CORRUPTION
WITHIN THE ANTI CORRUPTION GOVERNMENT
BY:
MUDASSIR
ALIYU YUNUSA
It is clearly understood that for long, corruption
is the biggest problem that retard the development of Nigeria. The level of
corruption in the country is high and the frequency is persisting every day and
in almost every sector and institution of the country. Nowadays the intense of
corruption spreaded to some informal sector, even in market places there is
every possibility of observing corrupt practices when critically examined.
By definition corruption is any act of
dishonesty or fraudulent conduct typically involving bribery by those in power or
the custodian vested with the authority of controlling public offices in both
governmental and non governmental organizations. It involves illegitimate use
of power to benefit private or personal idiosyncratic interest (Morris 1991).
In Nigeria Corruption surfaces in many
ways peculiar to the perceived interests
and motives of different individuals e.g. giving out bribe to lawyers/judges or any person so that
the truth will not be told is a corruption, embezzlement of public money is a
corruption, siphoning of public funds into personal pocket for personal use is
a corruption; bribing security agents on the roads is a number one corruption; nepotism
in recruitment, appointment and promotion in public offices are also corruption
of the highest order; election irregularities/ malpractices or any other
manipulation that favours one and victimized others are all corruption. All of the
above plus other minor illegal practices manifested in our institutions and organizations
which brought serious setback to the country.
The
fight against corruption has became widely known with the establishment of EFCC
in 2003 to respond and addresses the precarious financial fraud and other
corruption related cases. There are several number of corruption scams that are treated by the agency right from its
inception up to this time, but the anti graft war of APC government is highly
different because of the sincerity of purpose and the zeal of wiping out corruption
to the minimal level by the tested and trusted President. However, the anti corruption
crusade is ought to be more popular particularly with over publicization of the
subject matter by the current government, but with the unfolding issues, the action
is allegedly seen similar to that of PDP government and it has seemingly became a replica following the selective and
partial treatment some active members of
this government are recieving despite the clear evidence provided by the Senate committee led Comrade Shehu Sani in
a report that indicted, caught and proved guilty the scam done by the Secretary to the Government of Federation on
IDPs and the indictment of President's Chief of Staff on MTN scam but the
Presidency and the government has taken the issue lightly, this has became
contrary to the public expectations attached to APC government considering the intense
commitment by Mr President who is always lamenting his strong dismay on corruption which is among the three
principal reason why people voted him just to provide lasting solution to this
menace that has been bedeviling the progress of Nigeria; but surprisingly Mr
President is relenting and paying less attention to the scams. Is it because
the scandals happened to came from his trustees or what else? Does that mean any
person entrust by President is also a clean
and trusted like the President himself?
Certainly the President should apply
sincerity of action in dealing with anybody whosoever found guilty in
corruption charges even if it happens among his allies/aides within and outside
the government circle. He should apply zero tolerance to corruption in it full
capacity and do away with selective justice so far he want to justify his
statement of "I belongs to every body and I belongs to nobody".
Therefore, the President as a matter of urgency should respond quickly to the
proved assertion and corruption charges on SGF. This will surely solidify the
popular and most publicized fight against corruption the government is always
claiming to be among their cardinal objectives. Openness and transparency is
what Nigerians are waiting from this matter which was proved by senate report
against the SGF.
Finally my advice to the government is
that there is need to strengthen and intensify its low deterrent and the
punitive measures for corrupt practices among the politicians and government officials,
Justice and fair play in dealing with corruption cases is what will definitely
make the President's anti graft war successful, commendable and sustainable.
MUDASSIR write from NTA Zaria
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