I wake up in the morning and the first thought on my mind is the dishes left unwashed from last night’s dinner. Then I think of the fact

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that the pump where we fetch our water from is two streets away. I’ve walked that path so many times I could do it blind-folded. And I mustn’t forget that my youngest brother must go to school sporting a properly ironed uniform and with his homework completely, if not completely correctly, done. And then, ‘oh my goodness!’, I’d fallen asleep researching materials for my term paper which is due in two days. Great! These, more often than not, are the waking thoughts of the average African girl child, at least the one lucky enough to be in school.

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It is true that every word has its own separate and distinct meaning; it is also true that a word may be redefined or its meaning reinvented by the accepted usage in a particular locality. This is why it is not surprising that most people would refer to all brands of noodles as ‘indomie’, regardless of the names of specific brands. However, I am concerned not with the different varieties of noodles, but with the word ‘accountability’ and the variance between the original meaning and the Nigerian customary or conventional definition.

The English word, ‘accountable’ simply means “to be called to be responsible for one’s actions; answerability”. Accountability is frequently referred to as an account-giving relationship existing between two parties. In governance, accountability is blame-worthiness and responsibility.

It is only conventional and customary that in a society, people in positions of authority or those in privileged positions are held accountable for their actions, in an effort to prevent chaos and disorder. These people, whether selected or elected, are expected to be answerable for their actions.

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