‘Corruption is not the cause of
all the problems confronting Africa. In terms of security, Boko Haram is the
biggest challenge we (Nigeria) have at the moment’
The above statement depicts a man
without knowledge of the difference between cause and effect of underdevelopment
in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general and is not expected to come from
a member of the academia; yet the quote was credited to President Goodluck
Jonathan at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
while making his contribution to a televised debate titled ‘Africa’s Next
Billion.’
For the President to say that
corruption is not the major problem facing development in Nigeria shows the
level of disconnect between the Ruling Class and over 100million Nigerians
living in abject poverty and clearly reveals why government is busy romancing
with officers indicted of corruption. Instead of government to face and tackle
the root cause of Nigeria underdevelopment, government is busy hiding under
Effect of poverty caused by monumental endemic corruption and mismanagement of
public fund.
It is most unfortunate that our
President has a “kindergarten” understanding of corruption
and its concomitant effects. He seizes every speaking opportunity to make
excuses why he cannot fight corruption. Boko Haram, Kidnapping and other
security problems facing Nigeria is just effect of massive poverty in the
country maintained and serviced by endemic corruption and misappropriation of
public fund. For example, 2014 budget proposal presented to National Assembly
for approval has about 70% of the 4.6 trillion budgeted as recurrent expenditure
while about 30% for capital expenditure;
yet the budget was titled ‘2014 Budget for Job Creation and Inclusive Growth’. It
is only the government will explain how 30% of the budget can provide
employment for over 100million unemployed Nigerians. This depicts the sincerity
of the government to tackle security and unemployment problems facing Nigeria development.
Studies have shown that people
will not be available to commit violent crime if they are meaningfully engaged
in productive activities. With massive youth unemployment (0ver 60%), it is
normal and expected that many unproductive energetic youths are available to be
recruited by unscrupulous Nigerians for selfish reasons. This is just a clear
logic of Cause and Effect relations.
No wonder why the present
government has shown lackadaisical attitude towards fight against corruption in
Nigeria. Some of the probes that show lack of political will to
decisively deal with the menace of corruption include: The KPMG report that
indicted the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation for corrupt practices; the
Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative audit report exposing 10
years of corruption in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas
industry; the probe of the Pension Fund Management by the Senate Joint
Committee on Public Service and Establishment, State and Local Government
Administration; the Security and Exchange Commission probe that exposed
alarming revelations of corruption in the capital market; the probe of the oil
subsidy regime by the Ad hoc- committee of the House of Representatives; the
non-prosecution of those indicted in the Halliburton LNG bribery scandal,
the recent Stella Oduah BMW scandal and the unsatisfactory explanation the NNPC
has given for the $10.8bn of crude oil earning the Central Bank of Nigeria declared
missing. The major problem is that most of this reports if not all has
been swept under the carpet; with government still romancing and fraternising
with indicted officers.
It is time government directly
face the root cause of Nigeria development problem instead of beating round the
bush.
