BY ZIK GBEMRE

Without a doubt, the issue of theft/stealing/thievery – be it in any form, practice, degree, dimension, and at any level; have been the bane of Nigeria’s expected growth and development across all boards since we became an independent nation and Federation. The question of theft or corruption of any kind has eaten deep into the fabric and annals of the Nigerian public and private sector lives that it has reduced the nation to its present deplorable status. And, it is as if it is only going to get worse, especially with recent news of global events that has kept on denting the already battered image of Nigeria amongst the international community. From the public sector to the private sector, everywhere you look, it is a Nigerian being involved in one form of theft/thievery or the other.

We have all heard of the recent news of how former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, was fined $50,000 and banned for life by FIFA for agreeing to ‘the manipulation of matches’ for betting purposes, or better still – bribery, which emanated from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Perumal attempted to fix. Then there is the infamous list of 80 persons, 77 of which are said to be Nigerians, that were arrested by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for cyber fraud (aka yahoo-yahoo/internet fraudsters), and whose names have been made public for the whole world to see. They were accused of conspiring with federal and state agents to perpetrate the crime. Asides being involved in schemes that resulted in the transfer of at least $6 million, which was obtained fraudulently, the suspects were also allegedly involved in the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million. And so far, the suspects have been handed a total of 252 count charges bordering on “conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, aggravated identity theft”, etc.

The one that stood out amongst all of this was the report involving Obinwanne Okeke (aka Invictus Obi), who was arrested by the FBI for committing internet fraud. This is the same Obinwanne Okeke who, in 2016, appeared on the covers of Forbes Magazine Africa as one of 30 Africans who may be billionaries in the nearest future. Okeke has a CV that was not only the envy of his peers, but also which was celebrated on the international scene. Aside Forbes, he has featured on the BBC, delivered a TED Talk, and even an audience at the prestigious London School of Economics, African Summit. His business portfolio spans many African countries, which range from Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Infrastructure (Real Estate) including Solar Energy and numerous international Awards. So, when news broke out that this phenomenally bright and young Nigerian was actually an alleged internet fraudster who, according to the FBI, has stolen an estimated $20 million to $22 million from US companies between 2011 till date, the Nigerian social media went agog.

Agreed that, there is somewhat a very sinister trend by the international media, of lauding freshers with such titles like “Best 30 Under 30”, or “Most Achieving 100 under 40”, etc., which often includes young Africans and Nigerians – without actually questioning how exactly did these persons make it big. Take the Obinwanne Okeke example for instance. How could anybody have missed it? How could this go unnoticed for years? In the words of Ireti Bakare-Yusuf in the TV show, The Advocate, the missing gap in this whole mess is the word; “Due Diligence”. Yes, the first blame sits on Obinwanne Okeke’s shoulders, however, the second is the international media houses, especially Forbes. The only reason that one could fathom for Forbes not to have known this, is because they just simply do not care. How does a 20+ years old get to be a big player in the capital-intensive industries such as Oil and Gas, Real Estate? Unless, inherited, it is nearly impossible! After all, we all know the genesis of Mark Zuckerberg’s story. So, why didn’t anyone ask Obinwanne about the genesis of his wealth?

In this fast-paced digital world, who really has time and the patient for “details”? Ireti asked. All you have to do is scheme over the headlines. But those of us who truly care, should go back to the basics, by scrutinizing our children’s earnings/wealth, just the way our parents did to us. The truth is, Obinwanne Okeke and the others, are all “products” of the society called Nigeria. But here, Nigerians are today acting like the man caught by the FBI is a criminal with distinction, when in fact, he is the image of the “Nigerian hustle” by most of our youths today. Okeke is a Nigerian, and Nigeria is Okeke! Nigeria has become the perfect breeding ground for this sort of activities. There is no “social consequences for crime”. The only thing that brings shame in Nigeria is “poverty”, not rape, not fraud, not theft, not murder, not corruption, but poverty!

I once asked the question? Who seats behind those desks in different Government institutions giving permits, licenses, passports, etc., and collecting bribes? Who influences and inflate contracts meant to develop and provide basic infrastructural needs across the country? Who does not deliver on the jobs at the end of the day? Who collects stolen money in the name of tithes and offerings? Who gives titles to evidently corrupt thieves in and outside government? They are all Nigerians, not foreigners. But Nigerians!

