Friday, 10 February 2012
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They Won’t Even Build Toilets For Themselves! Thinking Through The Corruption Complex With Frantz Fanon
Ogaga Ifowodo
By Ogaga Ifowodo ©
How bad is corruption in Nigeria and what are its root causes? Leaving aside root causes for now, let me tell you a story. It was told to me in Lagos and corroborated in Warri, just two months ago. My good friend, Emenike, and I had not seen each other for three years.
In that time he had, by one of those flukes of Nigerian politics, become the acting chairman of a local government in the east. For only four months, albeit. A lawyer and practising Christian, he had always been as despondent about public service in Nigeria as the angriest citizen next door. Well, here was his chance to show what service means. Sitting down to lunch with him and his lovely family at a restaurant in Allen Avenue, I prompted his story by asking if the tales of the orgiastic looting at local governments that I hear are true.
On resumption of office, he said, he was scandalised to notice that the local government secretariat had no toilets, though the chairman’s office had one. The council’s employees were constrained to make a dash for the nearby bush to answer the call of nature. “Imagine that, the women having to go squat in the bush!” Mouth agape, I managed to ask, “Are you really telling me that no one thought of including toilets in the plan when building an entire local government secretariat? So where did the honourable councillors go when pressed?” Well, they didn’t come to work often enough, or tarry long enough when they did, to have that problem. On the rare occasion they were betrayed by biology, however, they too headed for the conveniently placed bush.
My friend named his first order of business to be the immediate construction of a toilet end to the secretariat. No! said his councillors, who were appalled by the use to which the acting chairman wished to put the lean resources of the council. A loftier end was to share the funds set to be flushed down some toilets. That was how things were done before he came, and that was how things were going to be done under him, as they surely would be done thereafter. Against their stiff resistance, my friend built the toilets, together with a borehole to service the water system. Emenike’s next tale of sleaze was not of the toilet variety, though I confess to being stuck with the faecal image. “They wouldn’t even build toilets for themselves? So what on earth would move them to build a school, a library, a clinic, or a park?” I kept interjecting as he informed me of his efforts to appease the incensed councillors by letting each take a contract for grading and making motorable the road to his village. Only one councillor cared to dump four tipper-loads of sand before considering his work done. Sensing my growing incredulity, Leechi, Emenike’s adorable wife, affirmed every word her husband had said. Thinking that they had exaggerated a bit, I recounted their story to the director of human resources in a Delta State local government. I was meeting him for the first time through my good friend, Chido Onumah. No, there had been no embellishment as the DHR had himself witnessed a similar battle over the renovation of existing but non-functional toilets.
So how bad is corruption in Nigeria? Words cannot begin to describe it, but we can agree: corruption is arguably the greatest evil confronting the nation today. Absolutely nothing of any worth can be done in the public sphere as ninety to one hundred percent of budgeted sums, already inflated beyond insanity to begin with, end up in private hands. Consequently, seeking political office, as two-time head of state General Obasanjo declared, is a “do-or-die” battle where the spoils of war are instant fortunes for the victors. Today, a struggling man or woman barely able to make ends meet, like the great majority; tomorrow, rich beyond dreams and even flaunting the loot while still in office. Corruption has become the oxygen Nigerian public office holders and their cronies breathe. Unchecked, it seems now our “natural” way of life. We can, therefore, go about its business in the open, as the police demonstrate at numberless checkpoints across the country.
Beyond this pessimistic view, however, we must begin to search for the root causes of this plague. For the national psyche has been fundamentally altered by corruption. But since the psyche delineates a dimension of existence that resists easy materialist formulations, we must turn to the psychological modes of analysis. Start with the psychoanalytic Frantz Fanon. We will, I think, find in him valuable insights into the structure of the mind shaped by colonialism beyond the bland blaming of imperialism. We may pose the question of corruption within the prism of trauma. Defined as a shattering experience that radically alters an existing frame of reference and consciousness, trauma condemns its victims to a compulsive repetition of the past in a doomed attempt to master the catastrophe. The compulsive re-enactment of the symptoms of the traumatic past haunts the present and threatens the future, even as the victims repress or deny the trauma.
