“DISTINCTION,” Watercolour, 1995, by Artist, Sir Mbonu C. Emerem

“DISTINCTION’’by artist, Sir Mbonu C. Emerem

With this work titled: “Distinction,” I am arousing the human conscience in us to the current realities on ground of the urgent need to behave well as people that are level-headed not like wide animals, to work and go for perfection in whatever good we are doing. Also, wherever we may find ourselves that we should display and live exemplary lives to distinguish ourselves from the crowd.

Being so much worried by the general neglect, drop in the moral standards and social values among our pupils in the society today, I am using this work to express my concerns and worries over these problems. In the same work, I call on the entire human race not to be crowd-followers as we have our different innate qualities to be used for the betterment of the entire humanity.

“Distinction”is also, a clarion call to parents, guardians, heads of governments, religious and traditional institutions, corporate and private individuals heading organizations and institutions to urgently rise up to the current challenges and the mentality of our children because the events in recent time had confirmed that character and integrity had been thrown to the winds in our politics, governance and other vital areas of human life. Gradually, we are losing our ability to be effective guides to a progressively directionless world. The spiritual and moral credentials of modern man are increasingly being called to question. Nowadays, rather than working patiently with hard work and discipline in the pursuit of our daily goals, people are now more interested in taking shortcuts and easy ways.

Based on these, we may be breeding selfish, irresponsible and irresponsive future leaders who wouldn’t have the interests of the country and the citizenry in mind. Furthermore, if these ugly trend and culture are left unabated and uncheck-mated, the world will be heading towards the brink of anarchy.

In the faces of these challenges that confront us like political uncertainty, unnerving insecurity, collapse of moral values, massive unemployment and underemployment, we should not derail or lose faith and focus in discharging our onerous daily mandates.

All in all, my “Distinction” is trying to emphasize that virtue is one of the distinguishing qualities that determine a personality. We should go for it. We should work for it and achieve it. It is the only veritable thing that will make one to standout from the crowd. In a turbulent world, sinking in the murky mire of materialism and hedonism, the pursuit of spiritual graces should be our watchword. We should strive to promote the much sought after virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, contentment, chastity, self-control, gentleness, meekness and the likes. In a poverty-drenched situation, don't allow the apostles of crass materialism and conspicuous consumption sweep you off your feet.