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Author: Dr Johnson Funso Odesola
Posted to the web: 8/23/2005 2:24:23 PM

A fter the Politician made various pledges in the election, Nigerians gave them the mandate to take charge of their affairs. They all thank us for the confidence we showed in the national unity and democracy. We are yet to see any fulfilment of heaven and earth pledges and promises made. So far nothing has been done on free primary education, and the rehabilitation of rundown infrastructure. All our law makers and the operators are getting fat at the expense of the masses of this nation. Nothing is in place for equitable distribution of resources except talk and talk to make those who are already fat more robust. When last has this government consider bursaries to the needy, the constituency for road maintenance. Though political intimidation and arbitrary arrests are far fading out to open up democratic space for all Nigerians but people are hungry. However, the law makers are increasing their ever unending allowances.

Democracy is good if it is operated by godly people. The gains in democracy could easily be wiped out if we do not renew our resolve to fight the ogre of corruption. It is a fact that our people are poor partly because of corruption. We have wasted opportunities for growth because of corruption. The economy took a nosedive when the predators in our national assembly and cabinet offices turned their arsenals on the main granary in the now infamous Goldenberg larceny? The velocity with which Law makers and other government operators emptied State coffers goes far beyond the highest measure on the Richter scale. Nigerians have had to preserve the tsunami of theft and robber, until now.

Nigerians voted for democracy, hoping that we could clean up the mess left by the constipating eating army chiefs of the former regime, some of their collaborators are here with us again. The journey to the Promised Land, which began, with an innocent former inmate that was punished unjustly is, however, encountering many obstacles.

When he took over the reins of power, Nigerians were rated as the most optimistic people on earth. One would read this on their faces as you meet them on the streets and other forums. Unfortunately, this is being replaced by a sense of disillusionment and regret. We must reverse this.

That is why we need to take a journey through our consciences as leaders to find where slipped. But what are we doing? Defending ourselves even when the truth is evident. Citizens who raise their voices and chronicle episodes of runaway corruption are our main allies and soldiers of the revolution. They are motivated by higher ideals that we are perhaps lacking. The real motivation to fight corruption has to come from ourselves.

The culture of corruption has become so entrenched that the fainthearted cannot imagine that the problem can be eradicated or even contained. Corruption and the corrupt always fight back and the possibilities of engulfing the very progressive forces out to dismantle the network are real.

That precisely why the fight has to be systematic and persistent. It has to be a jihad to flush out the masters of pay-offs and crooked officials blocking economy growth.

Without any trepidation

There is an urgent need to strengthen the Nigerian Anti-Corruption commission by giving it powers to prosecute. The director should have security of tenure to enable him to operate without any fear. We should act promptly on reports of corruption emanating from the various Anti-Corruption institutions, such as the watchdog committee, the CID, the monitoring unit and the inspectorate of Corporations.

Also, the prosecution of public officers should be accompanied with prosecution of private sector or any other accomplices. Any leader being investigated for corruption should automatically step aside to allow free and fair investigation. And finally, we should quickly pass a law to protect whistle blowers to encourage the many Nigerians who have no stomach for corruption but are afraid to speak out.

Nigerians must shun those who try the tired old trick of calling on their communities to support them when implicated in corruption; thieves do not steal for communities. Leaders who abuse office for personal gain must carry their own cross.

The electorate promised Nigerians zero tolerance on corruption. They must deliver on it for confidence to be sub stained. Let us not spend too much of our energies on our politics of coalition, but rather deal with the yoke of the perceived corruption.

The lesson of what we have witness in Nigeria before is easy to decipher. Hell has no fury than a Nigerian annoyed, to paraphrase Shakespeare.