Let me try to make this argument a little clearer. In his first book, Black Skin, White Masks, Fanon famously said that “only a psychoanalytical interpretation of the black problem can lay bare the anomalies of affect that are responsible for the structure of the complex.” If we call this a “corruption complex” — clearly, it is now a pathology — what might we see in a trans-contextual reading when, for instance, Fanon says in The Wretched of the Earth that “The colonized man is an envious man”? Take the passage in full: “The look that the native turns on the settler’s town is a look of lust, a look of envy; it expresses his dreams of possession—all manner of possession: to sit at the settler’s table, to sleep with his wife if possible. The colonized man is an envious man. And this the settler knows very well; when their glances meet he ascertains bitterly ... ‘They want to take our place.’ It is true, for there is no native who does not dream at least once a day of setting himself up in the settler’s place.”
Might corruption be the “non-violent”means — given the poetics of violence that define Fanon’s last work — by which the colonised dreams of taking the place of the colonizer? We must remember that the colonizer symbolised not only political power but an easy and lavish lifestyle complete with the choicest colonial real estate, cars, leisure and recreation together with a retinue of domestic servants. It was a lifestyle sponsored by mindless exploitation, vaulting the colonial officer to a class or social status unavailable to him in his native Europe. But the dream of “all manner of possession’ is not satisfied by the mere possession of the coloniser’s wife; at any rate, not after independence. By crook or hook, those who had finally taken the place of the departed colonial masters had to acquire and sustain the lifestyle associated with power and governance. In other words, the equation of power and ostentatious living we witness today may have far more to do with our colonial, and so traumatic, past than is acknowledged. To the mind of the present-day inheritors of the colonial state handed down intact, blind dispossession of the people comes with the territory of power. But corruption is a universal problem, so I speak only of the Nigerian variant of its post-colonial strain.
If you think this is idle intellectualism, consider that the current chair of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri, called not long ago for the psychiatric examination of public office holders. “The extent of aggrandizement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggest to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office,” she said. The unbridled amassing of public wealth, she added, had reached “a point suggesting ‘madness’ or some form of obsessive-compulsive psychiatric disorder.” If you still do not see the parallel, do remember nonetheless that the colonial officer, the primary instructor of the Nigerian public officer in the ethics of governance, had scant interest in developing the public sphere, unless as it enhanced the imperial project of expropriation. No wonder, you might say, local government councillors will not build public toilets!
• Dr Ifowodo teaches poetry and literature at Texas State University-San Marcos, USA.
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Until then....
Submitted by Do or Die (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 23:03.
Until the average Nigerian is intelligent enough to know that there is power in NUMBERS and see the need to put aside all the tribalism, there would be no real progress because all the major tribes will want a stake from the country's wealth. Being the Hegemony in West Africa, we are still walking with our tails within our legs. A sad case. Nigerians don't know the strength the country possesses. It is so sad.
I will probably be crucified for what I'm about to say but Nigeria was like a social experiment for the colonialists. Somewhat like a Mega Big Brother. A fabrication. But somehow, even with a civil war that claimed lives in their millions, we have managed to remain as one country. What do we do? Do we split up or do we...shall I say GET SENSIBLE and work on becoming a major player in world affairs. Of course by sorting out or problems we will be showing good leadership to our neighbouring lcountries who look up to us. But with the current status quo, FORGET IT!!
OGAGA IFOWODO
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 22:52.
I DID MY YOUTH SERVICE IN BOMADI LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE MUNICIPALHAD TWO VEHICLES FOR THE WHOLE TOWN AND TH OFFICIALS ONLY CAME IN TO SHARE THE MONTHLY ALLOCATIONS AND WENT BACK TO THEIR BASE. BELIEVE ME, THERE WILL BE SO MUCH BLLODSHED IN NIGERIA AND THAT WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF EMANCIPATION OF THE BLACK RACE.
Colonialism an Inoculation with Cancer Cells
Submitted by Odirah (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 22:01.
