Corruption in Nigeria it seems has reached a point of no return. In the UK, corrupt politicians are named and shamed and in fact at the last count 13 ministers have resigned from government. In Nigeria, it is a different kettle of fish. Those who stole the commonwealth still splash it and display our stolen wealth to our face. They unbelievably live big and ostentatiously. Everybody knows them in the land and yet there are pretense because they wield so much power and influence.
Ibrahim Babangida’s hilltop palace in Minna was reported in the press to have 50 official bedrooms in addition to other rooms and attachments. It was still said that it conservative cost is fifty eight (58) billion Naira. This is just one of the many he has nationwide. In fact it was reported in the press yet again that the twin sister of that palatial house is located at Maitama Abuja. All the pictures of those houses were on the internet thanks to the investigative journalism of Sahara reporters.com.
Abdulsalami Abubukar the other big though smaller thief compared to IBB the self acclaimed and self confessed evil man has his own mansion in Minna yet again estimated at Thirty Two (32) billion Naira. This flagrant display of stolen wealth is not acceptable in a sane society. All former leaders must be made to account for their misdeeds especially those who snatched power to line their pockets with the national wealth. General Sani Abacha cannot be singled out simply because he is dead and is said to be corrupt. Those who were more corrupt then him are still here lording it over us and enjoying their loot. Nuhu Ribadu must be commended whatever people will say at least he made effort to go to root of the IBB loot before he was booted out by the serpent leader.
If the EFCC and ICPC cannot and will not have the courage to ask these former leaders to explain to Nigerians how they came about the money they used in building the above mentioned houses and many others they have nationwide and worldwide, then let them forget it. Their fighting corruption is simply a child’s play. While everyone is seeing those who bizarrely looted Nigeria at the highest office in the land still work free and dictate the pace of governance with their loot still intact, then forget EFCC and ICPC. You aren’t seen nothing yet as far corruption is concerned in Nigeria. I mean how can people who were earning barely 150,000 Naira as salary build houses worth billions, in fact 58 billion to be precise yet it looks normal? Sani Ahmed Yarima is said to have built a house worth 800 million Naira and the EFCC and the ICPC are looking the other way. Is it not worth asking these former leaders at least for record purposes where they got all these money from? This is what is done in societies where corruption fighting is taken serious.
The first step in corruption fighting for it to be meaningful and have any impact on the Nigeria society Mr Yar’adua and Mr Aandookaa is to ask all former leaders to come and give account of how they came about these wealth they splashing and weirdly displaying before our face. It is true most of them were more corrupt then Sani Abacha, in fact Sani had his apprenticeship under one of them for Eight years. Like Jesus said a servant can never be greater than his master. Sani Abacha was a small thief, but we have bigger thieves prowling and marauding all over Nigeria in fact plotting and strategizing on how to return to power in 2011. Unfortunately Nigerians are docile and gullible. They have lost the unison they had in 1993 to chase away a sit-tight dictator.
Well it is up to all of us. It is either we take our destiny and the destiny of our children in our hands now or the corruption rot will continue forever.
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