Davidson Nwosu

Whenever Nigerians gather to discuss the country’s problems, one phrase is almost guaranteed to come up: “We just need a functional system.” I hear it everywhere. In interviews. On social media. In taxis. At conferences. In political conversations. At some point, I stopped listening to the phrase itself and became more interested in the people using it. So one day, I asked someone a simple question: “What exactly is a functional system?” And he couldn’t give an answer. That conversation proved that many people use the phrase because it sounds intelligent, not because they truly understand what it means. A system is not magic. A system is simply a structure made up of rules, institutions, processes, incentives, consequences, and people who consistently make those things work. A functional system is one where the rules are largely predictable, institutions perform their responsibilities, excellence is rewarded, incompetence has consequences, and the average citizen understands that there are standards that cannot be negotiated. Now let me say something uncomfortable. Many Nigerians say they want a functional system, but the truth is, many are not yet prepared to live in one. If you think I’m lying think about it. The same people who complain about corruption but become excited when they know someone “at the top” who can bend the rules for them, they are also the same people who will make excuses for fraudster and yahoo yahoo. They criticize politicians for nepotism but call their uncle to secure jobs they are not qualified for. They want law and order until the law applies to them. They want accountability until they are the ones being held accountable. That is not a desire for a functional system, that is a desire for a system that works only in your favour. In a truly functional system, you do not drive against traffic because you are in a hurry. You do not skip queues because you know someone. You do not evade taxes while demanding world-class infrastructure. You do not bribe your way out of offences. You do not submit fake certificates. You do not forge documents. You do not throw refuse into drainage and then complain about flooding. You do not expect electricity without paying for it. You do not ignore building regulations and then blame government when buildings collapse. A functional system is expensive, not necessarily because of money, but because of discipline. It demands that everyone, rich or poor, connected or unknown, submits to standards. It inconveniences everybody equally, and that is why many societies appear orderly, not because they have angels living there, but because the cost of breaking the rules is often higher than the benefit. Sadly, many of the people who loudly demand a functional system have built their own success around dysfunction. Some businesses exist only because of these loopholes , some careers thrive because merit is absent, some fortunes were built through regulatory loopholes. Ironically, if Nigeria suddenly became completely functional tomorrow, many people currently celebrating their success would struggle to maintain it. This is why I believe our conversation must mature. Yes, government has enormous responsibilities, institutions must improve, and leadership matters. But systems are also strengthened, or weakened by the everyday behaviour of citizens. A nation where millions of people constantly look for shortcuts cannot magically produce world-class institutions. The same values that destroy homes eventually destroy organisations. The same attitudes that weaken organisations eventually weaken nations. A functional Nigeria will require functional citizens. Perhaps we should start asking: “Are we becoming the kind of people who can sustain a functional system?” Because systems do not exist independently of people. People build systems. People protect systems. And ultimately, people either strengthen them, or destroy them. #Tadé #iyawooga #refinedlady

MackOmotade's tweet photo. Whenever Nigerians gather to discuss the country’s problems, one phrase is almost guaranteed to come up:

“We just need a functional system.”

I hear it everywhere. In interviews. On social media. In taxis. At conferences. In political conversations. At some point, I stopped listening to the phrase itself and became more interested in the people using it.

So one day, I asked someone a simple question:

“What exactly is a functional system?” And he couldn’t give an answer.

That conversation proved that many people use the phrase because it sounds intelligent, not because they truly understand what it means.

A system is not magic. A system is simply a structure made up of rules, institutions, processes, incentives, consequences, and people who consistently make those things work.

A functional system is one where the rules are largely predictable, institutions perform their responsibilities, excellence is rewarded, incompetence has consequences, and the average citizen understands that there are standards that cannot be negotiated.

Now let me say something uncomfortable.

Many Nigerians say they want a functional system, but the truth is, many are not yet prepared to live in one. If you think I’m lying think about it.

The same people who complain about corruption but become excited when they know someone “at the top” who can bend the rules for them, they are also the same people who will make excuses for fraudster and yahoo yahoo.

They criticize politicians for nepotism but call their uncle to secure jobs they are not qualified for. They want law and order until the law applies to them. They want accountability until they are the ones being held accountable.

That is not a desire for a functional system, that is a desire for a system that works only in your favour.

In a truly functional system, you do not drive against traffic because you are in a hurry. You do not skip queues because you know someone. You do not evade taxes while demanding world-class infrastructure. You do not bribe your way out of offences. You do not submit fake certificates. You do not forge documents. You do not throw refuse into drainage and then complain about flooding. You do not expect electricity without paying for it. You do not ignore building regulations and then blame government when buildings collapse.

A functional system is expensive, not necessarily because of money, but because of discipline. It demands that everyone, rich or poor, connected or unknown, submits to standards. It inconveniences everybody equally, and that is why many societies appear orderly, not because they have angels living there, but because the cost of breaking the rules is often higher than the benefit.

Sadly, many of the people who loudly demand a functional system have built their own success around dysfunction. Some businesses exist only because of these loopholes , some careers thrive because merit is absent, some fortunes were built through regulatory loopholes.

Ironically, if Nigeria suddenly became completely functional tomorrow, many people currently celebrating their success would struggle to maintain it.

This is why I believe our conversation must mature. Yes, government has enormous responsibilities, institutions must improve, and leadership matters.

But systems are also strengthened, or weakened by the everyday behaviour of citizens.