Colonialism is an inoculation with terminal cancer. The only way Nigeria can be freed of this cancer is by its death. The writer had it spot on. Most if not all Nigerians covet all that is white but too mentally lazy and too avaricious to copy or work hard to learn from the white person we so admire, to the detriment of our own human existence. I believe that all the analysis will do us no good at this point. Most Nigerians know how sick Nigeria and its people are. The answer now should be, what to do to KILL Nigeria in its own best interest. The death of Nigeria may well liberate it from the cancer that has so invaded its entire existential fabric.
Short termism is the problem
Submitted by AUCitizen (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 21:20.
Corruption arises when people only think of self, self, self, and fail to see the bigger picture. The councillors didn't see a WC as necessary so didn't bother. Those who share the money instead of thinking of drainage systems or a public transport system only think of their immediate needs, not the needs of entire society. Revolution needed is one of the mind. Treating others as we would like to be treated; thinking long term. Waziri's idea of psychiatric evaluations and executing corrupt bastards is also a good idea. Above all, Nigerians should think intelligently. Blaming colonialists is pointless. They left 50 years ago and have not stopped Nigerians from developing their own infrastructure. Nigerians don't understand democracy. They need a benign, honest and very strict dictatorship for about 30 years by a nationalist strong man. The person who fits this role is Buhari. Changing the name of the country to Songhai might change the useless psyche possessed by Nigerians at the minute.
Incredible! What kind of life
Submitted by Ramses Osiris (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 20:33.
Incredible! What kind of life is that, when you steal all the money in the world, and you can´t even answer the call of nature in a decent, civilised manner?
Again, the buck stops at the table of the rulers!They set the bad examples and the others just follow!I don´t see how Frantz Fanon directly explains this particular situation, because many of these looters did not have direct contact with the colonisers.
The last 50 years have shown one thing:
Good leadership= good society!
Bad leadership = bad society!
Simple formula. Murtala Muhammed cum Idiagbon/Buhari vs Babangida/Abacha/Obasanjo/Shagari/Yar´Adua/Jonathan are enough proof.
And I opine that bad leadership is as a result of ignorance of our history. This is where colonialism comes in!That´s where Fanon could be relevant in explaining the remote reasons. But then again, you would have to go all the way to slavery and beyond.
Up to 511 B.C.E., when Black Africa lost her supremacy!
What we need is patriotic, black-conscious, incorruptible, uncompromising leadership to enlighten our people and get rid of the present criminals.
Take a Glance around Africa
Submitted by Onye Ije (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 19:53.
However much colonialism might account for some aspects of the malaise of corruption in Nigeria, there is a limit to its relevance as a contemporary factor. I don't think there is any country in Africa that has Nigeria's level of vicious corruption. I grew up in the Nigeria of the 1970s and 1980s. Corruption was not walking on all fours then as now. Grand corruption and the unbending love of lucre crept into Nigeria from Babangida's introduction of SAP in 1986 and the massive devaluation of the Nigerian currency that followed immediately. There is not a single country in this world that does not have corruption in one form or the other. What makes Nigeria's case unique is that the entire society is now sucked into its vortex; those who complain most about corruption are in fact the worst perpetrators. I had suggested in the past that to deal with corruption in Nigeria, we might have to legalize it!
what do you expect from a primary school pass out
Submitted by imafono orohani (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 19:52.
The examples outlined by Dr. Ifowodo is common place. This is how debased our environment and character have become.
What do you expect from people whose educational call to fame is a primary six school leaving certificate.
these same people fought vehemently against raising the bar to OND as minimum entry for legislative posts in the state assemblies in "nonesensely updated federal constitution".
These are the same people that will sign off local govt monthly allocations to the state govnrs. What can we expect from a pry 6 school leaver!!! abi! The chairmen are no better, because they never won by popular vote, but were god fathered into that position, and thus the "who pays the piper....... syndrome persists".
No one who wins by popular vote would allow any govnr determine his projects or deliverables to his constituents. The biggest tragedy visited on Naija politics is the state electoral commissions, because they are a body of croonies to the govnr, and majority are pry 6 school leavers who have no other job than to anoint the govnrs right hand thieves.
