Nigeria, Where "Stealing Is Not Corruption" By Socrates Mbamalu

 
 President Jonathan

Corruption has been one of the biggest issues in the run up to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. Waza blogger, Socrates Mbamalu, says that if Nigerians are to make any progress, they will have to do away with their ambivalent attitudes towards corrupt practices.
In a recent article on Sahara Reporters, Okey Ndibe summarises the Nigerian situation perfectly:
"through a succession of military regimes and civilian pseudo-democracies, Nigerians have embraced a culture of lowered standards and wretched code of conduct... we have taken to declaring that the stealing of public funds is not corruption, that a governor who pays salaries is not only an achiever, but has 'totally redefined governance,' that the construction of roads is the acme of political genius and that rigged elections are just fine because, at any rate, 'it is God that gives power, not voters.'"


The quote above makes reference to a 2014 media chat, where the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan argued that 'stealing is not corruption.' Is it a shock then that the country ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world?

It's okay to eat

You see, in Nigeria, people expect every leader to eat his or her share of the national cake. You will hear expressions such as, 'as long as he does something, I don't care if he chops money,' or, 'at least we can see what he did, he built schools and a clinic. Even if he ate money, he's justified.' In fact how can one be a governor or minister and not embezzle money?

Nigerians don't expect their government to do anything. Otherwise why were so many people ecstatic when the governor of Akwa-Ibom State Dr. Godswill Akpabio commissioned a stadium? Everyone was impressed with the ninety-six million dollar structure, and the defence of corruption commenced: 'I don't care if he chops money.' Social media was full of congratulatory messages to the governor for showing other governors 'the way', yet such a task is a basic responsibility of the government!

What then does the Nigerian condemn? Does he want a corruption free society or just a less corrupt society? Jonathan's crimes have been termed massive and unprecedented, and this is probably because his own rate of corruption has superseded the 'normal' rate of expected corruption. So corruption is not being condemned per se, just the rate of it.

What does 'change' mean?

In an amusing and ridiculous twist, Nigerians clamour for change, and that comes in the guise of a former dictator and human rights violator, who rides on the wings of "integrity and a zero tolerance to corruption". In a sane society, Buhari, Obasanjo, Babangida and their cohorts who have ruined this nation, should have stood trial and been held accountable for their actions.

But no, the Nigerian society won't demand that. The Nigerian would rather tell you that Obasanjo's tenure was far better than the present, that Buhari brought discipline to Nigeria, and that during Babangida's time the foreign currency reserves were not as depleted as they currently are.

Nigerians have forgotten that the same corrupt people that Buhari seeks to throw in jail are the same people sponsoring his campaign. The very same Yerima, an unrepentant paedophile who has no regard for the constitution, is sitting as one of the Board of Trustees for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is Buhari's platform.

Will the future be different?

But why agitate for change, when the response of any Nigerian youth to what he would do if he gets to power is that he will first and foremost eat his share of the national cake? The youth lack values. We are scavengers waiting for the Atikus, Tinubus and Obasanjos to quit so we can take over and continue the feast. Cry the beloved country.

In the article quoted above, Okey Ndibe outlines the need for strong and enduring institutions. But first I would ask Ndibe, who are those that would build and handle such institutions? These same Nigerians? What guarantee is there that such institutions would not be misused? The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exists, yet corruption remains widespread. The commission's arrests are selective and the rule of law does not seem to apply to everyone.

We need a mental and psychological overhaul

We don't just need strong institutions. We need a mental and psychological overhaul, a revolution in our thought, philosophical and value system. Then we can talk of having such structures, and the possibility of such structures serving their purposes.
Nigeria has a long way to go. The value system of any nation should be hard work, integrity, selflessness.

Until a stern penalty for corruption is meted out, until hard work is rewarded, until the rule of law is implemented wholly, until Nigerians decide they want real change- a holistic change and not a plastic surgery kind of change- Nigeria will remain a country where 'stealing is not corruption.'

Waza is proud to feature as part of its content local bloggers who have a knack for expressing their unique perspectives, independent thoughts and engaging stories. The opinions expressed here are those of the author. Check out Elizabeth Ayoola's blog on why she will not vote, and don't miss our What's Up Africa special on the postponement of the elections.