INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT, INTEGRITY AND CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT, INTEGRITY AND CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME

By Felix samari

I have no doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari has good intentions for Nigeria. I believe he desires that things were better than it is today. I am also sure that many Nigerians believe in him. With this any leader can succeed but, not until he has a team.

When a plane is high jacked the pilot’s knowledge is used against himself. This is seemingly the Nigerian situation. President Buhari’s current struggle seems to be about how he can put his house in order and this is taking Nigeria farther into the woods, causing the country more shame and embarrassment.

There are those who think copying other people’s work without acknowledgement or citation is nothing abnormal or illegal. It is very easy to find a professor who has copied and copied others’ work and has earned himself a big title of a “professor”. There are great works of arts stolen and personalized by the lazy smart guys, music and songs have been freely copied. This is a disposition that probably started by simply copying friend’s assignment and the fearless bootlegging of an entire project from a different University or Institution. I recall a case during my undergraduate days; some students were accused of lifting assignments done by others. When the Class-Rep collected the assignments they will take it from him, pick the best written and copy.

Today we are faced with a case of our dear President delivering a plagiarized speech. Poor Mr. President, he did not know that such a thing can be mentioned against him. I am glad that he understands the implication of what happened that is why he quickly apologies.

You see, when APC led government continue to make Nigerians feel that the devil left with the PDP I become concerned because I know that for many I personally know who are fans of APC have no integrity at all.

Associated Press (AP) an internationally renowned news source said, “Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari apologized Saturday for plagiarizing President Barack Obama's 2008 victory speech and said he will punish those responsible.” Now my concern is who must have employed these guys that would boldly plagiarize a popular speech without a premonition that it will be discovered? Is it that the president has not been able to find hardworking, disciplined and intelligent people that would never do such a thing? Can’t the presidency find to employed men of character and integrity? Why did the APC choose to rubbish Nigerian image by employing men who have not been purged of this kind of criminal tendencies? Or could it be that they do not know that plagiarism was a crime?

I think it is not about the learning of the speech writers of Mr. President, it is about their character. They may be worthy in learning but unworthy in character. One of the reasons why people resort to copying others is laziness. And lazy people can never be good actor of positive change.

Plagiarism saga of the “Change Begins with Me” Speech is a clear indication that the project was a failure even before it started. I am not pessimistic, I believe in the good of my country that is why I am writing this. Mr. President should be told that those who can cause this long needed change are dispersed and left out because they do not know a big man who will recommend them for such a job. Close relations of “bigmen” are getting the jobs and trash is going round in the country. This is how it has been. It has not change, when people assume office they employ their cronies and empower their relatives. Little or no consideration is given to merit and proficiency.

Tell me, how do you expect someone who has never worked hard under the burning sun of Nigeria (real world situation) but was pampered at Pampers or cuddled at Coronas, packaged and sent on a first class flight to study abroad with all forms of indulgence to want to write a creative speech that will be due to deliver in the morning? This is the Nigeria we have.

As much as it is expected that Mr. President delivered an impactful speech on a day like September 8, it would have been wonderful if he poured his heart and his desire to see change in the lives of Nigerians and in Nigeria. Such time was not supposed to be for orotundity and grammatical exercise. If Mr. President really desire to see that we have real change, then he should say it has he is feeling it.

If this government must succeed in the fight against any corruption, then integrity must be ensured. If you really love your country you must do everything within your power to ensure that you bring her respect and honor. No one with true sense of patriotism will stoop so low to copy a speech for his president. Mr. President should go ahead and punish anyone that is responsible for such irresponsibility. Let the person(s) be made to face the public embarrassment that this has caused the President and the people of Nigeria.

If it is true that #ChangeBeginsWithMe let us all see that it is no lip service.