“Sometimes, the questions are complicated and the answers are simple” – Dr Seuss.
Discussions about corruption became more tensed prior to 2015 general election and continuous till today. What is not certain is whether the successes recorded worth the amount of publicity from the government
or the fight is advancing to the detriment of other sectors. Some analyst believed that the continuous mention of this fraudulent act is a step forward as compared in the past when little or nothing is talk
about it.
To some, the only difference from the past is in the area of publicity but nothing much has been done in regards to matching words with action. Others see it as a selective fight aimed at oppressing the opposition, people close to the government are placed on zero targets only in rare cases when the FG succumb to action as a result
of pressures from the general public and media. A segment of the public also argued that the federal government’s resolve to fight Grand corrupt practices more than the Petty ones is a huge mistake considering the fact that most of the petty corrupt practices occur at the implementation end of public service for example, in private and public offices, police stations, highways, institutions, registration offices etc.
HOW DOES CORRUPTION STARTS?
It is completely illogical if we continue to advocate strategies to fight corruption without paying some attention in curbing it root causes. What are the driving forces? How does this dishonest act find its way into our domain?
The home is generally seen as the first institution one attends, a well discipline home produce a corrupt free child and vice versa. Is offering the child with the best discipline he/she deserves enough? Is the need to tell our children the truth about the cruel and hostile world that is filled with selfish people necessary? Perhaps not only to tell them, but to educate them on how to live in such an inevitably complicated world.
It is believed that the earlier we make up our children to the harsh realities the better it is. A child should grow with the knowledge of how bad corruption is, let them not grow in the delusion to convert everything for personal gain. It is difficult for a child to learn on his/her own about the deceptive world. More so, this education should
not be done in such a way the child will think that all humans are selfish and dishonest. Great achievement of any society is a prerequisite to its childish purity, innocence and virtue.
Many politicians and highly placed public workers have one or more religious consultant with a very special obedience that is ordinarily uncommon to these fortunate people. They respect them and listen to many of their instructions. As busy as these politicians are, they create time to visit them for guidance and other consultations –
mostly personal. The increasing romance between these two parties of the society ought to have reflect a lot of goodness to the society, unfortunately it has produced more harm than good. The religious leaders use the politicians to actualize their selfish whims while the politicians enjoy the prophecies they get from them – mostly self centered and user friendly. They don’t tell them how to worship God or the sufferings of the poor, they have derailed and become subject in misguiding politicians, they celebrate and keep on telling them what they wanted to hear and not the truth.
Religion teaches the importance of social justice, welfare and accountability. It is obvious that our religious leaders are guilty in this regard. Until they readjust to their original position as ambassadors of goodwill, corruption will remain in our corridors. God forbid!
The tertiary institutions where moral values ought to be acquired have become breeding ground for different kinds of immoral activities. The institutions have not done enough in teaching critical thinking skills to student. A good critical thinker has the ability to analyze fact in a reflective and more reasonable way. Investigation shows that most of these corrupt politicians begin this illicit act right from the tertiary institutions. It starts from embezzling of student union funds, bribing lecturers to pass exams among other heinous act. The institutions as a matter of importance needs to inculcate in their student the spirit of selfless service to humanity as well as demonstration of good character.
The method we use to pick a leader is of paramount important in the effort to change the present status quo to a better one. It is important we assess a candidate not only based on his/her antecedent but based on the positions they take on issues and the leadership qualities and experience they would bring to the office. Picking leaders based on the penny we receive from them or our relation with them is the reason that caused us today’s problem.
Apart from posters and radio ads, other channel must be improvised to gather enough information about a candidate. If we don’t want corruption then we must shine our eyes and bring in leaders that can match their pre-election words with post-election actions, leaders with proven track records of accomplishment, honesty and integrity.
Getting someone with high sense of morality that cannot be easily manipulated and has a genuine passion to serve should always be a priority. The need for a collective fight against corruption cannot be overstated. From the home where the child is groomed to the academic institutions where character and learning is installed, and then the religious leaders whose priority among others should include enlightening the followers on God fearing and the dangers of using official capacity for personal gains. Strategies should be put in place to mitigate the impact of past corrupt practices, however more emphasis should be giving to track corrupt act happening under their watch than spending more time probing yesterday’s offence. We cant fight corruption like God, measures should be put in place to change the mental attitude of the man. Prevention they say is better than cure.
