By Kparobo Ehvwubare
Nigerians are corrupt, they say. I am a Nigerian and I know why they are corrupt. Nigerians are corrupt because they are hungry. Because they need the food, the whole food and nothing but the food. Because they have to “hustle” if they want to see the food. Because without food they amuse less to their selves and to the society.
A hungry man has no principles; morality is a luxury affordable to the well-fed. Nigerians are corrupt because their hustle for food is filled with obstacles, because they cannot work as a labourer without tipping the foreman, because they cannot work in the civil service without greasing the wheels, because they cannot work in the private sector without “knowing” someone, because they cannot get a contract without contributing to the network. Nigerians are corrupt because they are hungry.
Nigerians are corrupt because nobody knows tomorrow. they corrupt because the society has no welfare plan and the pension scheme is unreliable. Yet a portion of civil servants salary has to go to the pension scheme, tax and whatever else the government decides. They have no confidence in the private sector—because the labour laws are unhelpful. Because their employers can fire them without compensations. And other people are waiting to take their position.
Because their hard-built business may collapse some day. And it is a foolish person who forgets to plan for the future. Nigerians are corrupt because their daily breads are not secure. Nigerians are corrupt because they do not want to beg tomorrow. Nigerians corrupt because they do not want their children to be corrupt.
Nigerians are corrupt because tertiary education is a status symbol. Nigerians are corrupt because academic achievements are required to attain a comfortable middle class life. And even though Nigerians have technical and vocational skills, They cannot get a job without a certificate. The right certificate can make a way where there seems to be no way. Nigerians are corrupt because they have to do whatever it
takes to get the right certificate. Because they do not want to be condemned to third-class economic life. Nigerians are corrupt because academic knowledge is power.
Nigerians are corrupt because Nigerians need cars. Because they need a generator and water pumping machine. Humanity has progressed and the individual must progress with it. And they want to enjoy the comforts that modern science and technology offer. Nigerians are corrupt because they would rather drive than walk kilometres. Nigerians are corrupt because our cars are treated with more value than our roads. Nigerians are corrupt because we have bad roads. And the bad roads have ruined our cars. And they have to pay their mechanics to be able to continue the use of cars. Nigerians are corrupt because they need a new car. Nigerians are corrupt because God has invented the private jet.
Nigerians are corrupt because their religious. Look, heaven helps those who help themselves. they have been taught this since Nigerians was born , that the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong. Because their religion insists that they will prosper only through divine favour. Because they have been assured that success does not come through hard work. Because they have seen people succeed in life without hard work; because they must give “their testimony” too, someday. Nigerians are corrupt because they have pay their tithes.
Nigerians are corrupt because the alternative is dangerous. In the final analysis, the price of honesty outweighs the consequences of corruption. Because there is no safety net for the honest person. Because a N100 note bribe to the policeman is less cumbersome and less problematic than an honest trip to a Nigerian police. Nigerians are corrupt because corruption is a logical process, because integrity is unreasonable. Nigerians are corrupt because corruption is ordinary: a mundane fact of life. Nigerians are corrupt because corruption works.
Nigerians are corrupt because the government is corrupt. And members of the government amass more power and gather more wealth. Worse, the lawmakers have legalised corruption and they simply allot public funds to themselves through the law. Yet, the economy of the country hasn’t changed: the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Because the government has an anti-corruption crusade but it has no welfare agenda. Because those who claim to tackle corruption belong to the corrupt system. Nigerians are corrupt because Nigerians don’t trust the government.
Nigerians are corrupt because the system is corrupt. Because this country is a public limited company whose majority shares are held by looters. Because this is the Federal Republic of Nigeria Plc. Where corruption is the price of a sizeable shareholding. Because honest people don’t get to own a stake in the country. Because any Nigerian can become the president but a corrupt person stands a better chance.
Because shares in the government are traded by the insiders. Nigerians are corrupt because this is an unregulated stock market. Nigerians are corrupt because they want to stop corruption. Nigerians are corrupt because almost every body is a social activist. Nigerians are corrupt because they cannot change the system from without. They have to join the system if they want to change the system. Nigerians have to win an election if they want to join the system. They have to join the party if they want to win an election. Nigerians are corrupt because they are fighting corruption.. You must be a Nigerian for you to understand why Nigerians are corrupt.
Kparobo Ehvwubare is a journalist, social crusader writes from Delta State, marksbare@gmail.com
