By Bobson Gbinije
The true test of Civilization is not the census,
not the size of cities, nor crops,
no, but the kind of men the country turns out.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON [1803 1882]
In Axiological Ethics, the cardinal importances of satyagrahi values are considered to be fundamentally crucial to normative standards in decision making. When a society, nation or institution etc becomes befuddled by seemingly ineradicable, pestiferously gangrenous and cancerously stubborn disease, it behooves it to supply a drastic measure to salvage it from the precipitous precipice. Can this happen to CORRUPTION in the Nigeria Society?
We need no cyclopean encyclopedic studies, overview, analysis and research to know that Corruption is deeply rooted 99% in the foundational substratum of the Nigerian Nation. It is the corpulent underpinning, Culture, Religion, caprophilic disposion, Custom and Tradition of the Nigerian Leadership and it’s Citizenry. It is indeed, the brutish beast that runs through the gamut, length and breath of the Nigerian Nation and the body, Soul and Spirit of its Leadership, Institutions and peoples. What a shame!
The current Global Corruption Perception Index rates Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries on earth. It is rated 135th out of 176 countries of the World. The formation of the code of conduct Bureau (CCB) Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission etc has turned out to be will o wisp. Mirage and a wild goose chase as corrupt Leaders, Politicians etc are caught corpus delicti and inflagrante delicto, but no reasonable action is taken as a deterrent. The corrupt syndicates are protected by technocratic legal acrobatics, reprobate judiciary and Political rhetorics.
No Nation can make true developmental strides on its march to Nationhood when its Leadership and Citizenry are sunken in the lethal labyrinth of depraved, immoral, perverted, putrescent, crapulently rotten and the decomposed cauldron of bribery and corruption.It has been a recurrent decimal in our climes. From dependence in 1960 through various despotic military juntas back to our so-called democratically elected politicians, the story has been the same.
It is frightening that with over 120 universities, with churches and mosques decorating virtually every street in Nigeria, we cannot boost of great moral education, exemplary characters, reverential obedience and submissions to our boisterously professed faith in God and moral education. The essayist Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) observed in his book, The Decay and Restoration of Civilization that A Civilization which develops only on its material side, and not in corresponding measure on its mental and spiritual side, is like a vessel with a defective steering gear”.
The octopoidal tentacles of corruption must be exterminated hook, line and sinker for Nigeria to make any meaningful progress. It has attained the ascendancy of our culture, tradition and soap opera in Nigeria an odoriferous chameleonic feaces into which we have stepped. All strategies mapped out and contraptions put in place by successive regimes and governments have turned out to be mere placeboes. We have seen the War against corruption (WAC), LOW profile and now contraptions like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). So far, the EFCC and ICPC are government stooges. It is clear that they cannot go far enough because the enabling legislations are not completely in place and indeed, a terrible problem requires a drastic solution. From all indications, it is obvious that EFCC is still under the grip of the Presidency and its selective Justice System. It still portrays itself as an instrument for political witch-hunting and vengeance. Until the EFCC and ICPC rededicate themselves to high standard of diligence, objectivity, integrity and fairness, it will go the way of other agencies that were entrusted with the onerous task of eradicating corruption in our country.
The syndicate of corrupt Nigerians in the top echelon of government and the private sector who want to maintain the status quo will continue to be corrupt because nothing can happen to them in a country where the press, the police and the judiciary are totally corrupt. A corrupt country like a dull student cannot attain the highest of excellence, because its value standards are defective and full of normative gaps. Every attempt at wiping away corruption from our system has failed, because they are all devious attempts laced with pusillanimous tergiversations and insincerity. There are so many sacred cows and untouchables in Nigeria. Hence, injustice and oppression will continue to prevail and they have completely rubbished the sacrosanct tenets of democracy. The essayist Herbert Spencer posits that Every unpunished delinquency has a family of delinquencies. This is corroborated by Publillus Syrus, he said Qui Culpae ignoscit uni, suadet pluribus (Pardon one offence and you encourage the commission of many). What is the way forward?
It is in the light of this harrowing anguish which corruption has been used to dehumanize Nigerians that one makes bold to suggest that proven cases of corruption should be faced with the DEATH PENALTY. Any public officer that has not declared his assets should face the wrath of the law immediately and should be banned from holding public office for 20 years. It is a hideous pity that after 52years of independence, Nigeria cannot boost of a corruption-free society and integrity in service. The cases of Dipreye Alamiesegha, Dariye Joshua, Tafa Balogun, former Governor Ibori, Farouk Lawan, Maina etc must be thoroughly re-investigated and findings made public. The immunity clause has be abused by President Goodluck Jonathan over his ludibrastic pardon granted former governor Alamieyeseigbha. It must be deleted from our constitution if we must fight corruption to a standstill. Government will be reducing the urge for Nigerians to be corrupt if it provides social amenities for the poverty stricken masses, at all levels.
The United Nations sponsored first international treaty against government corruption, a major obstacle to development in poor countries, received the 30th ratification it needs to go into effect on the 11th September, 2005. The United Nation convention against corruption provides for international co-operation in the return of assets illicitly acquired by corrupt officials, as well as preventive measures to detect the plundering of national wealth. Our hope is that the cost that corruption takes on development will now be confronted by the robust articles on corruption to some extent, since a good amount of such crime sector involves the bribing of officials. Through provisions on banking transparency and against money laundering, it will also help to fight organized crime. The menace of corruption at all levels in the Nigerian society must be fought to a standstill. It is a war we must win by all means.
Finally, the people power and the oppressed must rise in Nigeria to stamp away corruption. The common wealth is being plundered and pillage by the political elite and their cohorts. The solution is for you and me to rise to possess our possessions. Do not blame any other person, the fault is ours. In his book, Crusades in Europe, Dwight Eisenhower [1890 1960] posited that Freedom from fear, injustice and oppression will be ours only in the measure that men who value such freedoms are ready to sustain their positions to defend it against every thrust from within or without.
ARISE O COMPATRIOTS TO POSESS YOUR POSESSIONS. Corrupt Leaders and their cohorts must die.
Chief Bobson: Gbinije
Mandate Against Poverty (M.A.P)
Warri – 08023250378