A nation where millions of people constantly look for shortcuts cannot magically produce world-class institutions.

The same values that destroy homes eventually destroy organisations. The same attitudes that weaken organisations eventually weaken nations.

A functional Nigeria will require functional citizens.

Perhaps we should start asking:

“Are we becoming the kind of people who can sustain a functional system?”

Because systems do not exist independently of people. People build systems. People protect systems. And ultimately, people either strengthen them, or destroy them.

#Tadé
#iyawooga
#refinedlady

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Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

3 days ago

@emmaikumeh Peter OBI is the incoming president of the FRN (social media branch) whether you people like it or not. We will vote for him on all the platforms. 😆😂😂😂

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Who to follow

I believe in Equality, Egalitarianism and sometimes the Rule of Law!

TADENIKAAWO

@eniolababatund2

knowledge is a tree,words are it's leaves but action is it's fruit

chunkyd72 retweeted

A. Ayofe

@abdullahayofel

4 days ago

Peter obi and his Olodo uprising supporters will not like this message because they feed on false narrative from their social media influencer🔥🔥🔥👇

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chunkyd72 retweeted

Podium Reporters

@PodiumReporters

4 days ago

OPINION: Yele Sowore, a mature man with childish tendencies and a lack of political experience | Demoshood Honestly, if emotional responses decided elections, Omoyele Sowore would already be in Aso Rock for his third term, but unfortunately, Nigerians vote based on substance, not noise. Here is a man nearing 60 who still believes that calling the president names online is a political strategy. While genuine politicians are forming alliances and shaping policies, Sowore is busy having online tantrums like a teenager discovering curse words. His campaign boils down to three things: yell, insult, and beg foreign donors for small amounts of money. Pathetic? Yes. Surprising? Not at all. He can't even win his own Local Government in Ondo State, not once, not ever. Yet he still thinks he's Nigeria's saviour. Clearly, he's deluded. His followers call him "activist," but most see him as a perennial loser with a Twitter obsession. He's spent more time travelling with Western NGOs than engaging with Nigerian voters. His only "achievement" is exploiting protesters to secure foreign funding while his political relevance declines. And his childish outbursts? Embarrassing. To every frequent loss, he screams "rigging" or "dictatorship" like a kid blaming the referee. No policies, no plans, just tears and tweets. I think Yele Sowore needs to be reminded that, the presidency isn't a Student Union debate where shouting wins you a plastic crown. It's serious business for serious adults, which he's neither. Baba needs to grow up, go outside, and maybe—just maybe—he should succeed at something before criticising Nigeria's leadership.

PodiumReporters's tweet photo. OPINION: Yele Sowore, a mature man with childish tendencies and a lack of political experience | Demoshood

Honestly, if emotional responses decided elections, Omoyele Sowore would already be in Aso Rock for his third term, but unfortunately, Nigerians vote based on substance, not noise.

Here is a man nearing 60 who still believes that calling the president names online is a political strategy. While genuine politicians are forming alliances and shaping policies, Sowore is busy having online tantrums like a teenager discovering curse words. His campaign boils down to three things: yell, insult, and beg foreign donors for small amounts of money. Pathetic? Yes. Surprising? Not at all.

He can't even win his own Local Government in Ondo State, not once, not ever. Yet he still thinks he's Nigeria's saviour. Clearly, he's deluded. His followers call him "activist," but most see him as a perennial loser with a Twitter obsession. He's spent more time travelling with Western NGOs than engaging with Nigerian voters. His only "achievement" is exploiting protesters to secure foreign funding while his political relevance declines.

And his childish outbursts? Embarrassing. To every frequent loss, he screams "rigging" or "dictatorship" like a kid blaming the referee. No policies, no plans, just tears and tweets.

I think Yele Sowore needs to be reminded that, the presidency isn't a Student Union debate where shouting wins you a plastic crown. It's serious business for serious adults, which he's neither. Baba needs to grow up, go outside, and maybe—just maybe—he should succeed at something before criticising Nigeria's leadership.

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chunkyd72 retweeted

The Yoruba Times

@TheYorubaTimes

6 days ago

PRIDE 🇳🇬🎓: Nigerian student of Yoruba descent, Dr. Dorcas Akanbi, graduates from medical school in Russia with an outstanding 4.90/5.00 CGPA, earning top academic honors and making Nigeria proud with her exceptional academic achievement.

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Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

4 days ago

@Rusia_HD No

Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

4 days ago

@LilianAda17 Happy birthday. Have a good one.

chunkyd72 retweeted

Senior Pastor Okezie James Atañi

@Onsogbu

5 days ago

Obidiot said it won’t go beyond Lagos now the Calabar section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is taking shape. Na this same Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR @officialABAT legacy project Peter Obi and Atiku said they would stop

Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

12 days ago

@pallnandi I wanted a complete annihilation, but I guess I have to settle for 1 goal. SA deserves worse. You can go beck to SA now, to defend your jobs.😆😆😆

Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

15 days ago

@lollylarry1 Unemployment is a bastard.

Davidson Nwosu @chunkyd72

15 days ago

@OlayinkaLere Mad people everywhere. What is going on? 🤣🤣😂😂

chunkyd72 retweeted

36kinniun media👑 🦁 🕊

@fattylincorn_01

18 days ago

“Tinubu is reportedly in China, a nation Peter Obi frequently references in his statements, saying "Let's go back to China." However, his supporters, known as "Obingos," seem to lack economic acumen, failing to grasp that nation-building is a complex process.”