The Nigerian state and its institutions can be likened to the man who was robbed and left for dead on his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, as described in Luke 10:30-36. Just as the bandits left the man half-dead, many public sectors in Nigeria are operating at only half capacity, much like our national power grid. When we assess the performance of various sectors, it becomes clear that we have a nation that is functioning only partially. A system that is only half-functional cannot operate at its best, and without sufficient attention, its decline is inevitable.
I personally know parents who are currently paying over $1000 (or N714,000 in the parallel market as of 2022) per term to enroll their children in private schools. Surprisingly, these schools do not provide the same quality of secondary education that was available in government-owned schools for a fraction of the cost in previous years. It’s disheartening to see that many of the leaders in Nigeria, whether appointed or elected, who claim to be the saviors of our struggling nation, do not exhibit the same selfless and compassionate character as the good Samaritan in the biblical story of Luke 10:30-36.
Compassion is exemplified by the actions of the good Samaritan who showed deep concern for the half-dead man. Unfortunately, many of our so-called leaders in the media seem to only pretend to be good Samaritans without actually putting in the necessary effort. They often initiate projects and construct roads, fully aware that the quality is subpar. In my view, it’s akin to taking a selfie with a half-dead man without providing any substantial assistance. This lack of genuine compassion and commitment to quality is a disservice to those our leaders are supposed to serve.
The good Samaritan’s compassion was evident in several ways. Still, one of the most significant was his act of binding the wounds of the half-dead man, as recounted in Luke 10:34. In contrast, our current leaders seem to exacerbate our financial woes rather than alleviate them. The recent revelation of alleged fraudulent activities by the former Accountant General of the Federation only serves to reinforce this point. It is clear that leaders who fail to assist and instead worsen the already dire state of a department, agency, or ministry cannot be considered good Samaritans.
The compassionate Samaritan demonstrated an act of kindness by offering his own mode of transportation to convey the injured individual to the hospital, illustrating a willingness to utilize personal resources for the greater good. Historical accounts state that Chief Obafemi Awolowo resided in his personal residence without imposing the additional expense of official accommodation on the region when he was the premier of the western region. Conversely, in the contemporary Nigerian context, there are unsettling reports of individuals exploiting the vulnerable, treating them as mere commodities, and seeking to capitalize on their misfortune for personal gain.
In addition to providing first aid to the injured man, the good Samaritan took him to an inn. During that time, an inn was where he could be sure the injured man would receive proper care. When a road is in bad condition, fixing it is like providing first aid. When it comes time to choose a contractor for construction or reconstruction, selecting a capable contractor through a fair and transparent process is like taking the injured road to the inn. On the other hand, ignoring capable contractors and choosing incompetent ones is like not taking the injured road to the inn.
The good Samaritan stayed with the half-dead man at the inn (Luke 10:35), providing physical and emotional support to the caregivers as they revived him. Our leaders are not as involved in restoring our half-dead state. For example, they do not receive healthcare in the same struggling system they claim to be reviving for the citizens. If medical directors request more staff, they might question the number because they haven’t experienced the loss of close family members due to staff shortages, as ordinary citizens have.
This is also consistent with the half-dead education sector, which their children do not experience. They are not consumers of the education that they claim they are reviving. The meals our leader gives to the children of the poor in the school feeding program cannot be fed the pet they hated most in their house.
When the good Samaritan wanted to depart the inn in the morning, he gave the caregivers two pieces of silver. He also promised to pay them whatever they would spend extra when he came again. I wanted to view the pieces of silver as ideas brought into governance. The National Health Insurance Scheme is a type of the two pieces of silver. Professor Eyitayo Lambo was the minister of health in Nigeria in 2003 and presented the NHIS initiative to his boss.
The (NHIS) initiative has offered access to quality health care since its inception to those in the formal and non-formal sectors. The minister knew what he must contribute and had a boss that yielded. Although the scheme has many challenges as of today. However, anyone elected or appointed to head any half-dead organization must come with two pieces of silver to revive such an organization.
Teach for Nigeria, is like the two pieces of silver that a private organization is contributing to the half-dead public education. This program hires graduate teachers for subjects where government schools lack staff and take responsibility for their pay. It demonstrates citizens and public sectors can contribute to struggling sectors in Nigeria. half dead but dead.
Let us take something away if you are a leader under any condition.
Tell Jesus to come into your heart he will take away your sins and make you alive.
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