Corruption, viewed as conducting one’s self with intent to confer advantage inconsistent with official line of duty and the rights of others, or use of a station or office to procure some benefit either personally or for someone else, remains a serious affliction on the Nigerian polity and its elimination is seemingly an attempt at deciphering a jigsaw puzzle. At the same time, it must not be used as a political tool to fight perceived political enemies as we had noted in recent times.
Let genuine cases be attended to if we are to win the war against corruption, as the country has hardly achieved any meaningful social, political, or economic development, as essential factors such as unbiased and patriotic zeal and total commitment to duty by anti-graft agencies are undermined.
Undeniably, corruption continues to inflict severe damage on Nigeria’s reputation, both locally and internationally. A former British Prime Minister once infamously described Nigerians as “fantastically corrupt.” While this statement may sound like a sweeping generalisation or a relic of colonial disdain, there is, unfortunately, some grain of truth in it.
The establishment of anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside numerous anti-corruption laws, underscores the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria and the urgent need to confront it headlong.
The nation’s media is frequently inundated with reports of corruption cases, ranging from the gross misappropriation of public funds by unscrupulous officials to cybercrimes perpetrated by youths driven by the “get-rich-quick” syndrome. High-profile arrests and prosecutions of former public officials by anti-graft agencies often raise public expectations of progress in the fight against corruption.
However, the mere existence of laws and anti-corruption agencies is not enough. As a political leader once remarked, “corruption is fighting back.” High-profile cases often linger indefinitely in court, with few convictions secured, while cases involving ordinary citizens are swiftly prosecuted with efficiency.
Selective justice and the protection of certain individuals as “sacred cows” undermine the fight against corruption. For Nigeria to win this war, corruption must be treated as the mortal enemy it is. Any nation that fails to kill corruption will ultimately be destroyed by it.
Against this backdrop, we urge security operatives, anti-graft agencies and most importantly, the judiciary to intensify their efforts in the war against corruption, regardless of who is implicated. While we commend recent strides, particularly the EFCC’s crackdown on cybercrime suspects, there is more to do to ensure cases are prosecuted to their logical conclusion.
Of particular concern is the lack of significant action against those accused of sponsoring terrorism. The activities of such individuals have not only cost Nigeria billions in arms procurement but have also claimed countless innocent lives. This inertia is both troubling and unacceptable.
Furthermore, corruption perpetuates mediocrity and ineptitude by prioritising racketeering over merit. No nation can achieve meaningful development in an environment rife with corrupt practices.
The time to act is now. Nigeria must take decisive and urgent steps to stem the tide of corruption and pave the way for a more just, prosperous and equitable society.