Recently, I met a foreigner, who'd lived in Nigeria for over 30 years, and he told me that, something will give! and we wont like its outcome...
His summation was that the level of corruption is so bad that it was beginning to frustrate even the corrupt officials themselves.
I laughed, I told him that I was not not expecting a peoples revolution, but massive political fallout of immense proportion that would make the breakup of Yugoslavia feel and look like a kindargarteen prop show.
The level of weaponry being amassed by these greedy sorts, who have no other means of livelihood, other than govt appointment and selection, is incredible.
Most of our unemployed graduates will secure temporary employment in the next months, because they will be engaged by these thieves to ensure that they help in anyway possible to maintain status quo ante.
It is sad that "oga do nothing" Jonathan, would prefer to let it all burn whilst waiting on his minders to tell him what to do or say. It is a shame and disgrace that I share a kinship with such a loser.....Wish we could choose where we would be born and select those with whom we'd share relations.
Well, for those who have ears, dont let anyone or group use you to propergate their dirty politics or agendas, no mata how committed their campaign to "salvaging" naija sounds.
Mark my words, Naija will burn during the elections and it is a fact that only the poor, uneducated, innocent civilians and rank/file (military and police) will perish, because those who perpertrate these madness, have gulf stream jets and planes on standby at airports around the country.
Most of the senior politicians are registering their wards in schools abroad, and flock daily to embassies for visas for their immediate kin and folks. Whilst they wait in naija with 40 armed "agberos" in their abuja and lekki mansions to withstand any baga!!!
If the minimum entry point for legislative office in Naija is primary 6, and some of these state legislators have tasted that sweet nectar of unaccountable govt funds. Expect them to die or kill anyone standing in the way of "progress".
Dr. ifowodo, would be wise to tell his friend to arm up or pack up.
That's naija for you. Really were you expecting anything different from a country whose grassroot democracy is run by primary 6 school leavers.....please!!!!
Nigeria needs to be no more!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 19:28.
The simple true is that the corruption problem in Nigeria will never end unless the present Nigeria is dissolved and sent to the graveyard and let each managed what they have for their own good. You cannot tell me that an Hausa-Fulaniman or a Yorubaman, or even an Igboman be the one to manage my own belongings and then i would expect any good in return in the Nigeria's kinds of setting, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever! that has not work and it will not no matter what we decide to do without flatout killed of this Nigeria! At the end of all these official criminality who are the shameful losers? My guess would be those that owns the resources fueling this craziness.
NOT BUHARI - RE-ARRANGEMENT IS IT!
Submitted by Ofor Na Ogu (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 17:59.
Good piece, but little on needed action points! And, for those calling Gen. Buhari the saviour, I think it was Idiagbon that was the soul of that their administration! Gen Buhari's time at the PTF does not march all the calls here to vote for him.
In the final analysis, it would be found that the earlier we collectively insist on a re-arrangement of the polity the better for all! It can be calculated that the Regional arrangement of the pre civil war era engendered economic growth and better accountability. This is unlike the present arrangement that enables all manner of bad fellows access to governance. In those days, people related more with the antecedents of would-be public officials, and, since they were closer, it was easier to demand service delivery.
The campaign right now is for people to align themselves with what is happening in Abuja! Nigeria has continously imposed criminals on communities, and backed their actions up wit the use of illegal force.
Unless Nigeria operates Federalism the way it should be, there would be no peace or progress. There has to be mobilization right from the Village to Communities to LGAs to States and then National. The major block to all these is the attitude of the average northerner to any talk on re-arrangement. The minimum should be to return to the Regional arrangement.
Na wa oooo!
Implementation of the rule of law is the solution.
Submitted by Akiika! (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 17:07.
What we lack is just the implementation of the rule of law. Citizens of every country have the tendency to be corrupt, but if everyone understands that they'll be held accountable for their actions as stipulated by the law, then they'll think twice. Most of these politicians understands that they can get away with whatever they do, nobody will hold them accountable for their actions. The judiciary system and the police need to be fixed. We truely need the revolution to have a fresh start.
