Many see efforts against curbing corruption in the country as an exercise in futility, as our so called leaders are either the major culprits or they are known to have penchant for shedding their cronies from facing corruption charges. Past Nigerian governments have formulated policies and built in place institutions to combat corruption in the country, but we seem to be going round the circle with no concrete results to show for this. One major factor that has obstructed past efforts in eliminating this monster is adduced to be government’s insincerity and unwillingness to provide full support for this course.
The level of corruption in the country is so intense, that it has eaten deep into every fabric of the country’s socio-economic life. The Halliburton and Siemens’ corruption saga all died a natural death, when powers that be obstructed avenues to make these cases see the light of the day. Past events have shown that agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are more of witch-hunting tools than mechanism for combating corruption. Those who have fallen out of grace and are in the bad books of our leaders are usually made scapegoats; while allies are usually protected and remain untouchable as long as their Godfathers are still in power. How long should we continue to deceive ourselves in this country? The many abracadabras of yesteryears we pray shouldn’t raise its ugly head in our present administration. The whereabouts of some governors and public office holders who handed over last week are unknown. If there was sincerity in this course, the machinery of the state would have been used to monitor these politicians’ movements and blocked loopholes for their escape; especially as their immunity in office was about to expire. Many politicians’ manifestos were laden with slogans for zero tolerance to corruption, but they end up in office aiding and abetting all sorts of shenanigans. We hope the present administration won’t tow same route past regimes woefully failed the country. The late president Umaru Yar’Adua so much trumpeted the rule of law slogan which, as we all know, ended up in mere sloganeering. His Attorney General did more to obstruct justices against corruption and became a willing tool in abhorring corrupt politicians. When corrupt institutions are used in fighting corruption, we should only expect sophistication in schemes to advance corruption. Our security forces have not fared well in this regards. The open show of bribery collection tells it all. When security personnel mount roadblocks and turned them into toll collection for private pockets what miracle will make them patriotic in the battle against corruption? The judicial arms of government that ought to be the last hope of the ordinary Nigerians and custodian of the laws have in recent pasts aided in no small measure through motions and counter motions in obstructing any moves initiated by EFCC and ICPC. How sincere are we in the fight against corruption in this country? The arrest of embattled ex- speaker of House of Representatives, Demiji Bankole, by EFCC personnel on Sunday night, came at the right time to erode the not too pleasant scuttling effort attempted by the Inspector general of police, Hafiz Ringim as reported. Jonathan’s new government would have carried the brunt of criticisms supposing Bankole succeeded in travelling out of the country in a quest to elude EFCC agents. While, the Jonathan’s regime is admonished to shun the attitude of past governments that paid lip service to the fight against corruption, he should see the successful victory against this fight as sacrosanct if truly he wants to fulfil those many promises made during political campaigns. Mr President may have all the good intensions in this world to bring a turnaround to the country, but when those surrounding him are wolves in sheep clothing and corruption flows in their veins, nothing meaningful will come out of these saintly intentions.
No comments:
Post a Comment