Photo credit: the Guardian
There is a saying among the Yoruba that we are all thieves, it’s only those caught that are officially called so.
I don’t know much about corruption in the First Republic. However, during the Gowonic era, I heard of the “If you Tarka me…” and the Iyabo Olorunkoya cases.
In the Obasanjo era, I heard of the alleged 2.8 million saga involving the immediate past president.
During the Shagari era, an interesting case was that of a state governor in whose official residence a huge sum of money was found. What did he say?
“Government money in government house, mia faru?”
Babangida’s government was infamous for setting up schemes that would benefit the rulers.
It’s now that we understand Abacha’s plans. He was saving money for the populace. That’s why we still get monies “liberated” by Abacha government in foreign banks abroad.
The fifth republic has not fared any batter.
But I just felt if the Federal Government of Nigeria could enact a law making corruption legal, all this accusations against government officials will end.
If done, the EFCC, ICPC and other law enforcement agencies will be free from corruption cases because corruption will be legal anyway!
Citizens should be encouraged to bargain with their would-be rulers on how much bribe, aka empowerment, they are going to receive before voting in the politicians. In fact, there should be a law making sure politicians “bribe” Citizens with enough to last the politicians’ respective tenures.
011224
