First let me congratulate you on the wonderful works you are doing for Nigeria in all areas especially in the area of corruption and outlaws, which treat Nigeria with utmost disrespect. Meanwhile it is the same Nigerians who hold very important positions in many world acclaimed organisation all over the world. I put this short article together because of the zeal I see in Nigerians when articles of the madness going on in our country are posted on this site. I hope you will find a space for this article on this website.
In this article, I beg to deviate from the usual culprits, our so-called leaders and their corrupt escapades and deal with the Nigerian him/herself.
Not just the culprits we know make corruption and intimidation by the Nigerian leaders possible but hugely by the common Nigerian who has no government position or powers. In every nook and cranny of Nigeria, you find this evil of corruption rearing its ugly head. In the hospital, wharfs, entry points, schools, all government ministries and even in some religious organisations. Now I am sure all will agree that we are all guilty in this corruption ‘sin’.
In my imagination, it is clear that bribes will not be an option if you know nobody is willing to accept it and even better when an offender is sure to be prosecuted for such acts. But what is the case in our county today? The secretary needs a bribe to ‘push’ on your letters/applications/contracts, the policeman needs a bribe to let you use the roads irrespective of whether you have broken the laws or not, the custom officer needs bribe to release goods even though they are banned etc.
These offender’s names have never been mentioned and will never be mentioned in any news media.
I called my mother the other day and she informed me that they have been invited to undergo verification exercise for their pensions. They have waited all day long each day for 3 day without any attention paid to them . The staff from the ministry of finance locked themselves up in the sub-treasury office while these old men and women are left under scotching sunshine all day throughout last week. Apparently, they get a lot of money from staying away from their office in Abuja hence the longer they stay the more money they make. Pensioners were fainting and dying in the queues with nobody attempting to do something about their plight. They have been practically converted to beggars by a country that they have served in their youth. Even pleas by some of the pensioners who held senior positions fell on deaf ears. I see none of the big names we are always criticizing in this act. These are much lower officers suffering old people because of what they stand to gain. Surely, this can be done better easily.
A young man published here how he helped the current comptroller general of customs to forge certificates. This is only one of such case that probably runs into thousands in the circle of our public office holders. The question to ask here is; if this young man did not fall out with his former friend would this have come out? Now think about how many more that has not been revealed because the agents were properly ‘settled’? Who are used to perfect these acts? They are ordinary Nigerians who agree to be part of this evil for selfish reasons. Accepted things are extremely difficult for the average Nigerian youth, but one must not get themselves involved in this mess to succeed and not every successful youth in Nigeria has done same.
University lecturers have been on strike for more than two months, and the government is not bothered about the impact on the youth. On the other hand the undergraduates whose future are being toyed with have quietly gone home. Where are the good old student’s union demonstrations? The corrupt leaders will not do this for us, it is left for the Nigerian to do this. The student union used to be feared both at local and federal government levels, where has all that gone? How will anybody take this problem seriously when nobody is demonstrating?
I will end by asking us to start the change with the ‘man in the mirror’ in Michael Jackson’s words. Refuse to give and receive bribes, do the right thing always, stand for the truth, stand in the queues, decide to be an agent of change. Speak out when you see evil (there is long life in this), if you have seen any in the past expose it as it is only the truth that will set you free.
The average Nigerian leader has no regard, respect or fear of the Nigerian because they know Nigerians are toothless bulldogs, it is time to disprove them before they take us back to military rule once again.
In a few months the election campaigns will start in earnest, choose not to be used as a thug, that way the ballot boxes will not be snatched and nobody will be killed. Refuse to take their money that way you will avoid swearing devilish oats, simply go and register and vote for the right and quality candidates on that day and guard it. We will see that the kingdom called ‘New Nigeria’ we have all been dreaming of will be a reality. Nigeria belongs to all of us not the greedy 2% that are driving Nigeria to abyss. Please let us join hands, take up this responsibility and restore our great nation! Nigeria is looking up to us to rescue her from the strangleholds of evil... start today. The history of our time is being written, the future of our children is being built, and we need to get things right and now!!
Chiedozie Hez
UK
Email: [email protected]
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