₦airaland Forum

'A bad leader can only lead a bad people'. Discuss.

If there is a single phenomenon to which almost every failing of Nigeria is attributed, it is corruption. Corruption exists in almost every facet and level of our society.

Corruption is variously referred to as the bane of the country’s development, a hydra-headed monster, a cancerous cell, the worm eating up the fabric of the society etc. The rich, the poor, almost everyone rail against it. But with all the negative attention and repeated vows to stamp it out corruption sadly has not only continued to survive in the country but in fact thrive.

Most persons would say that government is not doing enough to combat it, or the anti-corruption agencies are inefficient. But are these the whole truth? I don’t think so. The question is: who really should be most eager to end corruption? People in government and even leadership of the anti-corruption agencies are not so adversely affected by corruption. So they actually don’t have much incentive to fight it; the fight is not really theirs. On another hand it would be extremely naïve to expect those who benefit from corruption to lead the fight against it. This leaves us with the majority who suffer its consequences. These actually are those who should take up arms against corruption. The fight should never be left in the hands of government alone.

Experience shows that the average government will not seriously bother itself about fighting corruption unless it is prodded by citizens bearing its brunt. The people’s body language matters a lot, it determines the priority government would place on the fight against the monster. Where the people are tolerant of it, government also tend to look the other way. But where they take an uncompromising stand against it, government equally sits up. So, though the federal government wields the powers and resources of state with which to fight corruption, it may need a kick at the backside from Nigerians to effectively deploy it. But before this can happen, Nigerians must first reject corruption in its entirety.

Before one destroys something, he must first convince himself that it’s no longer of use to him or he wants nothing from it. As long as there still exists some belief or hope that it might still be of service someday, it will be difficult to act decisively. Corruption despite all the verbal attacks it receives has continued to wax strong because majority of those suffering its consequences and who should be most eager to see an end to it hope (consciously or subconsciously) to somehow, someday, also benefit from it. We celebrate and shield individuals whose source of wealth is shady with the intention of benefitting from their often ill-gotten wealth.

It is not uncommon, for instance, to hear suffering Nigerian youths while discussing corruption make comment like, “my guy forget that thing, if you get there you no go thief? Me if I reach there I go collect my share o!” He perhaps forgets that the overwhelming majority of the citizenry (including most likely himself) will never get to the position where they can dip their hand in the public till. The point here is that when it comes to corruption we tend to speak from both sides of the mouth. While it is condemned on one hand on the other, we still hope and ‘pray’ to benefit from it. The result is a conflict of interest which manifests in the indecisiveness with which the fight against the monster has been so far prosecuted.

To effectively fight and reduce corruption to the barest minimum, Nigerians, especially the majority suffering untold hardship as a result of it must reject it absolutely. An uncompromising stand against corruption by the people will send a strong message to whoever might consider tampering with public fund; it will also set government on its toes. Very importantly, we must critically consider who we honour. When only real men of honour and integrity are celebrated, even the not-so-honourable would want to act with some honour.


Nnoli Chidiebere
Twitter: @NnoliC

Many Nigerians have had the experience of being driven off the road by siren-blaring politicians. Recently, I was in traffic when a police patrol team came racing like mad with earsplitting siren. The Hilux van was not only driving against traffic but chasing other vehicles on their legitimate lane off the road. The policeman sitting in front waved a thick stick menacingly at oncoming vehicles some of which ran into the gutter in their bid to escape taking a blow. The scene was one of pandemonium. Other officers hung conspicuously at the back of the vehicle. Etched on their faces were pride, arrogance, disdain; they were drunk with power.

On another occasion, I was in a bank when a young man walked in. He observed the quite short queue briefly, squared his shoulders and then marched majestically to the cashier. Soon an argument ensued between him and some of the customers in the queue. One couldn’t help but observe his feeling of superiority, and the arrogance with which he addressed those standing in line. The above scenes and similar others which are by no means rare got me thinking. Why do we seem to disdain the law; why do we like to do those things that make for disorder?

Ours is a very proud and elitist society. We are so much in love with the concept of ‘the big man’, of ‘levels’. We love class segregation. While the elite discriminate against those at the lower rung of the social ladder, even the down-trodden discriminate among themselves. It is not uncommon, for instance, to see men in a dispute leave the subject matter to vigorously question who each other is. “Who are you, I say, who are you?” they would bark. Hubris and a near obsession for distinction are among our most damaging weaknesses.

Ours is a rather shallow and degenerate society. Our idea of greatness and the great man is largely faulty. Unlike in saner climes where one attains greatness and distinction through honest labour, competence, integrity, service to humanity and other positive attributes, here, a pocket full of money and importantly, ability to flout the law are about the major requirements.

Thus, an individual deep down, may not necessarily like disorder or prefer a disorderly society, still, he feels he must flout the law, act out of order to distinguish himself from the pack, to demonstrate that he is a big man. Greatness means nothing, power amounts to nothing unless the bearer can trample on the law and other citizens. A powerful man is one that stands above the law; only ordinary folks are expected to subject themselves to it. The politicians and policemen must chase other road users off the road to demonstrate they are in authority. Tragically, many who suffer the ill-treatment today long for the day they would be able to do same to others. The young man who disdains to join the queue at the bank wants to distinguish himself from the ‘ordinary’ folks standing in line. Yea, how do you expect a big guy to queue up with others without ‘levels’?