In the oil and gas host communities of the Niger Delta region, some youths have taken to the occupation of bursting pipelines for illegal bunkering/refinery, and to create artificial spillage, in order to create labour for their communities since pipe clamping contractors as well as spill and remediation contractors are required to employ the local labour. The saddest part is that even the community elders and local chiefs are also involved, support and encourage this illegality and self-destructive actions to one’s natural environment. Some of the said contractors also use these jobless youths to burst pipelines, just to create contracts for themselves. Let us be truthfully, can a stranger go into the bushes to burst pipelines in these communities? Obviously not! And everyone involved (directly or indirectly) in this illegal trade/criminal activity, are all Nigerians. The armed robbers, kidnappers, Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani Herdsmen, pipeline vandals, illegal bunkerers, militants, ritualists, internet fraudsters, etc., are all Nigerians. So, the entire Nigerian system is corrupt. It is not only those in Government. But also, the ordinary average Nigerian is corrupt like the man at the top in Government offices, be it in the Southern, Northern, Western and the Eastern parts of Nigeria. All these persons that perpetuate these different crimes are known by their communities and neighbours because they are Nigerians, who live within and amongst us. And that is why some of them are given protection, as they are being used by others.

In a short video that went viral some time ago, DayStar Pastor, Sam Adeyemi, noted that, every time he thinks about the issues in Nigeria, he could not help but ask “why are we being so hypocritical? Whatever that is wrong with our country, is wrong with almost every citizen. The person that insists on taking bribe from you before you get the document you are supposed to get from a Government office, is that the President? No, it is the average Nigerian like you and me. The person that breaks the traffic rule on the road, is not the President. So, it is that average Nigerian, that goes into politics and eventually occupies public office. That is the person in the Judiciary, that is the person in the Legislature, that is the person in Government Offices, that is the person at the top, and that is the person at the bottom, that is the person that is stealing as a staff of a Bank. It is the construction of that person that we need to look at. The Institutions that are supposed to help build the person’s mental construct from childhood – block by block. If you have any country where people are behaving right, it started from day one – from their childhood. It starts from the family. It is in the curriculum of the schools…”

History has it that when the ancient Chinese decided to live in peace, they made the Great Wall of China; they thought no one could climb it due to its height. During the first 100 years of its existence, the Chinese were invaded thrice and every time, the hordes of enemy infantry had no need of penetrating or climbing over the wall, because each time, they bribed the guards and came through the doors. The Chinese built the wall, but forgot the character – building of the wall-guards. Though the Great Wall has over the years become a powerful symbol of the country’s enduring strength and spirit, but it has actually been a good reminder to the Chinese of the superiority of human character. The Chinese realized much later that THE BEST DEFENCE AGAINST THE ENEMY IS NOT A FORTIFIED WALL, BUT A FORTIFIED CHARACTER. THUS, THE BUILDING OF HUMAN CHARACTER COMES BEFORE BUILDING OF ANYTHING ELSE. Character is not optional, it is sacrosanct to the future that we all desire to see as a nation. No matter where you place prayers, character matters. The greatest fraud in life is religion without character. A man without character is recklessly alive. What do you have inside of you? Is it hate or love? Violence or peace? Death or life? Capacity to build or capacity to destroy? What have you acquired over the years? Team spirit or pull-down architecture? “EACH GIVES WHAT HE HAS”

These are basic and undeniable Truths we need to carefully look into and address if we really want to see any positive changes in Nigeria’s future. When we consider the fact that every society is made up of the “family unit” of different tribes/ethnicities and religious backgrounds, it therefore means that the “state of the family units” – whether good or bad, is what determines how that society will be, because every individual (from different family units) is what makes up part of the population of that society. Even those considered as orphans, are a product of a man and a woman. That is, every child is part of a family unit – which covers the parents, relatives and guardians. That means a society (or country like Nigeria) that is replete with corrupt practices, gross indiscipline, different kinds of criminal activities and all kinds of societal ills, is a society/country with “many family units that have failed and are still failing in their responsibilities of bringing up children” who eventually become teenagers/youths and adults that are irresponsible, undisciplined, wayward, lacks integrity, dishonest, etc.

