In truth,
from revelations so far, which, I am sure, is still just a tip of the iceberg,
the system reeks of an offensive foul smell that could make any sane person to
easily throw up. The figures being reeled out are frightening and the
methodology employed by these crooks to fleece the treasury is cheap and
unbelievable.
Companies
are incorporated overnight, bank accounts are opened within a twinkle of an eye
and before you say Jack Robinson, the accounts become overflowing with huge,
mouth-watering inflows. As a result of this, the system appears too porous and
vulnerable to abuse as if there are no safety nets. At least it has become
increasingly clear to Nigerians that the real enemies of the country are the
elite. It is these elite, who have stolen the country blind that are
responsible for our myriad of problems – economic backwardness, lack of
infrastructure, appalling health care system, poor educational standards,
insecurity, violence and terrorism, et al.
The reason
for this is that the money meant for sustainable developments in the country
have been embezzled by these smart Alecs. This is not to say that it is
everybody up there that is a thief, but the preponderance of our so-called
elite is engaged in one shady deal or another. There are those who are involved
in the actual stealing, while many more profit from the proceeds of crime and
criminality in one way or another.
That brings
us to the recent widely circulated statement credited to one of Nigeria’s
former leaders, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
who was at the helm of affairs as President from 1999 to 2007. The former
President had accused the political class especially the National Assembly
members of being very corrupt, self-centred and greedy. However, his assertion
did not go down well with many people.
From what we
all know now, it appears that the lure of public office in Nigeria is not to
render anything close to selfless service, but an opportunity to dip one’s
fingers into the public till. Perhaps, that is why it is almost impossible to
see anybody who has passed through the corridors of power in Nigeria at
whatever level and remained poor. If some exist, they may be too infinitesimal
to make any difference in a country where people are desperate and aggressive
to make money even if it means that some people or many people can lose their
limbs or lives altogether.
After all,
those who are involved in the scandalous bazaar or armsgate knew quite well
that one of the direct consequences is death and destruction to lives and
property in the North East. But that was not enough to deter them from
misappropriating the money meant for procuring arms and ammunition to confront
the senseless terrorists and human butchers prowling the North East. What those
people have done is tantamount to committing grievous war crimes. But still you
find some people talking about human rights and all that.
Regrettably,
the irony of the whole situation is that the human rights that so easily allow
these people to steal and create untold hardship in the society, is the first
thing they invoke as a defence mechanism when the chips are down. You now have
a situation where somebody stole so much and he is manacled and people are
crying to the rooftop about presumption of innocence until found guilty.
Whereas a common man steals just pepper or some tubers of yam and he is chained
hands and feet and dumped in jail. So, does it mean that one has no human
right?
It is a good
thing that Buhari and his team are desirous to get to the bottom of the rot in
this country, but they should know that it is never going to be a tea party.
Like the cliché: “When you fight corruption, corruption will certainly fight
back,” a recent statement credited to the Presidency last week indicated that
the government had been under severe pressure from some Nigerian elite urging
it to take it easy. These people, the statement added, “cut across all tribes
and religious differences.” This is not strange at all. It is quite expected.
One thing is that the heat is certainly on and things cannot be the same again.
If you visit
any of our Police Stations especially the States Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) and
the States Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID), the officers and men of
these departments have always complained loudly about these same elite
including highly placed traditional rulers, religious leaders, present and past
office holders and people in that bracket, mounting frenetic pressure on them
every now and then to let go hardened criminals in their net. These people
shamelessly come to the stations with their regalia and paraphernalia of office
to stand bail for armed robbers, murderers, rapists and all those dangerous
felons. That is the depth of the rot in the society.
So,
ordinarily it is no news that pressure is being mounted on the government to
slow down the anti-corruption war. It is because more and more of these
so-called elite, who are nothing more than common criminals, are daily being
dislodged from their comfort zone.
While the
government should continue to appraise its strategy to rid the country of this
endemic corruption, they should ignore those interceding on behalf of their
thieving friends and relations because this war must be taken to its logical
conclusion.
My fear is
that those who are coming cap in hand now to beg for leniency could resort to
some sinister methods if all entreaties fail. In that case, there is need for
eternal vigilance. The public too, must help the government to win this war. The
bottom line is that Nigerians don’t want all these to end up as circuit shows.
They want to see these white-collar thieves in jail. However, what is worrisome
is: If Buhari cannot do this conclusively, who else will clean the Augean
stable? (Guardian)
No comments:
Post a Comment