We need to disgrace corruption

SHAMELESSLY, all through last week, both the ruling and opposition party traded lists on who stole what, who stole most, who stole when and where the thieves are currently, at least, I can assure you that not one of the thieves are serving some serious jail term.

As I reflected I stumbled on the Reuters’ reports, that a South Korean court jailed former President Park Geun-hye for 24 years over a scandal that exposed webs of corruption between political leaders and the country’s conglomerates.

Despite all the drama, and noise surrounding the fight on corruption and corruption fighting back, the blame game and release of lists by two of Nigeria’s most corrupt parties, the kind of events in South Korea are not likely to occur here.

It’s in this nation that you have a president so embarrassed; when it is not a fake award; it is a grass-cutting scandal or a list full of dead men walking and wanting to work. No heads roll, so it will happen in the future.

Nothing threatens our social order. For stealing billions, bail is set at few millions and when conviction takes place, which rarely happens, it’s more of a pat on the back.

From the gateman at the state secretariat to the corporal at the police desk, everyone wants something. Everyone is ‘prayerfully’ waiting for that promotion that will take one to the next level where one can demonstrate that inherent skill at greasing and lining our pockets.

• Knocking Ewi and Fayose’s heads a second time?

Admission is sold, employment is sold, political office sold, awards are bought, from the government, churches, traditional institutions, so, naturally, we are at the receiving end, the system (already dilapidated) pays for it. Our guiding philosophy continues to be, ‘what is in it for me?’

Does it mean that Nigeria is the most corrupt nation, no, does it mean that there are no; honest Nigerians, no too. There are many, but never or hardly do they get the opportunity or are swallowed by the corrupt ones.

Corruption is everywhere in the world, however in Nigeria, it is not only endemic but killing, all the days, in this clime is for the thief, none for the owner.

Transparency is only a political lexicon, so like I have asked in the past, again I ask… can the EFCC, ICPC provide amount of recovered funds and dates and accounts where the deposits were made, including dates of deposits and deposit receipts and from whom these funds were recovered. Rather, what we have is all the media blitz and village headmaster soap.

Is the loot being re-looted? Nigerian corruption and corrupt practices permeate religion, tribe and class. Like a persistent headache, corruption has refused to abate in Nigeria while we agree that there is this problem, and there is a need to administer a drug to this systemic cancer, we cannot seem to agree how, when and where.

• Prince Charles Dickson PhD

pcdbooks@outlook.com