An evil has impoverished our economy, it has polluted politics, deteriorated academic standard, dampen the spirit of integrity and has thrown discipline and virtue to the dust. This evil has infested virtually every aspect of life. It has made its way into various nooks and it is pathetic to admit that the sacred places of worship are not exempted. This evil is no other than corruption a canker.
Black’s Law Dictionary, 7th edition defines corruption as depravity, perversion or taint,an impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle especially the impairment of a public official duties by bribery.
No doubt,there are multifarious reasons why corruption is in place; these reasons among others are,the desire to exploit,’get rich quick syndrome’,non compliance with the letters of the Law,unemployment, ignorance of the Law,poverty etc.
The evil “corruption” is like a cancer that have eaten deep into both the old and young. It comes in various forms such as police extortion, examination malpractice, election irregularities, bribery, nepotism, favouritism, ghost workers syndrome etc.
Numerous attempts have been made over time to curb the menace corruption in Nigeria. During the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo as the democratically elected President of Nigeria,a bill was presented to the National Assembly on the prohibition and punishment for bribery and corruption and other related offences,machineries like Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Commission has been put in place with little or no success in curbing corruption in Nigeria.
I have come to realise that one of the reasons why corruption has not been eradicated in Nigeria is because those waging war against corruption are themselves corrupt. The fact that no one is expected to remove a speck from his neighbour’s eye when he has a log in his own eye has been neglected. It is apparent that no one can give what he does not have and as such none can effectively preach against discipline and revolution when he is not disciplined and revived. An effective approach towards curbing corruption aside from the formulation of stringent rules,eradication of poverty, unemployment etc is rather individualistic I.e the solution to the menace corruption is dependent on each and every individual. There is need for a change of perspective and attitude that success,wealth and achievement is not only accomplished through corrupt means. Olusegun Obasanjo speaking on the issue of corruption opined that “Our main problems are moral,ethical and attitudinal failure and disorientation”. John C. Maxwell speaking on attitude succinctly posit that _”there is no such things as an unalterable attitude” this is to the effect that no matter how corrupt an attitude can be it can be changed.
As citizens of Nigeria,it is imperative to live by showing good examples, shunning every appearances of corruption. Albert Schweitzer said that _”example is not the main thing in influencing others,it’s the only thing”.Its no gainsay that people do more of what they see than what they are told. John C Maxwell similarly expressed that people follow your footsteps more easily than they do your advice. Therefore refusal to be involved in corrupt practices will be a blessing to others just as Thomas Morello remarked “the first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example”. As a Nigerian citizen your refusal to be involved in giving and taking of bribe,examination malpractice and other corrupt acts can influence another into conformity with the right standard.
It is of great need that Nigerians have a change of mindset that one need not be involved in corruption to get to the peak of his or her career or any position. It is necessary that we work on ourselves and be disciplined enough to start effecting positive changes which will be evident for people to see and emulate. The fight against corruption starts with the fight against the corrupt being and tendency in you.
Finally, A. Purneil Bailey quotes a Chinese general who said-
“If my World is to be brought to order my nation must be changed.If my nation is to be changed,my hometown must be made over;if my hometown is to be reordered my family must first be set right,if my family is to be regenerated I myself must first be”.
It follows therefore that the place of personal or individual restructuring cannot be overemphasized in curbing the menace corruption in Nigeria.
– Omole Faith Boluwatife,
Department of Law,
Kogi State University, Anyigba.