To the proponents of Buhari presidency, what happened to the PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund)he chaired under Abacha?. Buhari/Idiagbon usurped power from an "elected" (though rigged election) president, last time i checked that's illegal. All of the coup plotters should be disqualified from contensting any election.
THEY TOO ARE CORRUPT
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 16:30.
I can not agree less with your points. You could also find some of the traits in your friends 'the story tellers". When he(one of them) realised that the money provided for roads to the councilors were not utilised, what was his reaction? He obviously did nothing. Why? he was afraid they might gang up to impeach him. A man who allows corruption to thrive because of losing a temporary position and "colonial lifestyle" he occupies-himself is more corrupt.We, the citizens that have failed to act because of fear of losing our lives and prefer to 'manage' and live our mini-colonial lifestyles are also corrupt. Nigeria is corrupt, both the government and the governed.
straight to the point.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 16:14.
All hand must be on deck , how is it by saying it on this pages of newspapers or act like other country .Fellow nigerians why not join hand with people like paster Tunde Bakare and bring persons of Nuhu Ribadi and el-rufei to ACN .i asure you from 2011 nigeria will be a better country to live.
HE TOO IS CORRUPT
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 16:02.
I can not agree less with your points. You could also find some of the traits in your friends 'the story tellers". When he(one of them) realised that the money provided for roads to the councilors were not utilised, what was his reaction? He obviously did nothing. Why? he was afraid they might gang up to impeach him. A man who allows corruption to thrive because of losing a temporary position and "colonial lifestyle" he occupies-himself is more corrupt.We, the citizens that have failed to act because of fear of losing our lives and prefer to 'manage' and live our mini-colonial lifestyles are also corrupt. Nigeria is corrupt, both the government and the governed.
Lord, pls raise a Jerry Rawlings in Nigeria
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 15:53.
By the special grace of God, a Jerry Rawlings will arise and Nigerians will rejoice. Perhaps, sooner than we expect, Amen
I just can't imagine how Nigeria would look like when my kids would be grown - God forbid. Something must happen and very very soon it will in Jesus Name, Amen.
I can not agree less with
Submitted by Dinero (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 15:50.
I can not agree less with your points. You could also find some of the traits in your friends 'the story tellers". When he(one of them) realised that the money provided for roads to the councilors were not utilised, what was his reaction? He obviously did nothing. Why? he was afraid they might gang up to impeach him. A man who allows corruption to thrive because of losing a temporary position and "colonial lifestyle" he occupies-himself is more corrupt.We, the citizens that have failed to act because of fear of losing our lives and prefer to 'manage' and live our mini-colonial lifestyles are also corrupt. Nigeria is corrupt, both the government and the governed.
CORRUPTION NOT THE PROBLEM
Submitted by pablo (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 14:54.
The well-laid out analysis by Ogaga shows clearly that calling our problem 'corruption' belittles what we face. Again, like the doctors in Jalingo FMC above, Ogaga' article focuses on a symptom but gives little time to CAUSES. We should progress quickly to find out if what we face is as a result of our sub-evolution as human beings, or a wide-spread mental defect amongst us as a people. We seem not to know how to solve problems that beset us in civilised manners. Therefore, Ogaga, and the other guys who write from USA, you stand indicted for finding it easy to ensconce yourselves in countries where they have carried their own crosses. You have to think about how you have capitulated to the same problem by using your brains to make the USA better while your RACE goes to waste. And also, when Idiagbon was there, we hounded him out. Now you people wont give Buhari a chance. When Farida asked for mental check, David Mark shut her up, but we werent there to support her. SR page today carries a news about Farida, and people's comments show we ve written her off. We are not ready yet. WHEN WE ARE READY, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TELEGUIDING INFLUENCE OF THE SUPERPOWER, USA..., WHO IT WAS THAT STOKED THE CAECESCU PROBLEM SOMEONE REFERRED TO ABOVE, JUST AS THEY SPONSORED THE RECENT NIGERIAN PROTESTS OUSTING YARADUA, BROUGHT IN JONATHAN, ARE TRYING TO SELL NIGERIA MORE DEBTS THRU IMF AND WORLD BANK, AND ARE THE CHIEF SPONSORS OF IBB (IN CASE GOODLUCK CONTINUES TO BE COLOURLESS). WE NEVER START!!!!!
