I love Nigeria, warts and all. Two reasons:
1. A) I was born in the East of Nigeria. B) I grew up in the South. C) I met my wife in the North. D) I married her in the West.
2. I believe in God and God never makes mistakes. Born and bred in a great nation!
Last night, I watched an interview on Channels TV online. The guest was a recent Presidential Aspirant who I had never heard of (a reflection of my knowledge of the political class in Nigeria). Datti Baba-Ahmed, an economist and politician had an academic approach to his discourse on corruption in Nigeria. He said there are seven types of corruption in Nigeria. I paused, got my iPad and quickly took notes.
He listed them:
· Inflated government contracts – “55 to 65% of the quantum of corruption”
· Un-remitted revenue
· Extortion
· Conversion of public property
· Misuse of security vote
· Criminal wastefulness
· Influence peddling
That took me back to a Google search for a talk by man-of-the-moment, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of one of the political parties. I had watched that clip a few times in the past. Now his actions made ‘academic’ sense.
I have always believed that to succeed as a leader of Nigerians you need three qualities – guts to fight corruption (using the clean hands doctrine) and vision. I know two men who succeeded, the father of primary health care, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti who “made his mark through the rapid introduction of a comprehensive national health policy. He revolutionised the Nigerian health sector by placing great emphasis on preventive medicine, particularly concentrating on preventable childhood diseases and encouraging continues nationwide vaccination programmes.” The other, Professor Nimi Briggs virtually tackled every campus vice headlong and brought sanity and much accolade to a public tertiary institution.
Armed with the knowledge of a small army of anti-corruption, I visited Transparency International’s website. I remember one Nigerian kingmaker, who in a previous life was deeply involved in the organisation’s work but was guilty of a ‘third tenure corruption’. Let me not be distracted.
2019 beckons. Buhari-Osibanjo or Atiku-Obi? In 2015, my vote even if I had one, would not have mattered. “It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” (Josef Stalin). The man may have died before Nigeria’s independence but his words resonate even today. Ask voters in Osun and Ekiti States and the wards in the various party primaries. The presidential primaries were silently draconian on the one hand and lucratively democratic and peaceful on the other hand.
So amidst the warts, what is the conclusion of the matter? I had great expectations four years ago after a season of kleptocracy, that a self-styled anti-corruption crusader and an eloquent Professor of Law/ Pentecostal Pastor will lead us to the Promised Land. A recent comment by a presidential campaign spokesperson makes sober reading: “The scandals are too numerous, including the $25 billion NNPC contracts awarded without due process, the several padded budgets, the $41 million Ikoyi Apartment scandal, the recall, reinstatement and double promotion of pension thief …, the N200 million grass cutter scandal, and many others too numerous to mention.”
Alhaji Atiku’s immediate past boss in public service said and wrote uncharitable things about him prior to their recent handshake. Peter Obi’s frugality in governance has been followed by tit-for-tat claim and counterclaim with his successor Governor Willie Obiano.
So should one dare to hope or will 2019 be a mirage and hope betrayed? I still cannot vote and I really do not think my vote would make any difference. Stalin’s boys are well and truly alive. Nevertheless, change must start with me.
I agree that “Corruption – the abuse of entrusted power for private gain – is wrong. It destroys the basic rights of hundreds of millions of people across the world, it has devastating consequences on the services provided by public institutions and it undermines the prospect for a better life for future generations. I believe together we can work towards ending corruption, overcoming widespread injustice and impunity. All forms of corruption must be ended to secure the basic rights of all people and ensure a world where everyone can live in dignity.”
I read, signed and tweeted:
“I will not pay bribes
I will not seek bribes
I will work with others to campaign against corruption
I will speak out against corruption and report on abuse
I will only support candidates for public office who say no to corruption and demonstrate transparency, integrity and accountability.”
(so help me God …addendum mine)
Abiye Hector-Goma
Partner, Allerton Medical Centre, Leeds, U.K.