They roam our streets in flamboyant convoys, creating chaos and noise when they ought to be in prisons, in solitary confinements; the society celebrates them with big awards and chieftaincy titles rather than stoning them for the great havoc they have wreaked on it. They continue to dictate and direct our affairs as they want to leave us with empty treasuries. They are the rogues who our young ones crave to be like because of the obscene display of the massive wealth they stole from the common till.
These rogue models are everywhere: in government, business, the corporate world, religious groups and even the academic. Their modus operandi is the same - fill your pocket and make the poor poorer. Everywhere they go they are celebrated, praised and hailed for their deep pockets. We, sadly, call them the role models to be emulated by the younger ones because they have made it in life. Rogue models in government create bogus budgets and share the loot, their counterparts in business split the throat of the masses with exorbitant prices, their colleagues in religious circles make their followers poorer while their admirers in the academia increase school fees at will.
What reward does the society give these people for their deeds? Instead of prison they get praises; in place of convictions they get contracts; instead of boos they get booms; in place of disgrace they get degrees.
Now they have invaded our ivory towers, every university rushes to confer honorary awards on many who tread on the path of dishonour. Their quest for these awards, which they do not deserve, have polluted our society. Bad eggs get rewarded while the good ones watch in despair as their sterling qualities are not recognised.
One watches with dismay as these rogues collect awards for supposed contributions to society.
The universities, which are starved of funds to cater for their needs, resort to other means to generate revenue to augment the stipend from the government who see no reason to pump money into education. They would rather use our wealth for foreign trips abroad to treat common ailments, such as malaria and catarrh as well as gifts for lawmakers.
Our institutions should learn to encourage hardwork and honesty by recognising men and women who are making positive impacts on the society, even if they have moderate incomes. These are the role models to the younger generation. Honorary degrees should not be exclusively for bank CEOs, government appointees and corporate big shots.
George wrote this piece as a 200 Level student of Accountancy in the University of Maiduguri in 2008
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