A people’s philosophy and values go a long way in determining their circumstance. Most of the maladies plaguing the country can be traced to wrong philosophies, wrong values. This underscores why one of the greatest tasks facing the country is change in philosophy, value reorientation. Indeed we need to revisit our idea of greatness and the great man, power and the powerful man.

Nnoli chidiebere
@NnoliC

The problem is that the North has always gotten away with violence. To allow them not only get away with these most gruesome atrocities but also reward them will spell the end of Nigeria; they will come back with even worse violence. If amnesty be the only solution to the boko haram problem then let the bombs continue to go off. They and their sponsors must be fought even to the death.

There have been calls by the Sultan of Sokoto and other northern elders on the federal government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram. On Easter day, Bishop Hassan Kukah joined the call for amnesty. But is amnesty really the solution? Are members of Boko haram ready to embrace peace, What about the jihadist ideology on which the organisation was founded? If they are granted amnesty, will money realized from Niger-Delta oil be also paid them as stipends? What happens to those who have been maimed by there violence? What about the families of their victims? What message would be sent to other criminally minded individuals?

The number of personnel in a Military is not really the true measure of strength. Training and the technological advancement of weaponry counts more. South Africa not Egypt has the strongest military.

The PDP umbrella is indeed big enough to contain every crook!

On March 24, the Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic marched on the capital, Bangui, and sacked the presidential palace. The president, Mr. Bozize, so incompetent as to even defend his government fled for his life after running down the country.

Unfortunately, this is often what happen. The irresponsible rulers that litter the African continent rarely pay for their irresponsibility. The same thing is applicable here. Conscious men and women warn about how dangerously our ship of state is sailing because they Know that should it capsize, it is the common man that would bear the brunt. Believe me, the day the rascals gallivanting at the corridors of power eventually plunge the country into anarchy they will be the first to flee.... they already have mansions in choice cities across the globe.

Ever since the emergence of the so called Boko Haram Islamists, residents of many northern states have known no peace. It had been harvests of bombs; so much so that the deadly device is fast becoming as common as firecrackers. This utterly ruthless gang has struck almost at will and each time leave behind burnt and mangled flesh. On Monday, the 18th, they were at their murderous best again.

On the evening of that day, ordinary Nigerians went about their ordinary affairs at a motor park in Sabon gari, Kano. Some were set to travel to other parts of the country while others were about to return to their families after another day of hustle. Little did they know that some enemies they neither knew nor have done any wrong to have plotted their destruction. When eventually the angels of death struck, they violently dispatched dozens to the great beyond and left many more injured and traumatized. Now, why must these innocent Nigerians die, what do their murderers aim to thereby achieve?

The wanton killing of innocent Nigerians can never be justified, it is completely indefensible. No man has the right to arbitrarily take the life of another, no matter the provocation. No grievance or perceived injustice is enough reason for the killing of innocent people. These killings are even more repugnant as it seems the killers presume that they are thereby doing the work of God. This is the height of blasphemy! How can one claim to be in the service of God while destroying His creature? Can one love God while hating his fellow man?

That some people should claim to be committing murder in the name of God is insane enough but even utterly insane is the fact that some persons would blow themselves up to achieve this. I just don’t get it. The phenomenon of suicide bombing has been with the world for decades but just few years ago, very few would have believed that such thing is possible here. The average Nigerian loves his life. So, how did some suddenly become ready, even willing to throw theirs away in the pursuit of a worthless, nay devilish end? How could this be possible?

Those who send others to blow themselves up could only have achieved that through systematic indoctrination; the zombies who match to their deaths could only have been completely brainwashed. And they were able to be brainwashed largely because they failed to make proper use of their minds. This again underscores why I can’t stop harping on the need for men to make more use of their ability to think; it is not for nothing that almighty God bestowed such gift on us. Followers of every religion must cultivate the habit of asking questions, of critically examining whatever doctrine their leaders are preaching. This will go a long way in reducing the number of people that could be used to perpetrate atrocities.

It is not enough to condemn the dastardly act whenever it happens, government must do more than that. There must be concerted effort to discourage or even clamp down on the propagation of intolerant and hateful doctrines. Government must demonstrate resolve in the fight against terrorism and impunity. The security agencies must be more proactive, they must invest more on intelligence gathering so as to stop the merchants of death before they have a chance to carry out their wicked trade. Citizens must also recognize the dangerous times in which they live and be more security conscious.

Above these measures, however, is the need to preach and sow love. There is simply too much hate and hateful ideologies in the world today; it is almost choking humanity. A lasting solution to the present dangerous situation lies in love. As light disperses darkness, so does love disperse hate. Men of goodwill must intensify effort in the service of peace and love. This is a matter of utmost and urgent importance if the present dangerous trend is to be reversed.