On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Premium Times Nigeria published an opinion piece titled "The reset button" by Wole Olaoye. The article, which appears in the newspaper's opinion section, uses a dialogue between a man and a police officer to illustrate a point about public behavior and civic responsibility.
The piece opens with a quote from Lao Tzu: "The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." This sets the tone for a reflection on incremental change and personal accountability.
In the dialogue, a police officer confronts a man urinating in a drain, saying, "You are under arrest for urinating in public." The man protests, "What do you mean? Am I not urinating in the drain?" The officer responds, "Sir, respect yourself! The drain is for rainwater, not your urine." The man retorts, "Is urine not made of water?"
The exchange highlights a common attitude of rationalizing misconduct, a theme that resonates with Nigerian readers familiar with debates on civic discipline and the rule of law.
Olaoye's piece underscores the need for citizens to respect public infrastructure and adhere to social norms, echoing the broader conversation on building institutions on competence and integrity. As Nigeria continues to grapple with governance and societal challenges, such reflections remind us that change often begins with individual actions.
For more on institutional reform, see our analysis on [building institutions on competence and integrity](https://thenairastandard.com/article/building-institutions-on-competence-and-integrity) and the role of [diaspora beyond remittances](https://thenairastandard.com/article/diaspora-role-beyond-remittances-a-needed-conversation).