December 30, 2008
In ancient China, a King, Chi K’ang Tzu, notorious for his corruption and profligacy, sought the advice of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, on how to deal with thieves in his kingdom. The philosopher replied: “If you, sir, did not covet things that don’t belong to you, they wouldn’t steal if you paid them to”. In his response, Confucius encapsulated the inextricable link between the ways of the ruler(s) and the followers. The conducts of the masses are only a reflection of those of their leaders and the vices of the people only mirror the vices of their leaders. So, the frightening crime rate in Nigeria is only a symptom of the criminality of the Nigerian ruling class.
Just as parents by their behaviors form the behaviors of their children, leaders by their actions shape the ways of the masses. They mold our mindsets and attitudes towards virtually everything: money, work, honesty, etc. Their influence permeates our homes, work places, schools, even churches. Invariably, we behave like our leaders. Presently, as our rulers are greedy, corrupt, fraudulent and immoral, the Nigeria society will inescapably, be greedy, corrupt, fraudulent and immoral. It is because the Nigerian power elite failed in their role as leaders that they have taken to harassing and hectoring the people, in the name of fighting crime, for what is really a failure of leadership.
The newspaper reports of the police foiling robbery attempts, arresting and parading armed robbers are really wonderful. However, it is a one prong approach to solving a very complex, multi-faceted problem. What they are doing in the fight against crime can be likened to treating a heart patient that needs heart surgery with pain killers. While the pain killers will temporally ease his pains, it cannot present a permanent cure. Only a more complex and demanding procedure, heart surgery, will heal the ailment. In addition, they are fanfares that mask the real problem. The actual trouble of Nigeria is morally bankrupt power elite given to stealing everything within reach. They have by their policies and examples reduced a disproportionate number of Nigerians to criminals: thieves, con artists, drug peddlers, smugglers, etc.
Criminals will always remain in our midst. Nothing, not the rule of law, equity and the criminologist’s formulations can totally eliminate crime because there are some individuals who are by nature criminals and their passion is in killing and stealing. Even with social justice, unrestricted access to education and employment, these irredeemable robbers will still rob and kill.
However, many Nigerians have been nudged into crime by the unmitigated hardship that defines the life of the average Nigerian. Due to the irresponsible policies of the Nigerian government, coupled with the stealing and starching away of a sizeable chunk of the money that would have been used to improve the people’s living conditions, life is merciless for Nigerians. The level of unemployment is dangerously high and poverty is deep and pervasive. There is a direct correlation between hardship, unemployment and poverty, on the one hand and crime, on the other hand. For example, in the United States of America, during the economic recession of late 1920s to early 1930s, there was an upsurge in crime born of the need for food, clothing and the necessities of life. In Nigeria, there are a lot of crime induced by the need for food, and other basic requirements of life.
Secondly, the glamorization of theft by the elite and their sycophants engender criminal tendencies among Nigerians. They steal and flaunt their stolen money. A bunch of flatterers constitute a source of endless laudation for these glorious thieves. Publications, especially pictorial magazines showcase the glitzy and ritzy lifestyle of the Nigerian wealthy. Many of those glorified in these magazines made their money under very questionable circumstances: outright theft of public funds or the defrauding of individuals, government and other institutions. This journalistic philosophy undermines the moral rectitude of the Nigerian society. If crime accords the privileged wealth and glory, then it must be a hard-sell to convince the masses that there is anything wrong with robbery, fraud, drug dealing, etc. How can the same society that exalts fraud and theft among the elite disparage the similar activities amongst the masses?
Punishment deters crime, but equity and social justice are more important deterrents. The Yar’Adua administration is vaunting its tough law and order stance but lacks the political will to prosecute notoriously corrupt ex-governors and high ranking government officials. So, as the Inspector General of Police is parading armed robbers and drug dealers, to popular acclaim, the Attorney General Economic and the Chairman of the Economic &Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) are shielding politicians and businessmen who stole billions of naira from prosecution. While armed robbers are executed for robbery and drug dealers receive lengthy jail sentences for peddling drugs, the power elite hardly ever get punished for their thievery and corruption. Nigerians are tired of this mindless hypocrisy by these shameless hypocrites.
In all, the most effective deterrent to crime is exemplary behavior by the leaders. Therefore, any realistic moral and ethical revolutions in Nigeria must start from the top and filtered down to the bottom. Any genuine fight against crime in Nigeria must first be waged within the ranks of the ruling elite. Once this war is won, the emergent mindset and behavioral pattern of the leaders will invariably reshape those of the masses. As the elite in their new modus operandi will eschew corruption, lawlessness and theft, the masses will also shun such behaviors. Irrespective of the effort devoted to fighting crime in Nigeria, Nigeria will remain a crime- ridden country, as long as our leaders continue to cling to their present ways.
In an interview, an armed robber stated, “we have no job. We went to the bank to collect our own share of money, and the police attacked us. We were over at Juliana Hotel relaxing, and again, they came after us. What did we do to the police? Let God be the judge”. Those were the words of a sociopath. He had no remorse for his robbery and the terror he inflicts on the society. What a warped mindset?
But this is exactly reflective of the mentality of the Nigerian ruling class? They lack moral restraint and any sense of moral responsibility to society. Consequently, they steal from the people and murder those who stand in their way; run away and hide when the law is on their trail; engage an army of lawyerly pettifoggers to shield them from prosecution; and jump bail. They are sociopaths; their mentality is just as perverted.
By Tochukwu Ezukanma
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