₦airaland Forum

I am not saying this as some sort of deluded patriot or someone who has any emotional investment in the well being of nigerian politicians. Though I would like to see Nigeria do well, I don't live in NIgeria and I've accepted that leaving Nigeria means never fully returning for 99.9% of people.

But being that I have lived in Nigeria and lived around the world; Nigeria is not corrupt and Nigerian politicians are not corrupt. What we call corruption when done by Nigerian politicians is simply how power works. It's how power works all over the world with 0 exception. There is no location or time in history that power has not worked this way. 'Rules' are for those being lead, and leaders are universally exempt from them. This is just how human beings deal with power and resources. So it's strange to me that when power does what power does everywhere in the world it's called politics and when it happens in Africa, especially Nigeria, it's corruption.

For example, every democracy in the world has a culture where people with money buy politicians. The bought politicians then make laws that siphon funds to those businesses in return. Every political party in the world has it's supreme master, and everyone who wants favor or advancement has to do the will of the party leadership. No contract is issued by a reasonable adult without the understanding that a large percentage of the funds will not land where they are supposed to. If you're an adult with any type of exposure you'll know that what I'm saying is true, but I'm here to provide evidence for anyone who doubts me.

Any place you have politics you will see siphoning of fund, misappropriation of money, godfatherism, bribe demanding, bribe giving, and vote rigging. And no, it's not exceptionally higher in Nigeria or Africa than other places. The difference is we can accept when non-african do politics, or jostle power because we feel they deserve it, and the Africans, specifically Nigerians, don't. So when the US military itself reports that 'In 2024, that the Army collected $225 million from enlisted soldiers for food, but spent only $74 million on actual sustenance. (Military.com)' We can see that, and still not call a western US government 'corrupt' the way we call African governments.

Reality is, all of the things we call corrupt is normal where there is power and power politics. The issue with focusing on corrupt alone in Nigeria is it distracts from the capacity to solve real problems. If a contractor is failing to build a road, report them. Corrupt or not, build the damn road. What calling it corruption does is it allows us to believe this is a uniquely nigerian problem and that i cannot be countered. It's an excuse for mental laziness.

I now understand why Jonathan said 'stealing is not corruption'.

You are very correct Sir. That is why I praise Ibori till today and still why I don't understand people like Buhari who promised so much and failed.

Ofodirinwa:
I am not saying this as some sort of deluded patriot or someone who has any emotional investment in the well being of nigerian politicians. Though I would like to see Nigeria do well, I don't live in NIgeria and I've accepted that leaving Nigeria means never fully returning for 99.9% of people.

But being that I have lived in Nigeria and lived around the world; Nigeria is not corrupt and Nigerian politicians are not corrupt. What we call corruption when done by Nigerian politicians is simply how power works. It's how power works all over the world with 0 exception. There is no location or time in history that power has not worked this way. 'Rules' are for those being lead, and leaders are universally exempt from them. This is just how human beings deal with power and resources. So it's strange to me that when power does what power does everywhere in the world it's called politics and when it happens in Africa, especially Nigeria, it's corruption.

For example, every democracy in the world has a culture where people with money buy politicians. The bought politicians then make laws that siphon funds to those businesses in return. Every political party in the world has it's supreme master, and everyone who wants favor or advancement has to do the will of the party leadership. No contract is issued by a reasonable adult without the understanding that a large percentage of the funds will not land where they are supposed to. If you're an adult with any type of exposure you'll know that what I'm saying is true, but I'm here to provide evidence for anyone who doubts me.

Any place you have politics you will see siphoning of fund, misappropriation of money, godfatherism, bribe demanding, bribe giving, and vote rigging. And no, it's not exceptionally higher in Nigeria or Africa than other places. The difference is we can accept when non-african do politics, or jostle power because we feel they deserve it, and the Africans, specifically Nigerians, don't. So when the US military itself reports that 'In 2024, that the Army collected $225 million from enlisted soldiers for food, but spent only $74 million on actual sustenance. (Military.com)' We can see that, and still not call a western US government 'corrupt' the way we call African governments.

Reality is, all of the things we call corrupt is normal where there is power and power politics. The issue with focusing on corrupt alone in Nigeria is it distracts from the capacity to solve real problems. If a contractor is failing to build a road, report them. Corrupt or not, build the damn road. What calling it corruption does is it allows us to believe this is a uniquely nigerian problem and that i cannot be countered. It's an excuse for mental laziness.

