Once upon a time, there existed a tale about twin brothers, far away in a village – Truth and Lie. Standing by a river outside their small community, they engaged in banter. In a moment of mischief, Lie dared his sibling to a race.
The boastful Lie claimed, “I am the fastest swimmer in our village’s history. I can outswim you, Truth!”
Curious, Truth inquired, “What are the rules?”
Lie outlined the rules: they must both strip naked, and upon his count, dive into the cold river, swim across, and return. As Lie delayed his jump, Truth, trusting as always, plunged into the water. Seizing the opportunity, Lie slyly stole Truth’s clothes, donning them as his own and parading as his brother. Truth, left exposed and betrayed, refused to wear the ill-fitting garments and walked back to town in naked humility.
Shunned by society, Truth’s attempts to reveal the deception fell on deaf ears. The people, deceived by Lie’s eloquence, began to idolize him while ostracizing Truth. In a final act of surrender, Truth disappeared into the depths of the river, leaving Lie to reign as a counterfeit truth in a world where deception triumphed.
In a recent encounter with a former Nigerian politician, I learned of the pervasive influence of lies in our country’s political landscape. Despite noble intentions, the politician faced insurmountable corruption and deceit, leading to his disillusionment and eventual retreat from politics. In a realm where lies lead and truth remains suppressed, the battle for integrity becomes a futile struggle.
Decades of journalistic scrutiny have highlighted Nigeria’s afflictions of corruption and mismanagement. Despite the outcry, little has changed as self-serving leaders continue to exploit public resources for personal gain. The persistence of dishonesty and malfeasance has eroded the fabric of our nation, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and suffering amongst its people.
As Nigeria grapples with a crisis of leadership and moral decay, the resurgence of hope in figures like Bola Tinubu raises questions about the authenticity of this renewed optimism. Can a nation plagued by lies and deceit find solace in the promise of integrity and honesty? The dichotomy between truth and falsehood continues to shape our collective destiny, leaving us to ponder the elusive presence of virtue in a world dominated by deception.