Nigeria, Corruption & 'The mother of all crimes'...!!!

Date: 20-12-2011 12:09 am (12 years ago) | Author: Adey
- at 20-12-2011 12:09 AM (12 years ago)
(m)
I read the other day, that Nigeria is standing shoulder to shoulder with other countries in the G20 in their effort to tackle corruption globally, this is a positive step in the right direction... there is no doubt that Nigerian's commitment and determination will impact greatly on the G20's global effort. It is also a good thing that Nigerian government's anti-corruption drive is already in place, and making impact!...evident in some recent unprecedented public questioning of some people in positions of power that before now were considered to be unquestionable and untouchable, some will argue that it is all about politics and that it is only because these people have fallen out of favours with the powers that be, yet, it is something unusual in Nigeria that the 'gods' are been asked why they have misappropriated the peoples money,...Huh? However, I believe Nigeria can contribute more efficiently to the G20's global objective by taking a critical look at itself, it's structure and it's culture,...that corruption in endemic in Nigeria is no news,...our leaders stand out in their elevated positions, as, vividly horrible reflections and representatives of the corrupt family and society that we have grown to become... it is wrong to blame it entirely on our leaders, I would blame the family and the society as well... the truth is, our leaders, when isolated and magnified on their raised platforms of power and position,... justifiably and predictably reveals to us what an average Nigerian is like,...these leaders are little chips from the larger societal block, and quite frankly, a little chip from a white mass does not suddenly become black just because it is isolated from the main body... thus, any lasting solution to the Nigerian corruption problem must actively engage the family and the society as well.        

Just as the society can see the filth and crookedness of our leader, our leaders can also, from their privileged high pedestaled office, see the entire stench that makes up our society, these leaders can see where they were coming from and what they were like. If leaders really wants to make a difference, this is the point of realization at which they can make that important decision...whether to continue, just like the average of our corrupt society, or to turn the search light on 'self',...clean 'self',... and then, put in place plans, programmes and agenda to clean the society. Nigerian leaders, at the moment, for selfish reasons, which of course has become cultural, prevalent and sanctioned by our co-corrupt society, seem to want to continue with the status quo, they,... and l mean the majority of our leaders are determined to endure the stench and in fact, perpetrate it, as long as they are able to live and grow fat on the stench. This, unfortunately, is how our leaders contribute and helps to entrench the corruption problem currently crippling the Nigerian entity.    

There is no doubt that we have had leader who dislikes what they see in themselves and the society and have made attempts to change things, but because these people are usually in the minority or because of wrong approach they are easily choked up and eliminated from a position of power where they can make the difference.  

To solve the Nigerian problem, our leaders who find themselves in a position of power and influence must remind themselves that true leader are real servants, they must look at themselves and not like what they see and therefore start the positive change with 'self', they must engage all fellow leaders and work as a team, they must be aware that the society is watching and monitoring all their actions, and once the leadership is clean, they must now engage the society with creative and constructive communication strategies devoid of unnecessary propaganda, coercion or any use of force, the leadership must appeal to the societal conscience in order to achieve a genuine change.  The leaders must also be seen to be leading by example, they have to be transparent, accountable and must be leading by serving and not by ruling.

A way forward: (not necessarily the only way, but a SURE WAY!...)

For me, there is no crime in the world worse than 'the deliberate misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds', this crime has the potential to lead the society to committing every other terrible crimes that one can possibly think of: crimes ranging from Armed Robbery, to Mass Murder and to a host of other appalling crimes... This makes 'the deliberate misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds' the 'mother of all crimes'...! If secondary crimes like armed robbery and mass murder can carry a death penalty! in a society like Nigeria, there is no reason why a primary crime such as 'the deliberate misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds' should be met with less penalty....

Deliberate misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds is a generative crime, capable of, causing, tempting and sometimes forcing otherwise, innocent members of our society to turn to crime!...which then becomes the only means for them to have access to basic things of life: such as Food, Clothing and Shelter!...less then bare necessities of life!... Millions of Nigerians are suffering this fate today, only because someone high up there, in a position of power is busy fiddling with the money and things that rightfully belongs to the people.  It makes sense therefore to suggest that anyone that occupies a position of trust and power, who then betrays that trust by dipping their hands into the public funds put in their care and use it for purposes other than it is meant for, is guilty of a crime worse than Armed Robbery, Murder or Mass Murder...  

One sure and convincing route, that our leaders in Nigeria can therefore take, if they really want to fight corruption is to push for the ultimate penalty, 'death by electrocution' for anyone who is found to have deliberately misappropriated or embezzled public funds...this would be far less expensive than the 'Bar-Beach Show' (Facing the Firing Squared)...  

Since the aim of this, would be legislation is not punitive but corrective, the law, if passed, should not apply to past crimes,(...although it it does, it will never see the light of the day!) it should only serve as a deterrent to future crimes. I believe this could be the missing piece of legislation that is absolutely essential in stemming the tide of corruption that has practically engulfed our beloved country...Nigeria.  

Any legislator that stands in the way of turning this, more than appropriate, 'Death penalty' into the law should be withdrawn by their constituency because it simply shows that such a representative has a hidden agenda totally different from the peoples mandate.

God Bless Nigeria.

Concerned Citizen.




 




Posted: at 20-12-2011 12:09 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie