THE DEATH OF CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

Some older folks say that there used to be a time when Nigeria was sane; when there was a sense of patriotism, and when moral decadence was an exception and not the norm. I have never lived in that Nigeria. However, I believe strongly that someday I will. A recent experience showed me just how hard it’s going to be to see that Nigeria again.

I value my sanity a lot. That’s why on gaining admission into the university, I never considered residing in the hostels. The chaos, randomness and disorderliness were and still are far above my threshold level. So, my brothers and I rented a flat in a more serene environment outside the campus. However, the sanity and sanctity of my sanctum was seriously threatened recently. Let me explain.
The flat adjacent to ours has been unoccupied for a while and so we were expecting neighbors anytime soon. But not the kind we saw and definitely not the number. On that particular Tuesday some three weeks ago, about 40 people -boys, girls, and men- walked into our compound with their luggage and sat in front of the empty flat, obviously waiting for the keys. They looked like strangers and sounded like strangers too, with their heavy Ibo accent (keep in mind that this was Benin). It was confusing and amusing all at once. They looked like pilgrims going on hajj; just that this wasn’t the Murtalla Mohammed Airport - it was my house. Needing an explanation for the intrusion, we walked up to the one who looked as though he was in command, coordinating and controlling affairs. “Please, what’s going on here?” ,we asked. “Who are you?” ,he replied/questioned back. We introduced ourselves. And then he released the bombshell: “These are my students for the WAEC exams.” The meaning of that statement registered in our minds immediately and after one or two other questions and clarifications, we walked away, while they -all 40 of them- got the keys and settled into the flat.

The full gist was that this young man, who identified himself as a student of the University Of Benin -maybe with the help of accomplices- was running an ‘advanced examination malpractice crime syndicate’, where he arranged with students/desperate people in need of a certificate from the Eastern part of the country. Their ages obviously did not matter because some looked as young as 18 while others looked as old as 40. And all these ‘special candidates’ were to write their exams in ‘special centers’ where he and his accomplices would perform ‘special miracles.’

It is highly probable that my narration would seem ‘normal’ to a lot of Nigerians, a unique testament to how degenerate most have become. I don’t even think some of these people thought there was anything wrong with their actions because the loudness and intensity with which they prayed and sang praises in the mornings was like a farmer thanking God for a bountiful harvest. One of them –a PHCN staff in Onitsha- sounded to me like the victim. Hear him, “I didn’t make my English in WAEC, so they haven’t promoted me. That’s why I am doing this.” I am sure he expected me to say “eiyaa”. Instead I silently wondered what his wife thought. She probably supports. And so it is that generally the consciences of many Nigerians have been seared, we no more feel a thing. Values and principles seem so ‘old school.’ It ought not to be so.

The National Policy on Education (1981) identified citizenship education as:” a basis for effective participation in and contribution to the life of the society; character and moral training, and the development of sound attitudes; developing in the child the ability to adapt to his changing environment.” Even a blind man can see that like ‘Old Roger’ in our nursery school rhymes, citizenship education as defined above is ‘dead and gone to the grave.’ But if Nigeria is ever going to stop dawdling, it must resurrect. How? I wish I had all the answers but I don’t. One thing I do know is that good men must ‘take back their country.’ Good parents must teach their kids citizenship education on time and they too must practice it. Good teachers must not compromise on standards and values. Good law enforcers must bring all those culpable to book. In short, every good man/woman must play his part. One Nigerian musician put it very well in his song:
Mr. President- lead us well;
If you be governor- govern us well;
If you be senator- senate am well;
If you be police- police well well no dey take bribe.

As for those ‘special students’, they were chased out of my compound three days after their arrival by policemen. It turned out that my landlord was misled. They probably went somewhere else in further pursuit of their cause. Whither Nigeria?