I now understand why Jonathan said 'stealing is not corruption'.

You don't get it,the issues with Nigeria is that the political elite deliberately do not do anything for the people they siphon all resources and funds to themselves, this is what differentiates the Nigerian corruption system from the other world system.Nigerian political elite do very little for the nation and very reluctantly. They barely even do the basics.There' are minimum standard of basic governance they don't even reach

okpouman:
You don't get it,the issues with Nigeria is that the political elite deliberately do not do anything for the people they siphon all resources and funds to themselves, this is what differentiates the Nigerian corruption system from the other world system.Nigerian political elite do very little for the nation and very reluctantly. They barely even do the basics.There' are minimum standard of basic governance they don't even reach

that's just not true. We post projects, works, and policies here every day and we know a lot is being done. We just don't know any other way to talk about government that the typical. Where in the world are the elites not siphoning funds to themselves? What Elon Musk siphons from the US government is the same as Nigeria's total combine GDP. Do you know what Samsung siphons from Korea?

There's a differen between 'im not satisfied with the scale or pace of development' and nothing is being done, and too much of our talk is 'nothing is being done'.

okpouman:
You don't get it,the issues with Nigeria is that the political elite deliberately do not do anything for the people they siphon all resources and funds to themselves, this is what differentiates the Nigerian corruption system from the other world system.Nigerian political elite do very little for the nation and very reluctantly. They barely even do the basics.There' are minimum standard of basic governance they don't even reach

The style of politics in Nigeria is chop I chop which is unique amongnst the politicians across the world.

The politicians are as corrupt as the masses as they are both product of the same community

Ofodirinwa:
that's just not true. We post projects, works, and policies here every day and we know a lot is being done. We just don't know any other way to talk about government that the typical. Where in the world are the elites not siphoning funds to themselves? What Elon Musk siphons from the US government is the same as Nigeria's total combine GDP. Do you know what Samsung siphons from Korea?

There's a differen between 'im not satisfied with the scale or pace of development' and nothing is being done, and too much of our talk is 'nothing is being done'.

The real issues are not being addressed or more like the political elite are not giving the people what they want.

Imagine the kind of projects they embark on say the coastal highway for example. I can confidently tell you that if a survey is done majority of the people will not want that sort of project at this time.

The wanton killings of innocents ,is treated with kids gloves and not the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

The need to trim the cost of governance is overlooked.

The urgency of the need to address inflation is overlooked

So many other needs which the people crave for but the political elite don't take serious.

Rather they prefer flyovers,parks,government house buildings n renovation etc were they can siphon funds,most of which such projects do not directly impact the majority of the populace.They simply do not address the needs of the people or always pretend that such needs are too difficult to be addressed, while the wants of the political elites are always promptly attended to.

okpouman:
The real issues are not being addressed or more like the political elite are not giving the people what they want.

Imagine the kind of projects they embark on say the coastal highway for example. I can confidently tell you that if a survey is done majority of the people will not want that sort of project at this time.

The wanton killings of innocents ,is treated with kids gloves and not the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

The need to trim the cost of governance is overlooked.

The urgency of the need to address inflation is overlooked

So many other needs which the people crave for but the political elite don't take serious.

Rather they prefer flyovers,parks,government house buildings n renovation etc were they can siphon funds,most of which such projects do not directly impact the majority of the populace.They simply do not address the needs of the people or always pretend that such needs are too difficult to be addressed, while the wants of the political elites are always promptly attended to.

None of this is corruption. These are specific things you want the government to do better because it is failing to do those things well. That is normal for you to identify as a citizen. Everybody on earth can produce a list of grievances for their governments

One thing I must say is that you are just lying otherwise you will provide examples of countries that go through what we are going through and are not corrupt.

Price of food is increasing, while purchasing power is reducing.

Some people just come online to claim you have been around the world.

You can't provide an example of any government that have subject it citizen to this level of poverty, tribalism and insecurity.

We are talking about people on the brink of dying for food, and you are trivializing it.

Why you dey lie like this??

Support your failure government with your full chest, nobody go beat you henn

Where in the world do they practice the brand of politics we have in Nigeria?

Ofodirinwa:
None of this is corruption. These are specific things you want the government to do better because it is failing to do those things well. That is normal for you to identify as a citizen. Everybody on earth can produce a list of grievances for their governments

It's corruption,because the government chooses to do only things that line their pockets,any project that will not profit them they don't touch