Although, relatively small, the family unit is the regarded as the “bedrock of the society”. It is therefore responsible for the “quality” of human beings that populate a society. Everything we see wrong today in our society – be it corruption, thuggery, terrorism, Insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, indecent/immoral behavious, etc., is as a result of the “failures” of the various family units and the sort of Education Institutions we practice as a people. Today, what do we have in our hands, is a generation that celebrates mediocrity. A generation that no longer believes in hard work, but wants to make it big overnight. A generation that encourages poverty by the way they live. For instance, when a lady ties an attachment on her head in the name of a Brazilian weave-on, which cost ₦250,000 – that is about 100 bags of cement, that is 1,000 blocks, that is a three-bedroom bungalow that she is carrying on her often at time “coconut” head. Yet, she is a BSC degree holder from a Nigerian University, and she is also a tenant.

Aside looking at this issue from the root, as described above, there is also another angle of the root of the problem, which has aggravated the situation, made worse, and have created a rippling effect to the many faces of the numerous problems in our society – and that is the undeniable fact that the increasing and aggravating failures we see in our Nigerian society as a result of the failures in Governments at all levels.

Without a doubt, our Nigerian Government, whose responsibility it is, must create the enabling environment for the typical Nigerian youth to thrive, and not be exposed or tempted to go into all kind of crimes we can think off. Or risk their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, or be sold into slavery – in search of greener pastures that are really not there. That is the basic thing. But considering the fact that Nigerian Government are products of Nigerians, every country deserves the type of leaders they have. However, Nigerian youths and young adults must start asking the right questions and holding our leaders accountable. The Government is really the people. It is not those in Government. The Nigerian Elite in this country are less than 5% of the population. We should not allow that 5% to hold the rest 95% to ransom. The 95% should determine the Direction; should determine the Pace; should determine what Happens in the country, and not the other way around. It is sad that most Nigerian Elites are Weak. They use the power of Office to continue to intimidate and oppress the poor Nigerians. But the poor do not know that power truly belongs to the people. And they determine what the Elites will do. Just that we are not organized. Most of us are not outspoken. Everyone, often times, withdraws to his/her own. Some youths believe that, “oh my father is rich. I don’t really care or bothered with what is happening to Nigerians”. But the truth is that if they do not act now, when the poor have nothing to eat, they will start eating the rich. Then, it will become very unsafe to drive with big jeeps on the roads. And it is already happening. Kidnapping, in the dimension that it is today, was not there before. People enjoyed their lives, as they can travel all over. But today, even many of the rich people are refusing to organize big parties because if you organize a big party, and you call Sunny Ade, the following day, they will kidnap your wife, your mother or father, or even yourself. So, we are indeed getting there. That means, if the rich do not protect the poor, a time will come when they will no longer enjoy their wealth.

An octogenarian, who was asked to compare past Nigeria and now, made this striking remark: “Am a senior citizen of Nigeria because I worked in the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). And I also worked in Federal Housing Authority before I retired in 1988. In 1977, I had an opportunity to buy a brand-new car at Oyibo, for just N3,620. In 1978, I was sent to Paris (France) by the Federal Housing Authority. When we were there, our Nigerian N1 was $4. And in London, our N1 was 1 Pound. But what do we have today? Dr. Soludo was once the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, he wanted to bring the Nigerian Exchange rate back to normal, they did not support him. Nigerian Elites will never support those who want to help the poor. They will not support anybody who wants to help the poor. Our late Murtala Mohammed, you see what he did, but they did not allow him and within six months, he was killed. Anybody who wants to help Nigerians, they don’t like him, especially those who have plenty of (ill-gotten) money.

“Nigeria in the past was more comfortable. I can remember in the area where I lived, a bungalow that was sold for ₦27,000 to people when we were still in office, is now being sold individually and personally for about N25million – just Two Bedroom bungalow. What type of life is that? I have witnessed the old, and I am witnessing the present in Nigeria; the past life was more comfortable. I remember very well when I came to Lagos in those days, we used to have the current Pre-paid meters. It has been introduced before. You just put your money there, whatever you use, will be deducted, and you pay. But now, these people give estimated bills. They have refused to ensure that every Nigerian has Pre-paid Meter. They prefer to keep billing people to come and pay. And if you don’t pay, they disconnect the electricity. It is not fair! It is punishment! Give everybody the meters, and then observe whether they will not pay.”

The bottom line is that, for us to have a better society in the near and far future, the work starts from the family unit, and then this translates to what we see being done by those who eventually find themselves in Government – where the responsivities triple and affects all and sundry. But most importantly, the “examples” we set, be it as parents/guardians at the home front, and those at the positions of Authority in Government – greatly matters a whole lot. As a parent or government official for instance, you cannot be preaching one thing but your life is showing something else negative – that is being a hypocrite.

Zik Gbemre.

National Coordinator

Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)