Each time we run into stormy weathers of life and fall on hard times, it’s natural to look to people around us for succour. If our kith-and-kin can’t offer a bailout, we are out of luck. We immediately become one of the statistics of the despondent. In countries with welfare programmes that fare well, citizens look up to the government for a bridge relief in hard times. In Nigeria today, where are such bridges? All we have is the thriving ancient wall of corruption erected by insanely duplicitous characters. Gamins and waifs were once in full control of the levers of power. Some, unfortunately, still do. The ancient wall of corruption is still standing.
Corruption carnival in Nigeria may have quietened down some because of the efforts of Muhammadu Buhari’s scarecrow walking effigy. The magnitude of Nigeria’s mess is Brobdingnagian in nature. It’s still a free-for-all fiesta of stealing out there because Buhari’s efforts are only a drop in the bucket. Blisteringly unapologetic thieves and coddlers of blizzards of corruption are still subtly watering the ancient wall. Their contagious viruses of purloining we still see and feel. These garroting and goading goats continue to eat up Nigeria’s yams in a frenzy and in dynamic shapes and forms.
Almost 60 years after Independence, corruption in Nigeria is still considered an unchangeable lifestyle. Don’t believe me; read up on what the Minister of Transportation and head of Buhari’s campaign organisation, Chibuike Amaechi, reportedly spoke off the record recently to some of his buddies. The hearers of Amaechi’s confession flipped what the minister said one way; but the minister denied the flip and put out his own version of confession in a defence titled: What Amaechi really said. “Corruption has become our culture; it’s our way of life. Nothing can change it…”, the minister confessed.
What specifically has Amaechi seen that jostled him into surrendering to the onslaught of the corrupt and corruption? I am curious to know what overwhelmed the acclaimed Lion of Ubima that made him express hopelessness about Nigeria’s tomorrow. With corruption, no country has a tomorrow. Amaechi must have run into some brick walls despite the no-nonsense stand of his principal about the menace in Nigeria. If a soldier fighting in a battle suddenly loses hope about the fight, what position does that put the Commander-In-Chief who is salivating to fight? How many people working with Buhari feel the way Amaechi feels? Can we truly fight corruption and triumph in Nigeria?
Corruption is the reason Nigerians are not getting what they must get. We are blessed beyond measure. With Nigeria’s vast wealth, if every Nigerian wants to own a jeep, it shouldn’t be a sticky wicket. If every Nigerian citizen at nighttime wants to rest their hurting bones on water beds in mansions, it should be a cinch. And Nigerians aren’t asking for too much. Not everybody is driven by a morbid ambition of big bank accounts. Nigerians want food and a safe place to raise a family. Somebody please give Nigerians some good roads; safe neighbourhoods, regular power supply and market flooded with yams that will not be eaten by goats from Gehenna. Rebuild the run-down schools and revamp our rickety hospitals. That is not too much to ask for in a country that has more than enough. But the dream of an average Nigerian to live a decent life seems far from actualisation because corruption will not allow it. Who have we offended?
I have read up on countries that possess not one-third of the endowment Divinity has showered on Nigeria. These countries, however, are shaking the world today. Japan is a mountainous, volcanic island country, and the world’s third largest economy; the largest importer of coal and Liquefied Natural Gas; and second largest importer of crude oil. Its natural resources are fish and scanty mineral resources. Japan exports automobiles, consumer electronics, computers, semiconductors, copper, iron, and steel. This country with no drop of oil has exports around $787bn. Nigeria, the slumbering giant of Africa, has much more than Japan; but no testaments of progress because, according to Amaechi, ‘Corruption is our way of life, and nothing can change it”. Who have we offended?
Less than 600 miles from Japan is South Korea; the world’s 15th largest economy. The World Bank once submitted with glee that the country went from an African standard nation (in par with Ghana) in the 1960s to one of the world’s leading industrial powerhouses today. Like Japan, her mineral resources are sparse. Exports are around $552bn and highly dependent on foreign-imported materials. Way on the other side of South Korea world is Italy; the world’s 8th largest economy and a leading industrial nation. Natural resources here too are few; and Italian land is not commodious for farming. In this dispensation, thank God that Nigeria now grows her food minimally; but Italy cannot touch what Nigeria has touched in agricultural ‘revolution’ starting from Goodluck Jonathan till today under Muhammadu Buhari. Italy has no choice but to import most of its food. The country imports 99.7% of its solid fuels demand, 92.5% of oil, and 91.2% of natural gas. Most raw materials needed for manufacturing are imported. But Italy’s total annual exports are $525bn. Every state in Nigeria has natural resources in varying commercial quantities; but millions are still hungry and poor because according to Amaechi; ‘corruption is our way of life, and nothing can change it”. Who have we offended?
Singapore also has very few natural resources. This tiny island has become one of the world’s most prosperous and advanced economies. Singapore imports everything she needs, including water from neighbouring Malaysia. Some 48% of Singaporean exports are made up from re-exports. They import raw goods, refine, and re-export them. The tiny island produces 10% of the world’s semiconductor wafer. Singapore’s exports total $415bn. It is currently the 37th largest economy in the world. Nigeria has an overwhelming advantage to do much better than all these nations put together.
Switzerland is a completely landlocked country, but the natural inconvenience is not a hindrance to the nation becoming one of the world’s leading exporters. Its annual exports run into about $322bn. Switzerland has virtually no natural resources, and its annual trade balance is usually in the red, owing to the economy’s reliance on large quantities of imported raw materials for industry. Switzerland has a very strong food processing and confectionery industry, producing multinational food companies such as Nestle; luxurious watch-manufacturing, with well-known global brands such as Rolex and Swatch. The country is the 19th largest economy in the world. In development, Nigeria is hundreds of years behind Switzerland; and with our endowment, it shouldn’t be so.
Nigeria, an island of wealth. A trough of tintinnabulating treasures. A penstock of prosperity. A depository of abundant and abounding natural resources. The home of innumerable sages. Arsenal of intellectuals. Harbour of highbrows. Human assemblage of geeks and deft double-domes with nothing much to show for the divine bestowment. Juxtaposing Nigeria’s wealth with the prevalent poverty stratosphere we live is a noisome paradox and a fetid contradiction. We should not be stupendously prosperous and leprously poor, but we are because according to Amaechi, ‘corruption is our way of life, and nothing can change it”. Who have we offended? Who did the guy in the parable of the talent offend? His master gave him one talent, but he decided to bury it. In Nigeria, corruption has aided us to both bury and burn our many talents. We then scatter the ashes on the Lagos lagoon and River Niger to be washed away by heavy current. Have we not offended God who gave us the talents? Have we not offended ourselves who perpetrate and assist the evil? Have we not offended our children yet unborn who will later ask questions but no one to give sensible answers?
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