, and many of the European countries that we all admire, do not have one-tenth of the natural resources that African countries have. The difference is the principles of truth and honesty.
Let’s take Switzerland for example, a country without many natural resources, but well-reputed for truth and integrity. As a result, they are known as a haven for banks globally. That reputation has gone before them for hundreds of years. Even people who steal money from other countries keep them in a safe place- Switzerland!
Wealth will always find its way out of societies where truth and honesty are not established. We hear about Sani Abacha’s looted funds were discovered in Switzerland and some other Western countries. Singapore is like an oasis in the desert of South East Asia without apparent natural resources. The result – most of the wealth in the neighbouring rich countries ends up in Singapore.
The truth, therefore, is that great nations become great not due to their wealth or natural resources but to their wealth of truth, honesty and other virtues.
- Adelaja, a journalist, strategist, pastor, author, and innovator, writes from Brussels, Belgium