Prayer alone won't work
Submitted by KIllCorruption (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 14:09.
Alli, I agree with your position. However, I think prayer alone, will not work in Nigeria. If you look ate the world's best countries today, at a point in their existence, they fought many civil wars (that did not become an ethnic cleansing, which was done to the Igbos during the Biafra war), they had revolution - violent revolutions. NIGERIA NEEDS A VIOLENT REVOLUTION. WE NEED TO "CLEAN UP" THE OLD AND CORRUPT CRIMINALS IN NIGERIA BECAUSE ITS IS UNDER THEIR WATCH THAT NIGERIA HAS FAILED, AND WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. Again, Alli, NIGERIA NEEDS A VIOLENT REVOLUTION SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE DAVID MARK, BANKOLE AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING STATE GOVERNORS, CAN BE KILLED, AND ALL THE MONIES STOLEN AND DEPOSITED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES CAN BE RETURNED TO NIGERIA FOR USE IN FIXING ROADS, PROVIDING HOSPITALS TO CARE FOR THE SICK, CREATING JOBS FOR ALL, AND TO RESTORE SANITY AND A " CLEAN SLATE" TO OUR LOST COUNTRY.
FYI: If you see David Mark, tell him he is too incompetent to deserve 400 million naira in salary while his fellow country men cannot afford one meal a day. Also, if you run into Bankole, tell him to read this post so he understands how Nigerians feel. Finally, if you spot Goodluck Jonathan, please yell to him that Nigerians do not want a "sidon-look or a sit-tight-like-mumu-and-look" president who ignores criminals in his cabinet looting the country.
Excellent but think of it this way:
Submitted by Ibeku-Opi (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 14:00.
First of all, I completely circumscribe to the argument that corruption in Nigeria has become a a culture, literally, a way of life. What is evil is regarded as normal and even celebrated as an achievement. But - and this is a crucial qualification - your link to the psychosomatic condition of the African during colonialism and the present experience in the Nigerian context is anachronistic and at best disjointed from Fanon's argument. You will have to consider the context in which Fanon wrote all his work(s) which is different from the present Nigerian context. In colonialism, the Negro African was powerless, he was in a liminal state of being invented through the logic of coloniality. In the Nigerian case, the Negro has power, but this power is championed towards self-obsession. It is not directed to an "other" or what Homi Bhabha would have called a "differentiating order of otherness". And you did not establish any argument as to why "corruption complex" mirrors Fanon's colonialism's complex. The discontinuity in your analysis is located in history and context. Fanon might be relevant today but we cannot just adopt the structures of colonial condition to explain the current status quo in Nigeria. Colonialism is over and dead! It is a dangerous move, and if we subscribe to that, it is a theory that will alienate us all the more because it is in fact an alien format. Having said said this, as a colleague, I do appreciate your contribution and I enjoyed reading your essay. I just want to engage you on that level which we all understand, and which will enable us arrive at a healthy humanism in dealing with the Nigerian situation.
best...
Straight to the point
Submitted by philipsjnr on September 2, 2010 - 13:31.
If they won't even build toilet for their official use let alone other staff and visitors of the secretariat, how on earth do they keep collecting constituency allowances from the local, state and the national assembly?
You and I have to not only raise our voice, but act to ensure that our commonwealth is not destroyed. My greatest fear is for the future of the country, where the seems to be no plan for an average Nigerian.
Gone are those days when one can refer to children or relative of the leaders as one-time colleague. Now they have systematically created a space for themselves in the private or foreign universities while the public infrastructure is left to decay.
Fellow Nigerians, all hands must be on deck, else the future generation would not forgive us ...
From Fry pan into Fire - African man and his burden.
Submitted by KS (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 13:31.
