T H E 8 T H W O N D E R O F T H E W O R L D ... - Naijamania

Taraba and Adamawa states), the late Colonel Yohanna Madaki,
made a statement to that effect when he criticised what he saw as
the growing culture of corruption. He said, “What use is it to be
righteous? Those who refused to be corrupted are poor, and are called
fools.” (Great Africans on the Record, 1994)
This statement is food for thought and encapsulates the moral
crisis we are facing. It also explains why some Nigerians find it
difficult to do right or to separate right from wrong. Social values
have been steadily warped over the years.
Our national psyche has been bastardised.
Human beings tend to follow the path of reward; that is to say,
whatever the society rewards. If corrupt people are ‘rewarded’,
others take their cue from that.
I heard this incredible story that has a bearing on this issue of
right and wrong. A young Nigerian Christian, who I will call
Incredible Joe, gave the following testimony in church: “Praise
the Lord, God has been very good to me,” he said. He continued the
testimony by saying: “For many years I sat for GCE (i.e. General
Certificate of Education) and I failed but thank God this year I got
someone to write the exam for me and this time I passed. Praise the
Lord with me somebody! Shout Halleluiah! Thank you, Jesus!”
As incredible as Incredible Joe’s story may sound, it is unfortunately
a reflection of what is happening in the larger society. I am
of the opinion that if Incredible Joe had the slightest inclination
that what he did was wrong, he wouldn’t have gone to church
to share it as a testimony of God’s goodness. The issue here is
simple: he just didn’t know any better.
Our Responsibility
“One who hides
his sickness
cannot hide his
death.”
African Proverb
T h e 8 t h W o n d e r o f t h e W o r l d - M a d e i n N i g e r i a 127