The Hard Truth by Ubong David
It is very ridiculous to see corrupt people campaigning against the same system that they are part of. For the past few weeks since the inauguration of the new administration in Nigeria, corruption has become a daily topic and I am still contemplating if we are still in the electioneering campaign. Every time I listened to network news, that is when I realized that the election was over and we have a new president in the person of Muhammadu Buhari. I can recall vividly that fighting corruption was one of his campaign promises but after the election which he won, we are still campaigning against corruption without taking appropriate actions.
It is unfortunate that those who paraded themselves as anti-corruption agents are as guilty as charge. Permit me to submit that we are all guilty of corruption offences. From my observation, it seems many are ignorance of the definition of corruption and they feel it is only those who occupy political offices are guilty of corruption offences. They forget that nepotism, favoritism and clientelism are all corruption.
When we appointed people from our family or clan to occupy positions they are not qualified, is that not corruption? When government resources meant for the people are used to fund personal election campaign, is that not corruption? When we appointed only people from our party to occupy positions even when they are not qualify, is that not corruption? When we collected money from politicians to campaign against their opponents, is that not corruption? When we issue out contract to family members and not following due process, is that not corruption? When we shield my friends and acquaintances from cases they are guilty of, is that not corruption? When we bribed our children to get admission to schools that they are not qualified for, is that not corruption? When we divert funds meant for all to only our cliques or people from our area to the detriment of others, is that not corruption? When lecturers insist to have sex with female students or get money from them before they are given scores to passed in school, is that not corruption? When we collect bribe before a football player can be shortlisted for a match, is that not corruption? When we write articles for people especially politicians for financial inducement or brown envelope, is that not corruption? When people in public offices collect money before our file can be treated, is that not corruption? When we used fake documents to facilitate projects and win contracts, is that not corruption? When we used bad products below specification to execute projects given to us, is that not corruption? When we divert fund meant for development projects to our pockets, is that not corruption? I can go on and on but we must face facts.
Show me how many governors, past and present, party chairmen, local government chairmen, ministers, party leaders, past and present permanent secretaries, past and present lawmakers, board members, top government officials, vice chancellor of universities, rectors of polytechnic, head of colleges of education, some clergymen, constituted committee members, top media practitioners, head of professional organizations, etc in Nigeria who do not have choice property(s) at choice locations. Who facilitate the buying process of these properties? Who drafted the power of attorney? What are we talking about?
The young people who are crying about corruption on social media, ask many of them money that has come to their hands that is meant for development projects, have they use it for the purpose it was meant? Go to the house of thousands of politicians across the country now and you will find 95% of the anti-corruption agents there. What are they doing there? I challenge all those who are making all the noises to come out clean from any of the issues raised above. Let the man that is clean cast the first stone.
Do I encourage corruption? The answer is capital NO. Do I support the fight against corruption? The answer is capital YES but I think we need to approach corruption issues from a different dimension and not the sensationalism and grand standing that APC administration has adopted. Let's stop all the noises and face realities. The Halliburton case, IPP projects, fuel subsidy, etc are the starting point to fighting corruption in Nigeria. The fight against corruption need a holistic approach and not sensationalism as seen in the past few weeks. It is a mockery to the global community. Don't we have Transparency International in Nigeria? Are Nigerians not in the organization? What are the role of CSOs on anti-corruption? Don't we have investigative journalists in Nigeria?
The world governing body FIFA identified who and who were corrupt and they were investigated. Those who were found guilty went for it. How I wish Nigeria will tow the same line and stop this media hype that is not doing the country any good.
It is very ridiculous to see corrupt people campaigning against the same system that they are part of. For the past few weeks since the inauguration of the new administration in Nigeria, corruption has become a daily topic and I am still contemplating if we are still in the electioneering campaign. Every time I listened to network news, that is when I realized that the election was over and we have a new president in the person of Muhammadu Buhari. I can recall vividly that fighting corruption was one of his campaign promises but after the election which he won, we are still campaigning against corruption without taking appropriate actions.
It is unfortunate that those who paraded themselves as anti-corruption agents are as guilty as charge. Permit me to submit that we are all guilty of corruption offences. From my observation, it seems many are ignorance of the definition of corruption and they feel it is only those who occupy political offices are guilty of corruption offences. They forget that nepotism, favoritism and clientelism are all corruption.
When we appointed people from our family or clan to occupy positions they are not qualified, is that not corruption? When government resources meant for the people are used to fund personal election campaign, is that not corruption? When we appointed only people from our party to occupy positions even when they are not qualify, is that not corruption? When we collected money from politicians to campaign against their opponents, is that not corruption? When we issue out contract to family members and not following due process, is that not corruption? When we shield my friends and acquaintances from cases they are guilty of, is that not corruption? When we bribed our children to get admission to schools that they are not qualified for, is that not corruption? When we divert funds meant for all to only our cliques or people from our area to the detriment of others, is that not corruption? When lecturers insist to have sex with female students or get money from them before they are given scores to passed in school, is that not corruption? When we collect bribe before a football player can be shortlisted for a match, is that not corruption? When we write articles for people especially politicians for financial inducement or brown envelope, is that not corruption? When people in public offices collect money before our file can be treated, is that not corruption? When we used fake documents to facilitate projects and win contracts, is that not corruption? When we used bad products below specification to execute projects given to us, is that not corruption? When we divert fund meant for development projects to our pockets, is that not corruption? I can go on and on but we must face facts.
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| We are all guilty of corruption offences |
Show me how many governors, past and present, party chairmen, local government chairmen, ministers, party leaders, past and present permanent secretaries, past and present lawmakers, board members, top government officials, vice chancellor of universities, rectors of polytechnic, head of colleges of education, some clergymen, constituted committee members, top media practitioners, head of professional organizations, etc in Nigeria who do not have choice property(s) at choice locations. Who facilitate the buying process of these properties? Who drafted the power of attorney? What are we talking about?
The young people who are crying about corruption on social media, ask many of them money that has come to their hands that is meant for development projects, have they use it for the purpose it was meant? Go to the house of thousands of politicians across the country now and you will find 95% of the anti-corruption agents there. What are they doing there? I challenge all those who are making all the noises to come out clean from any of the issues raised above. Let the man that is clean cast the first stone.
Do I encourage corruption? The answer is capital NO. Do I support the fight against corruption? The answer is capital YES but I think we need to approach corruption issues from a different dimension and not the sensationalism and grand standing that APC administration has adopted. Let's stop all the noises and face realities. The Halliburton case, IPP projects, fuel subsidy, etc are the starting point to fighting corruption in Nigeria. The fight against corruption need a holistic approach and not sensationalism as seen in the past few weeks. It is a mockery to the global community. Don't we have Transparency International in Nigeria? Are Nigerians not in the organization? What are the role of CSOs on anti-corruption? Don't we have investigative journalists in Nigeria?
The world governing body FIFA identified who and who were corrupt and they were investigated. Those who were found guilty went for it. How I wish Nigeria will tow the same line and stop this media hype that is not doing the country any good.
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