27th September, 2016
Sometime ago in one of our newspapers, Mrs. Farida Waziri, the former chairperson of EFCC, advocated death penalty for corrupt officials, believing it would deter people with itchy palms. And when asked, how to stop corruption, she said “whatever action that it will take for Nigeria to make progress against corruption, let us do it, even if it is death penalty”. She believed it will be the only way to eradicate corruption in Nigeria. But our past vice president Arch. Sambo, did not agree with her. He said death sentence has not in the past cured crime and cannot cure corruption, but by blocking the means by which the officials steal our wealth is the answer.
One thing we must know is that crime and corruption in Nigeria, indeed the whole world, is becoming sophisticated, that life imprisonment or death sentence cannot eradicate them. Therefore, tackling the problem of corruption in Nigeria and the entire world must be viewed from various perspectives. I am looking beyond tackling the problem through the use of government agencies alone.
The government need to move from just addressing corruption only when it had happened to a position whereby it would work on the conscience of people. I advise the government to set up a body outside EFCC, ICPC and other agencies, that will start working on peoples conscience, peoples mind-set, peoples attitude, that fixed ideas in people that is often difficult to change. Laws without proper enforcement cannot stop corruption. And when we don’t have strong, effective, right institutions to fight corruption, we waste our resources and achieved nothing but may impression.
Besides that, we must say no to some rules and regulations in some private and public organizations that created room for corruption. Nigerians: let’s change the corrupt system going on in civil service, armed forces, political parties, federal and state government, ministries, government parastatals, PHCN, EFCC, ICPC, JAMB, NCC, NUC, NNPC, NPA etc, banks and insurance companies, society and commercial sectors, manufacturing sectors, hospitals, traders and marketers, academic system, even our transport system. Let us change the system that opened the door of corruption in all these places. That system that allowed the politicians embezzle our money and get away with it. Let us change that system that encouraged official corruption, inflation, unemployment and increase in crime rate. Let us form the right and strong system that will make it impossible for anyone to embezzle and misappropriate public funds. Redesigning political and regulatory structures will reduce corruption and other anti-system players that encourage corrupt practices.
Let us change that system that fights the unity of this great Nation. Let us execute that corrupt system that is reducing our legitimate rights or our children will one day pay for their rights. Let us kill that system of god-fatherism and favouritism. Nigerians, this is the time to kill that undemocratic system that has compelled our youths to arm-robbery, kidnapping, trafficking and yahoo-yahoo. Let’s change that system of awarding contracts after ten percent bribe. Let’s us do away with that system of wrong implementation of political policies, we want new innovation now. Let us change that part of our constitution that puts the wrong people in the right place, that wrong system that brought the wrong into the power. Let us change politics from business to voluntary service. Let us have a new system for a change.
Our system should fight corruption, putting correct measures in place and the right people in office. Changing the corrupt system is one strong strategy to eradicate poverty and unemployment in our society. I strongly believe that some of the major economic, social and political problems that plague this country is traceable to the wrong system in place. If a proper system is in place, Nigerians will not suffer lack at all. We want a proper and true change in government, security system, social system, even our style of dressing. We want a change in the structure and functions of some modern organizations. A change in our universities and other institutions. In our primary and secondary schools, even private schools. Nigerians let’s give our children a future by killing today the existing corrupt system. To be poor and unemployed is hell on earth, let’s change the system of leadership that do not benefit us, we don’t want rulers any more, we want leaders. Rulers break the rules but leaders lead others follow. If we don’t change the wrong system now, I see more crisis that may lead to disintegration. And it will start by regions forming their own “boko haram and militant”, all in the name of freedom and peace.
Our system is so corrupted that even the most righteous person will be corrupt if he joins the system. If we say our police force is corrupt, then let’s change the system that made them corrupt. The fact is, if a good and transparent system is in place, our people will not be as corrupted as they are today. Hunger and poverty will be reduced, crime will be minimized. Let us create a new system that will make it so difficult for anyone to steal our money and get away with it. If we can change the distortion of government expenditure that has slowed down development and gave room for public fund being wasted on white elephant projects, we will smile. We are talking of that wrong system that has deprived us of good governance in this country. Bribery and corruption are product of wrong system, Nigerians let’s us therefore change every wrong and corrupt system now, for within our history lies our hope. I love Nigeria, I love Africa. What about you?
Dr. Paul. I. Udensi -08023113064
udensiegbulami@yahoo.com