NIGERIANS AS CORRUPTION’S BIGGEST ASSET: ANOTHER ‘SODOM’ IN THE MAKING?

Some weeks ago, a friend told me, “Guy, if I see small change now, I go relocate go Ghana o. Abi na Naija you wan die?” I was really amused at the way he had expressed himself but the truth be told, he may be right when he said “Naija no fit good again!” Whatever words I might have confidently garnered to condemn his claim then was purely to uphold patriotism, it does not erased the truth about our present economical situation or the way it is being run.

Forgive me if I sound both biblical and quranic by citing some holy verses, just that we cant predict our future if we dont learn from those before us, most especially following some certain forecasts about the death of a country called Nigeria in nearer times.

In the bible, 2 Peter 2:6 says, “God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemn them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.”

Similarly, the Quran also talked about the city of Sodom in Chapter 29:34 as below-

“Verily, we are about to bring down on the people of this town a great torment from the sky because they have been rebellious (against Allah’s command)”

, Chapter 29:35-

“And indeed We have left there of an evident Ayah (a lesson and a warning and a sign- the place where the Dead Sea is now in Palestine) for a folk who understand.”

And Chapter 7:84 that says,

“And we rained down on them a rain (of stones). Then see what was the end of the Mujrimun (Criminals, Polytheists, Sinners).”

These holy quotes are to attest to our understanding that God condemns immorality of whatever form mostly those that negatively affects the lives of others like extortion, embezzlement, contracts gratification, etc. Compared to the olden forms of immoralities, what we have today is the grand form of all immoralities combined, yes- it is called Corruption.

Corruption is our modern day greatest immorality. With corruption, we have public servants betraying the trust of their masters who voted them into power, looting of public funds, contract scams and inflations, judiciary incompetence, insecurity, inactive government policies, political liars, mis-education, famine, money laundering, and many more. But just as the people of Sodom, we are the reason who we are. We are our own problem, no one else. And possibly God is taking His time to identify those that shall be reserved when He eventually unleash His anger on the nation.

In my numerous endaevours and contributions to the anti-corruption crusade, I have however realized that the battle against Corruption can never be won. Infact ‘curbing’ it is an overstatement without the Creator’s intervention. It is a funny country where immorality triumphs patriotism; where card-carrying members of political parties are heads of government anti-corruption agencies, even the Presidency is notably made up of liars preaching a reform that negates its lifestyle, anti-corruption volunteers are left at the mercy of corrupt Kings and Queens, the corrupt ones owning the media houses uses them to do and undo, and the monetarily-influenced ‘Chief Judges’ deliver justice at the mercy of their masters. To the greatest surprise, nothing in the nation could be achieved gallantly without a bit of political undertone. Mediocre Activists and Comrades, being lured to believe that “if you cant beat them, you join them”, are daily being lost becoming tools of political Dons. Everything about the country has become immoral.

The masses are not left out of this. The masses’ immoralities though unofficial ranges from human-human injustice like hike on market goods, over-hike on petroleum products, mob, rituals, rape, kidnapping, robbery, and many more. Ipso facto, Corruption now has its root stucked in every family. Wherever politics reign, corruption is supreme. Ignorantly, we’ve all become preys of corruption at the pursuit of priotizing our individual’s gains.

But as we are immorally known to always find excuses to cover up our mistakes, may I ask some multi-billionaire naira questions like- Is it Corruption that failed to tar our roads? Is it Corruption that inflates a contract of 50million naira to hundreds of million? Is it Corruption that kidnaps our relatives? Is it Corruption that put lies on the lips of our Presidency? Is it Corruption that pleaded we shoul be fooled by the gullible dream of a south-west mis-hero? Is it Corruption that demanded we vote for good luck and forsake hard work? Is it Corruption that turned our Clerics into messengers of politicians? Is it Corruption that bombed our friends and families daily? Is it Corruption that launder taxpayers’ money? Is it Corruption that uses the money meant to build hospitals for the people in financing a marriage ceremony? Is it Corruption that priotize connections above the feasible ideas of the powerless? Is it Corruption that lied to some people that they can build their heaven on earth?

Is it Corruption that ordered a man to own almost ten foreign accounts? Is it Corruption that asked our Politicians to think of their families first before their assignments? Is it Corruption that asked motorcyclists be prevented from their means of livelihood? Is it Corruption that came to steal our crude oil to the whitemen? Is it Corruption that hails those who embezzle our money nurturing their confidence to steal more? Is it Corruption- Is it? If yes, then Corruption must be a hardened Criminal. And woe unto Corruption whoever it is or wherever it may be. But on the other hand, shame unto all Nigerians who pushes the blame on Corruption. How better have you been in resisting being an agent Corruption?

Like the people of Sodom failed to heed to the warning of their Creator, Nigeria is beginning to thread the path of destruction. The recent flood that displaced over a million of people reminded me of what God could do when He finally get crossed with our nation. In all moral perspective, we’ve failed. And the accused Corruption has no other tool it uses than Nigerians- we are the predators preying on ourselves. We are the greedy and uncontented fellows that promotes corrupt acts. We are the evil teaching satan how to be a better evil. We are the maggot-riddened soil which Corruption thrives on. Without us, maybe Corruption would have been lessened in the world.

As it is not enough to reject being a Nigerian in the spirit of patriotism, I hope we change from our immoral ways before it is too late. There are already enough signs to aware us of God’s arising anger. Right manners is what we lack making us the biggest asset for Corruption.

Like the Dead Sea often reminds me of a once immoral place called Sodom, each time, I feared if Nigeria is not another Sodom in the making. Dont just rebuke it as this is more than what you think. Search your conscience- the earlier we change, the better we dont become history!