Just when African man thought he was done with slave trade and colonization, the likes of IBB, Mobutu, Abacha, Ibori became his new burden in life – holding him hostage in the name of ‘governance & leadership’! And just like the predecessor (the colonial master), the new master continues to rape him of his sweat and efforts. The difference this time around is, only God knows when he will be free, assuming he is destined to be – twice unlucky!!! What a race, what a people!!!!!!!!
Who to blame
Submitted by Chuma Onye (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 12:35.
Sometimes, I feel that it makes no meaning writing about the corrupt activities of public office holders in Nigeria. The councilor, state or federal legislator, elected and appointed executive officers, judiciary staff and civil servants, contractors, relatives and politicians generally seize Nigeria - past, present and future. Nigerians see themselves as victims and allow these fellows to use state security and funds to abuse them physically and psychologically. Not until we're ready to fight back, don't expect a change to come on its own. Thank GOD for people like Ifowodo who still find the energy to fight back through the pen. Without people like Gani, Soyinka, Achebe, Ribadu, etc we won't even be where we are today.
Erosion of Values by Meritocracy
Submitted by Ihediwa D.C (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 12:22.
If Corruption was handed to us by colonialism, so how come that the first generation of our rulers were not as corrupt as the current generation even when they never actually saw colonialism being practiced.
I think what happened to us was the unfortunate bad luck of being ruled by young uneducated unexperienced military personnels that only know who to loot.
The Nigerian Mind set
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 12:09.
That is a beautiful synopsis of nigeria and its problem. We have the leadership we deserve...
woh! Woh! hold it!
Submitted by Ibeku-Opi (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 12:03.
First of all, I completely circumscribe to the argument that corruption in Nigeria has become a a culture, literally, a way of life. What is evil is regarded as normal and even celebrated as an achievement. But - and this is a crucial qualification - your link to the psychosomatic condition of the African during colonialism and the present experience in the Nigerian context is anachronistic and at best disjointed from Fanon's argument. You will have to consider the context in which Fanon wrote all his work(s) which is different from the present Nigerian context. In colonialism, the Negro African was powerless, he was in a liminal state of being invented through the logic of coloniality. In the Nigerian case, the Negro has power, but this power is championed towards self-obsession. It is not directed to an "other" or what Homi Bhabha would have called a "differentiating order of otherness". And you did not establish any argument as to why "corruption complex" mirrors Fanon's colonialism's complex. The discontinuity in your analysis is located in history and context. Fanon might be relevant today but we cannot just adopt the structures of colonial condition to explain the current status quo in Nigeria. Colonialism is over and dead! It is a dangerous move, and if we subscribe to that, it is a theory that will alienate us all the more because it is in fact an alien format. Having said said this, as a colleague, I do appreciate your contribution and I enjoyed reading your essay. I just want to engage you on that level which we all understand, and which will enable us arrive at a healthy humanism in dealing with the Nigerian situation.
best...
Buhari is the answer
Submitted by TruthHurts (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 11:12.
Vote for Buhari or die complaining. If you don't you will continue to suffer, you Nigerians
The Talk Is Too Much Pls Give Buhari
Submitted by TruthHurts (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 11:05.
Jonathan had almost 9 months to show Nigerians that if given 4 years he would take this nation to her righful place in the comity of Nations but the man has failed & he is not a leader. He cannot even control his Governors rather they give him conditions if he needs their support for anything. Same goes to the senators & the members of the House. The man is another weak leader like his former late boss.
