I read with burning anger the contents of the report of the Farouk Lawan-led Fuel Subsidy Probe Committee, coupled with the recent Ibori fiasco. It got me thinking on the Nigerian situation — why are we this corrupt? How did looting the coffers of the nation with brazen impunity become a national sport where our leaders compete against each other with pride in a bid to emerge top thief of all time?
Who really is the enemy of our nation? Is it our corrupt leaders, or the people who condone their excesses?
The pattern
Bode George engaged in contract scams worth billions while at NPA and was jailed for a few years. When he came out, he was given a hero's welcome. Who is the enemy?
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha stole money as Governor of Bayelsa State and embarrassed our national image when he was caught masquerading as a woman. But today he is an elder statesman in Bayelsa politics — a king maker who is welcomed with open arms by his brothers. Who is the enemy?
James Ibori, notorious for his jaw-dropping pillaging of the Delta State treasury during his tenure as governor, was acquitted in Nigeria but convicted and handed a thirteen-year jail term in the UK. In mounting his defence, John Fashanu attempted to deify the petty criminal by listing his ghost achievements as governor. Who is the enemy?
When NEXT wrote series of articles raising reasons why Diezani Allison-Madueke should not be made Minister of Petroleum, did we not take sides, bandy sentiments, and even spew feminist slants? Now that it is evident she midwifed the most bizarre and brazen stealing of our oil wealth — who is the enemy?
The real answer
The list is endless — instances where individually or collectively as Nigerians, we have paid lip service to corrupt activities. Haven't we helped entrench corruption with our African mentality of triumphing brotherhood over national good? We do not have a system of values that condemns and spurns our corrupt brothers. Why won't our leaders steal when they know they will never be ostracised from society but glorified for their stolen wealth?
What the Farouk Lawan committee has done is commendable, but this report can still be swept under the carpet if we do not do all that is necessary to ensure that the culprits are punished. If we must occupy the National Assembly until justice is administered, then that is what we must do.
We must not continue to tongue-in-cheek blame corruption for our woes and expect a few activists to fight for the future we all dream of. If through our nonchalance we fail to bring these culprits to book, then once again we would have become the enemy.