Corruption and health of the nation
Corruption in whatever meanings adduced to it surely has reached a cancerous level in Nigeria’s national life.
By Taiye Olaniyi
Corruption in whatever meanings adduced to it surely has reached a cancerous level in Nigeria’s national life.
From head to toe, North to South and from East to West the lingual franca spoken and understood in all geographic spaces and human habitations is that every Nigerian is corrupt, though, in varying degrees.
To lay claim to absolute incorruptibility of any one individual Nigerian surely will be an exercise in self-defeat and deceit too.
Like indicated in the holy Bible, "For all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God."
And as indicated in the holy Qur'an, Allah is Most merciful, glorious and benevolent thus we still have the luxury of His kindness and forgiveness only if we agree and admit to "Trust and obey His commandments."
Trust and obey, the Christians sing and admonish that "Trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
What trust and obedience do we have in and for those who daily preach the sermon of sanitisation of greed and war against corruption in our national life.
I remember as if it were yesterday, the sermon by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR against greed and allied corruption.
This, he encapsulated in his message at a lecture program as part of the activities to mark the Centenary anniversary of the Amalgamation of the North and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 2014.
This event was held at the banquet hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs where one Professor Ifedayo Alabi Oladapo was a guest speaker.
According to the former president of Nigeria, "For me, corruption is not as serious as greed, for I cannot imagine why people would steal money which belongs to all Nigerians for their own selfish ends."
After the plenary session of the day`s event and during the question and answer session of the lecture, the most applauded person was a young Fulani man who introduced himself as a core northerner and a strong believer of Islam and its tenets.
He was not only applauded but he received a standing ovation as well. Why?
The lecture greatly bordered on planning and economic indices which seem not to have met with the aspirations of the people both pre and post-colonial era including the advent of independence of Nigeria.
So, the contribution and comment by the blunt but sincere Fulani man: “Thank you, Mr Guest Speaker and other contributors. Though you were right in many ways but maybe was afraid of mentioning the uncontrolled population growth and the penchant for rearing children especially in the north where everything seems tantamount to planning without the interest of the people, that is, if they ever planned at all.
Look, if this amorphous population is not properly controlled nothing positive will be visible for a virile economic growth. Nigeria may in fact retrogress rather than progress," he concluded.
Since that time, population of especially the corrupt, both the high and lowly placed Nigerians has so grown to leverage on unstoppable greed and gluttony that the former president greatly disparaged in his speech of that day.
The situation is now so bad in "War Against Corruption" in Nigeria to the extent that it reflects the reality of Bob Marley’s song :
" Man to man is so unjust brother, you don't know who to trust.
Your worst enemy could be your best friend and your best friend your worst enemy.
Some will eat and drink with you and behind they susu pon you....."
Who truly are the friends in this battle royale against the cancerous corruption and unimaginable greed that is sending almost all Nigerians to early graves?
Should we continue to wail, moan, gnash our teeth when again some insanely hail, praise and hero worship looters of their dreams and killers of their future, fates and fortunes?
The health conditions and slate of the average Nigerians are calamitous, few have given and are giving their lives to redeem us from imminent peril and cantankerous cancer associated with corruption but then what is your role, my role and our roles to make best of a bad situation and nip in the bud the current trend and present situation of corruption in our national life.?
Please note the truism in the following statements :
(1) If Nigeria does not kill corruption, Corruption will kill Nigeria.
(2) That "Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow, are You Moving Forward in Thought and Conduct?".
(3) That the "Present generation of Nigerians and even the upcoming ones have no other place to call their home.
Nigeria belongs to all and we must all remain here to salvage it together.".
(4) That, " If Not, Why Not?."
As a matter of fact, "Time will Tell, Time will Tell..
Time will always Tell.
Taiye Olaniyi, a retired postman, lives in Lagos