I recently stumbled on an old book featuring some selected speeches of the former premier of defunct Western region Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in one of the Speech titled "Education as a Means to National Freedom " the Last Nationalist mentioned that "Corruption has been ineradicably ingrained in our system ". He made this statement on the 7th of February 1957 and this is 2016, that makes it 59 years since he made the statement. This bags a million dollars question that "if Corruption was ineradicably ingrained in our system as at 1957, what about now that we're in 2016? This is what inspired this write up.
Morality are principles concerning the difference between right and wrong, good or bad behavior as it affects the people and society at large. The rate of moral decadent in Nigerian society begs for concern and has been on an all time increase over the years, Every time I tuned to news, if it is not that 65 years old man raped a 12years old girl, it will be that a pastor or an Alfa duped a man of all his wealth, if it is not that a politician was arraigned to court, it would be a police shot a commercial bus driver because of 20naira. The decay in our system is so colossal that the level of trust in our society is low. It is now a survival of the fittest. These gross immoralities has been on the news for a long time that people are counting some of it as part of our societal norm.
Where did we got it wrong? History told that corruption in Nigeria started a very long time ago and instead of it to be reduced like a sane society, these filthy practices is rising with time. The most infuriating part is that Nigerian are now categorizing what corruption is. Once people hear corruption, they equate it with embezzlement only. Average Nigerian society don't know embezzlement is just a small fraction of what corruption really is. This same thinking mentality made the Former president Jonathan Goodluck to say on live TV that stealing is not Corruption. This statement is not so farfetched because that is how an average Nigerian thinks.
Now let's define corruption, Corruption according to the Oxford dictionary is willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
Corruption is the use of illegal ways to browse on your phone, Corruption occurs when Civil servants require for extra money before discharging their official duties, corruption occurs when police collect stipend from commercial drivers, corruption occurs when The vice chancellor and other University board members divert money meant for the institution, Nepotism is Corruption, stealing is corruption, Corruption occurs when you jump que in a bank simply because you know the cashier, Corruption also occurs when filling stations sell above stipulated price. These are just few examples of corruption, is in our system.
Now that we know the definition of corruption, let's talk about its effect on our morality. Due to negligence, ignorance or intentionally, Nigerians talk, bath, ate and breathe corruption everyday. The situation has worsened, I even overheard a graduate saying that he is a yahoo boy not a fraudster, the commuters were even saying that the driver should give the police some stipends even after he has shown that all his papers were complete, what about Our religious leaders, they prefer to say what people want to hear, if someone gets rich overnight, they won't ask him or her where he got his money from, all they care about is the tithe offering or fizebililah that the person will pay. Another example of how demoralized we're was the recent twitter trend called #bringbackourcorruption, these set of people are of the opinion that Nigeria with corruption is better than this newly elected government. Remember Josephine Agwu, that Lagos cleaner that returned 12million naira to its rightful owner, the kind of bashing she received on social media is infuriating. Even when you get defrauded or swindled, people would rather abuse you than condemning the act. This is the extent of the effects
How do we eradicate this infectious disease?
Firstly, every Nigerian must first admit that we have a problem with our morals, we need to start asking questions, Yoruba will say "omo yin o se agbafo, oun ko aso wale (your son is not into drycleaning, yet he brings home clothes everyday ), we need to reorientate ourselves on the dangers of immorality in our society and it's effect on next generation, also we need to Stop pressuring our politician with personal needs immediately they assume office, our religion leader and educational institutions should preach moral values not acquisition of material wealth, there should be a probe panels to investigate sources of wealth of all rich men and women in our society. There should be ethic and moral codes for all and those who fall short should be made to face the music.
Then above all, we all know what is right and wrong, let's endeavor to always do the right thing.
Kayode Abiodun can be contacted on twitter @Abiodunsays
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