CORRUPTION: ONE STEP FORWARD, A THOUSAND BACKWARDS

By Rev. Fr. Leonard Anetekhai

Celebration of one year calls for a thing of joy, not to compare that of fifty years. An individual is always happy to clock 50, but in a situation when these years are of misery and glory in scarcity even of good leaders, what is the need for celebrations? As a country, come October 1st we shall clock 50 and there is every need to rejoice, but come to think of it, apart from the fact that we have remained one Nigeria for the past years, what are we really celebrating taking a good look at events around us? Fraud, looting of treasury, kidnapping, armed robbery, violent behaviour even among members of our honourable Houses of Assembly, murders, thuggery, nepotism, poverty, hunger, injustice etc.

Before the death of Former President, Umaru Yar'Adua, we understand that the sum of N62 million (sixty two million naira), was budgeted for the country's 50th independence anniversary, though some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have it that such money was budgeted, but not for our celebration. Few weeks back, Nigerians were made to understand that the sum of N10 billion has been sent to the National Assembly by the present administration for approval for our political leaders to share for themselves and their unborn children, all in the name of 50 years of independence.

It beats my imagination to believe that the present Federal Executive Council with the presence of “Mrs. Rebranding” could conform to this grave act of sabotage of the fund made to better the lives of the masses. This is a situation that gives way for serious and high level corruption and embezzlement, this is absolute exploitation. In the words of President Barrack Obama in his speech to the Ghanaian Parliament, “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves…” and as my people will say “Alo aye” forward ever, backward never!

If we take a critical look at the details of the N10 billion independence anniversary expenditure in the supplementary appropriation bill submitted by the President to the National Assembly, we see it contains as very frivolous and extravagant and as purported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This act is a sign of insensitivity on the part of our political leadership. It is believed that jamborees as the independence anniversary are fraught with inflated and spurious allocations. This is even more common as elections are by the corner and the ruling PDP as well as many of our political elite often seek for avenues and events to fleece public treasury. By this way, huge contract sums that are never executed or being reviewed, becomes the norm for our lawmakers.

Nigerians, Let us not cry over the N50m allocated to the office of the wife of the President for visits to special homes, orphanages, prisons and selected hospitals in the course of the independence anniversary period. It is often said that if everyone in a village are blind, the man with one eye can easily pass for a king. So what do we expect, she is a First Lady, at least we have seen many of her type even under the guise of Better life for Rural Women and Poverty Alleviation Programmes, May God help us.

Moreso, from the budget, some agencies would receive funds for the anniversary like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N600m; Ministry of Information and Communications, N1.2bn; Ministry of Women Affairs, N105m; and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, N6.4bn. if these figures are true, what on earth will make any government that cannot give 60% solution to the problems confronting her economy budget N30 million naira for the designing and unveiling of a logo all in the name of 50th anniversary? Just a logo, are we moving forward in the fight against corruption or moving backwards? I am certain that 80% of each of the allocation will end up in private pockets, to help facilitate political campaigns.

In the face of mass unemployment, educational leprosy, mass funerals of dead industries in Nigeria and daily clamour for decent wages by those working hard in this country, It is unwise for us to spend over N10 billion celebrating our independence anniversary. I think our leaders need a psychotherapist test. Yes, 50 years of existence as a politically independent nation ought to naturally require of us as a people some degree of euphoria, but given the popular national obscurity due obviously to our stunted growth in many aspects of our political economy, our leaders should use this 50th independence anniversary as a genuine opportunity for deeper self-examination and commitment to the structural and institutional development of our nation.

Mr. President, it is ungodly to waste our resources, 10 billion can alleviate poverty from our rural areas where Nigerians who you promised to uphold their interest are living. At this time, if we direct our energies and national resources towards entrenching democratic cultures and values in the hearts of our people and in our institutions, it will help to redeem our lost glory and dignity. Take the courage and pain to visit all the Local government areas in Nigeria, beginning from Bayelsa and see if there is any need to hoist our heads high at fifty.

For me, if we must celebrate our fifty years of political independence, we must recreate in the hearts of Nigerians especially the younger generation, the spirit of patriotism. It is not enough to air some good jingles by telling us how to believe in our self and do not destroy the work of our heroes past, when our political leaders cannot sacrifice their time and pleasures for the growth of the nation. Patriotism should begin from the leaders to the led and not the other way round.

Except this is done, we cannot develop or rid this nation of the shackles of underdevelopment. Terrible things have taken place in this country that have in one way or the other devastated our economy and by extension, enriched private pockets as we can recall the huge expenses recorded in 2003 when Nigeria hosted the Commonwealth Heads of government. Nigerians have not witnessed the dividends of that event that gulped billions of tax payers' money. While the government seems prepared to use the opportunity to celebrate themselves and their families abroad and also to enrich the so called elite who of course would handle the contracts at this celebration, the reaction of Nigerians is that the government should prioritize the burning issues facing the nation, instead of pretending that all is well with Nigerians. Again I say, May God help us.