Another View on The Southerner Newspaper
Saturday, October 11, 2025
In 1966, one of the leaders of the first military coup in Nigeria, Majo Patrick Chukwuma Nzeogwu declared unequivocally that, ‘”our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand ten percents.” We perhaps took the statement as another sweet recitation until years later when it became clear that truly, Nigeria’s political table is surrounded by marauders.
There is no sector in Nigeria that is free from corrupt practices. They all swim in one corruption scandal or the other. The stories can be deafening and destructive.
Nigeria has become synonymous with corruption. Corruption is seen as a culture, a way of life of the people of the biggest black nation in the world. Yes,there are institutions specifically created to fight corruption but such organisations as it appears have also caved in. They only bark and don’t bite. It is as though it is the government in power that directs where they are headed.
Nigeria is really a country that is still in the study room. There is a scientific study of the people and its geographical entity. The country and its people need to be understood. Why do things not work here like in other places? Just why?
Nigeria today is in a mess as far as corruption is concerned. Nigerians expected a massive clamp down on corruption and its promoters under the last government led by late President Muhammadu Buhari but it never happened. Corruption rather continued to fester under him.
President Buhari, a reputed no-nosense advocate for anti-graft became mum and weak to fight corruption all through his eight years in power. Most Nigerians were highly disappointed.
A British political leader once described Nigeria as a ‘fantastically corrupt’ country. That’s how bad we are viewed by foreigners.
It is pure and simple that, the reason why it is difficult for the security agencies to eliminate the insurgents, terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals threatening the peace and unity of Nigeria can be traced to corruption. Corruption in Nigeria has eaten so deep into our religious, social, economic and the political fabric of our existence. We are really in a fix.
It has been repeated severally that, if we fail to kill corruption, corruption will eventually destroy us. This cankerworm can conveniently wipe away the country without pulling a trigger, except something is done urgently to control it.
But sadly, there seems to be no hope for such because we have not gotten credible and bold minds in the leadership. We simply lack such characters in public service.
Corruption is worse than banditry, terrorism, insurgency, ‘419’ and armed robbery put together. No country on earth can survive romancing or treating corruption with kid gloves.
In the electricity industry, the corruption there stinks to high heaven. In fact, some years ago, a popular civil society organization in its research on public institutions concluded that, the electricity sector was the most corrupt in Nigeria.
It is a known fact that, most of its top ‘ogas’ are living in large wealth. From the old NEPA to the present privatised electricity industry, they are woven round corruption.
How this institution arrives at bills sent to customers can still not be explained. The officers sit in their offices and issue out whatever and enforce it by compulsion on their customers. After all, who will come to the rescue of the customers?
Private and corporate bodies are made to cough out whooping sums yet, there is no commensurate supply of power to the people.
Some years ago, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang in one of his songs, ‘police station don turn to bank, DPO na bank manager, IG na managing director.’ The Police have not in anyway proved our ‘Abami Eda’ wrong.
Almost all Inspectors-General of the Police had issues of fraud on their heads. Some were caught directly fiddling with funds meant for purchase of arms and ammunition for its service.
It is impossible to go to any Police station in Nigeria for any case without spending money. If your person is detained, you are extorted before you see the suspect. Road blocks are specifically mounted not to check criminals but to extort innocent drivers on the road.
It has become part of our routine. We now live with it like it’s normal. Our judiciary usually referred to as the ‘last hope of the common man’ is no longer tenable. Judgements are sold and bought. There are corrupt lawyers, judges and judicial staff who have contributed in no small way to the destruction of the judiciary.
Even in our religious circle, some of our Imams and Pastors are embedded in this inglorious heist. Often stories emerge from churches of how oastors are involved in moral and financial abuse.
These so-called men of God are usually caught in sexual scandal with female choristers, wives and daughters of members of their churches. They have been accused of using church money for their flamboyant lifestyles.
Our Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot escape the accusing fingers of citizens pointed at it. The commission also stinks. The electoral body is accused of doing the bidding of particular candidates especially during elections after settlement.
In sports, it is so crazy in that sector too. Monies meant for athletes and development of sports generally are allegedly usually tampered with.
The story of the recent former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria reveals so much about the goings on at the Apex bank. Obviously, there are sharp practices in the banker’s bank led by its number one officer.
Till date, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL )is referred to as the ‘cesspool of corruption.’ Here, all manner of dirty deals take place. From the petroleum ministry to the NNPCL, Department of Petroleum Resources and other subsidiaries, it is same story of one heist or the other.
It was the corruption therein that led to some Presidents presiding as Petroleum Minister while holding on as President. Yet, the problem of corruption was never resolved. NNPCL Group Managing Directors and Petroleum Ministers in Nigeria have always left with one fraud accusation or the other.
The State Governments are not an exception. Several billions are collected from the Federation account but, there are no visible projects on ground to justify such huge sums. It is one form of embezzlement, misappropriation or the other. Monies are reportedly diverted for personal comfort.
No ministry, whether it is Federal or State that has not been accused of corruption. Presently, former Governor of Rivers state, now Minister of the Federal Republic is in a battle to free himself and wife of alleged corrupt practices. That’s just the way it is in Nigeria. Everywhere you turn to it is corruption, corruption.
The Military is not an exception. We have heard soldiers complain and protest of non payment of their entitlements after service. Even the ones serving shed tears of ill-treatment and neglect by their superiors. Perhaps, that has contributed to the delay in eliminating insurgency in Nigeria.
We can go on and on. There is absolutely no sector that is free from this cankerworm that is about bringing the country to its knees.
The NASS is a no go area when we discuss corruption. When we refer to the place as ‘Hallowed Chambers’ I usually wonder what is hallowed about the place? Is it a NASS that is noted for budget padding? A place where alleged bribery of members is common? Where Constituency allocations go the way solely determined by the lawmakers? A place where a sitting President of the Senate is accused of sexual harassment? A place where SUVs were distributed to get their support?
It is really troubling how pathologically corrupt Nigerians are. We are so deep in the ‘institution of corruption’ that, it is now seen as part of our culture. Government after government promise to deal decisively with corruption but once they are sworn into power, they recoil to permit business as usual.
However, I strongly believe Nigeria would be gotten right someday. But that will become possible when Nigerians begin to hold their leaders accountable and make anti-corruption war a personal fight. We can’t stand aloof for Nigeria to survive. We should all be involved.