If Nigerians want curroption to stop within 6 months try BUHARI. Come 2011 if Nigerians know that this country needs sanitizing of sectors to prepare way for the sort of leader they keep talking about, we need a ruthless leader & the only Man that would stop us crying of curroption is no other than Buhari. Love him or hate him, if he steps into that Aso Rock come 2011, IBB, OBJ & all the looters will spend their last days on earth in prison. All the monies looted will be recovered. The Nigerian problem does not require a lame duck president like Jonathan who is told what & not what to do by people like OBJ. 2011 to 2015 is a make or break for this sick Nation. If you Vote for PDP be rest assured that you will continue to suffer in this country but also end up a refugee when this country eventually collapses. OBJ & IBB knows why they keep plotting to protect their own, their only fear is BUHARI. Nigerians have cried a lot what we need now is recovery, sending these criminals to prison & stopping this plugue of curroption once and for all. OBJ was the petroluem minister at the same time for 8 years, he looted this industry dry, yaradua & Jonathan was in Aso Rock all those months the price of crude oil went to the roof selling more than $100 per barrel's yet this 2 weak men continued to borrow recklessly from world bank without any meaningly development on the ground. Where did all the money made from the high rise of the crude went to? As usual it was all shared among themselves. Just imagine waking up tomorrow & you hear that IBB & OBJ are now jailed for curropt practices, the murder of so many innocent Nigerians like Dele Giwa & Bola Ige. Just Imagine that folks. The only person with this capacity is BUHARI. For you to become Nigerian leader today you must have military clout loyal to you, you must have political clout loyal to you. Jonathan does not have this & if people are talking about Ribadu, we the Nigerian people must be ready to back him up when he starts having problems with all these quaters not taken instruction from him. We saw that with the military sending a platoon to secure the airport in Abuja when Yaradua was smuggled into this country with Jonathan not even briefed, we gain saw that when Professor Iwu was asked to leave INNEC but hand over to the next in command, he flouted that order but locked his office and waent away just imagine if this was even possible when OBJ was president, would it had happened, just imagine if IBB was the VP would this nonsense had happened or just imagine if it was Buhari in the shoes of Jonathan. These nonsense would not happen but it happened in front of our faces and nothing happened so how can somebody tell me that if Ribadu becomes president that this would not happen. Buhari needs to clean the mess first in order to usher in the type of the nation we want so that if the likes of Ribadu or any other becomes president theyy would be respected.
Colonialism is only part of the Story
Submitted by ese otaks (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 10:28.
If you peruse through the history of Leadership across the African continent, the story of greed, looting, insensitivity to the plight of the governed has always been a signature. We do have exceptions of people like Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkruma,and Nelson Mandela. Outside the continent, there are examples of countries who shook off the colonial garbs early enough. The awakening did not neceassrily come by design but by the insistence of the governed on a better and more transparent way of governance. Before law and order, the rule of the jungle prevailed. It is the brutality, insecurity and sometimes arbitrariness of the jungle justice that bred order and also served as deterrent to would be looting leaders. The transformation of these societies was swift.
several examples abound of politicians who had virtually nothing and became sudden billionaires upon holding a public office. He lives in a naighbourhood. he coems and goes a will. He lords it over everyone. No one, no group, take steps to change this. Changes of this nature do not come through fanciful legislation. The senator who takes 533,000 US dollars home every month would not support any legislation to cut it. But what happens when he cannot come out freely or spend the money freely or he is compelled to use the money for worthy causes? The stage we are now is that of the brutal jungle justice. It will qucikly eliminate the tendency to loot, steal, rig,and discourage the overwhelming drive to become a politician.
WHAO
Submitted by General Rommel (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 10:27.
This is serious! "They woun't even build toilets for themselves". I think I know to the extent of how messed Nigeria is; but this one beats my imagination. So, what is there to hope for? No wonder they don't see it fit to have a functioning toilets @ the International Airport in Lagos.
THE NIGERIAN MIND-SET
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 10:06.
This reflects the mind-set of the greater part of Nigerian. Lets not point fingers and say we have bad leaders, which undoubtedly we do, the simple truth is we have not yet matured civilly as a people, we might be educated, exposed well-traveled but the majority still remain primitive in thought and action.
I am not trying to put Africans or Nigeria down, but the truth is the truth,
WISDOM AND "SMART" DO NOT RUN PARALLEL.
Nazz is on the ball
Submitted by Alli Pedro (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 06:36.
Nazz and Ifowodo are right on the ball.
Corruption has become ingrained in us, a cancer so to say that has spread like wild fire because the condition was conducive. we need to pray for a miracle, because when you assess our situation, you ask yourself 'where do you start' that will have the most impact in curtailing this behemoth cancerous monster.
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