THE TRUTH ABOUT CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Corruption is a noun that has become synonymous to Nigeria. Please indulge my thoughts on the matter as you read.

Before we got colonized, we had a trade by barter system. Asides from that if you wanted a favour from a rich man or a neighbour, etc, you don’t go empty handed. You go with a keg of palm wine, tubers of yam or some gift to curry their favour. They say it is African culture. I say we converted that culture and are doing it in cases we shouldn’t today.

Nigeria was colonized by Britain. We all know by now that the aim wasn’t to give us religion but to plunder our numerous resources. Imagine looking at so much wealth and resources but you can’t control it, touch it or enjoy it but only get what’s doled out to you by the colonial masters. You watch them cart away resources worth millions and billions of pounds. You can’t do anything about it.  Every single dime is controlled by another who came from somewhere.

Then the clamour for independence began. Yes, some patriots’ real motivation was to take back control and make Nigeria great but for some it was to enjoy what they had seen the ‘Masters’ enjoy and be like them.

Independence came and the plundering continued.
This time it wasn’t going to a country but to personal bank accounts. The plundering was atrociously high and tribalism was prevalent, the people groaned. The riots started and a group of junior officers decided to restore order in a way they understood.  The plundering of Nigeria has continued till today. We call it ‘National cake’ and everyone wants a piece.

It’s not my intent to go into details of history. Everyone has their opinion about events of Nigerian history so let me make it unbiased by leaving Nigerian history behind and plunging into a story of sorts. I love stories. Don’t you?

John is born into the typical Nigerian family. His parents don’t have much and live in a face me I face you. When he turns three, he sees other kids in the compound playing and decides to join in. His attempt to have fun is short-lived when his mum runs over and drags him away. She tells him,

“Don’t play with those boys before they kill you. They are not from our tribe. You can only play with and trust people from your tribe.”

John sits alone day after day watching other kids play. Yay! New neighbours move in and double yay they’re from John’s tribe. John plays with their sons, James and Bryan who’re of his age. That night, his mum gives him a scolding he’ll never forget,

“They believe in a different God, don’t play with them again. If I catch you ehn...”

John’s new friends try to get him to play but he remembers his mum’s warning. New neighbours move in again from the same tribe and religion but his mum says no. Her excuse is that their denomination is different.  John spends his days alone.

One day, his mum tells him his dad got a new job. That night he hears his parents talk about it. His dad who only has a school leaving certificate has gotten a job that a university graduate should have because he knows the person in charge and offered to give him ten percent of his pay.  John is excited about the new job because they move out of the face me I face you and his parents now have the money to lavish him with treats and they do.

He is in the car with his mum and dad, when a policeman stops them. He hears his mum tell his father,

 “Give them what they want, let’s go.”

 Before John could ask himself what they want, he sees his father take money out his pocket and hand it to the police officer who lets them go.

John gets into Secondary school and he is an ok student. He gets into senior secondary. He doesn’t want to be an average student anymore. He wants to be popular. He makes new friends and learns new tricks. He gets questions to exams before the exams, takes textbooks into the halls and all that. He earns the first position and everyone loves him; students, teachers, girls. The end justified the means. His WAEC exams start and he comes out with a distinction in every paper. His parents are elated and sing his praises to their colleagues and friends.

 He gets admitted into a university. He learns how to sort his lecturers. He gives them money, does favours for them and they pass him. He is the lecturers’ favourite. He is popular in school. He joins the SUG and rules the school. John graduates with a 2.1 that he never worked for.

His parents throw him a party. The next day he goes with his dad to visit an uncle who’s his father’s grandfather’s elder sister’s husband’s sister’s grandson or something like that. He can’t remember how his dad explained it. His uncle is a top gun in some bank. John goes for an interview days later in the bank and John who graduated with a 2.1 in political science beats graduates with first class and masters in accounting, banking and finance and Economics to get the job.

He’s the darling of every boss in the bank. He sings their praises and in no time he gets promotions. He’s recommended and gets to head a State ministry. He conducts interviews and his eyes go straight to check state and religion on the forms. He even asks candidates their tribe. Those who fit in get the jobs. You want contracts from his office, you better curry his favour.

He joins a political party, makes a lot of powerful friends. One day, they ask him to run for a political office. He wins the election and becomes a governor.

Ok, that’s the end of the story. What do you think John would do in that office?

 I’m John and you reading, you’re John.

We can end corruption today by what we teach kids. What they watch us say and do. What we do when no one is watching? We don’t have to be president to end corruption. Little drops of water… Do we see our friends doing the wrong thing and say nothing?

Start today with you, your family, friends, colleagues, and your tiny community. It doesn’t matter if you’re an akara seller; you have a role to play. Our leaders won’t fall from the sky. They’ll rise up from amongst us and can only give us what they have on the inside.

Let’s all think about the future. Why not be remembered for making a difference, being principled and for doing the right thing no matter where you find yourself. Be selfless and think about the impact of your actions wherever you are on others. Let’s kill corruption; it’s been ingrained subconsciously into every Nigerian. Watch your thoughts, words and actions.

I dream of a corruption free Nigeria.

Thanks for reading my thoughts. What are yours?