REVELATIONS from probe panels set up by the National Assembly, show that corruption remains a cancerous affliction in the polity. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, graft has continued to extend its tentacles to virtually every sphere of the nation’s life.
Nigerians would agree with the fact that it is not that the country has been free of corruption since independence, but the dimension it has taken in the recent time is to say the least alarmingly unprecedented.
Worried by the effect of corruption, the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, organised a state of the nation lecture entitled: “Why we no longer blush: Corruption as grand commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, in Lagos, penultimate Monday.
Roll call
The banquet hall of the Sheraton hall, venue of the lecture, was crowded by eminent Nigerians, who profferred ways out of the graft mire.
Those present include daughter of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs. Tokunbo Awolowo; President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, Spokesperson of the SNG, Mr Yinka Odumakin; and chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Onyekachi Ubani.
Others include Mr Jimi Agbaje, Professor Ropo Sekoni, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Mr Tunji Alapini(rtd); Mr Henry Boyo, Dr Amos Akingba and Mr Francis Ojo .
The trio of Professors Niyi Osundare and Itse Sagay (SAN) and SNG Convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare submitted that combating corruption remains an inclusive war Nigerians must rise to fight urgently.
Time for radical reformation — Bakare
Bakare, while explaining the need to eradicate the monster that has eaten deep into the fabric of the polity said “ sordid revelations of the past six months have laid the arguments to rest as to the forces that are bent on freeing our people from the stranglehold of corruption and those who want to keep them in perpetual subjugation.”
In his opening remarks, Bakare stated the need for radical reformation if Nigeria must move forward. “The shenanigans of the fight back by corruption in Nigeria today has the potential to dampen the morale of the people if we don’t continue to give meaning to the meaningless situation we are in, he said.”
While urging Nigerians to take a cue from the transformation and its effects in Georgia, he said “without doubt, time has come for Nigeria to embrace the spirit and the letter of such radical reformation to avoid the needless, prevalent and sickening bloodshed that now characterize our nation.”
Nigeria needs an incorruptible ruler —Sagay
Sagay, who chaired the event, warned of dire consequences if the present crop of leaders fail to tackle the high rate of corruption pervading the country.
“Nigeria is in a situation where we have to find a policeman to police the police,” the constitutional lawyer stressed, adding that the the country needs an incorruptible person to redeem the nation from its present state just.
He called on Nigerians to sustain the struggle, saying: “we are going to sustain the struggle and ensure that we see it to the end. The only type of person or persons, who will change Nigeria are those who are incorruptible. If the civilians don’t tackle corruption, then, the leadership must come from somewhere else. And if it must come from another source, we will not be happy about it. They have always said that the elites are the problems of Nigeria, but I thank God that we have so many elites who can change Nigeria.”
Corruption may kill Nigeria —Osundare
Relatedly, Osundare argued that if Nigeria failed to kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
Lamenting the rate at which corruption is thriving in the country, the renowned poet enjoined Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.
Osundare, who lectures at the University of New Orleans, chronicled both past and present graft cases involving some public office holders, and expressed worry that most Nigerians no longer query how corrupt persons come about their money.
He said, “Why is it that Nigerians no longer blush? How did we come to lose our sense of shame after losing our sense of propriety and proportion? How did we come to develop a skin that is so thick that no arrows of degradation, no needles of dehumanisation are ever sharp and violent enough to penetrate our body and rouse our senses? How did our nerves slide into their present state of stupor? How did we plunge into this state of dysconsciousness?”
He continued: “Corruption is the fastest growing industry in Nigeria. The malaise is massive, the dysfunctionalities are daunting. But we must never allow this situation, grim as it is, to plunge us into cynicism and despair. Yes, indeed, Nigeria is worth fighting for. And this fight will have to be carried out by the people of this country. The soldiers have shown by their many years of misrule that our national salvation is not in their hands. The present gaggle of civilian rulers is proving to be no different.”
Decying the alarming rate at which corruption has taken over all sectors of the economy, the prolific poet said “corruption has taken over the fabric of the Nigeria Corruption has taken over the commanding heights of Nigerian society. It is, without doubt, the Grand commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We must make sure that we kill corruption before it has the chance of killing Nigeria.”
Structural corruption
In addition, he proffered that “this may sound rather far-fetched to some people, but one of the ways of tackling graft in this country is to address the structural corruption in the very composition of Nigeria itself.
A succession of visionless, close-minded rulers has made the country both loveless and unlovable. To many Nigerians, Nigeria is ‘their country’, some distant no-man’s-land where you go to scoop your own fortune and take your loot back to your own clan. They may call it stealing in Abuja, but as far as the home crowd is concerned, you have only brought back your/their share of the national cake.”
Nigeria has deviated — Awolowo
Corroborating other speakers, Mrs. Awolowo said what the nation was currently experiencing was a complete difference from the Nigeria led by the circle of her late father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Also lending his voice on ways to tackle graft, a former police chief, Mr Tunji Alapini said “someone asked where do we start from. I think we should start from now. We must hold our lawmakers accountable.”
The currently administration has repeatedly restated its commitment to tacklig graft. It is to be seen how far it would go in the crusade.
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