Corruption is Nigeria's bane, say Oshiomhole, Akinyemi, others
By Fred Okoror, Political Corresponent
AGAIN, eminent Nigerians have identified corruption as the bane of the nation's socio-political and economic development, warning that the vice could wipe the country out of the surface of the earth if something urgent is not done about it.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, Prof. Jerry Gana, President Olusegun Obasanjo's Special Adviser on Political Matters and former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi amongst others spoke against the social malaise yesterday, at the late Dr Samuel Odunaike's Memorial Lecture held in Lagos.
Oshiomhole criticised the Federal Government's attitude towards the fight against corruption, stressing that it appears that it was deliberately chasing shadows while leaving the substance.
The NLC President listed several points to support his position including giving National Merit Awards to questionable characters in the country, has rubbished the government's anti corruption policy.
"Most Nigerians are not convinced that the government has the wherewithal to fight corruption. What we have seen so far on the side of the government is mere pontification and sermonisation, because President Obasanjo's government has only succeeded in rewarding corrupt people through the national merit award instead of punishing them."
In his speech, Gana said that the fight against corruption was not for the Federal Government alone, adding that instead of blaming the government for the level of corruption in the country, all hands should be on deck to complement its efforts.
Delivering his paper, the guest speaker, Prof. Akinyemi defined corruption as the "acquisition of that to which one is not entitled."
Tracing the history of corruption in Nigeria, Akinyemi said the malaise dated back to the pre-colonial days.
"In June 2004, the media was awash with celebrations of 200 years of the Caliphate Jihad. One of the reasons that was advanced for the Jihad was corruption by the ruling elite. A study of the history of the Yoruba Kingdoms shows stipulated penalties for corruption right up to exiling or death of the ruling monarchs.
"The colonial period was characterised by more widespread corruption. This is often not understood. Firstly, the whole process of colonisation as earlier stated was a forceful and illegal acquisition of other people�s land and property. Secondly, colonialism led to a breakdown of the norms and values which had held society together," he said.
On the way forward, he said that the war against corruption should not be waged by government alone but must be undertaken by all sectors of the society.
Earlier, Monday night at the launching of N20 million Endowment Fund for the late Odunaike, a cleric and the pioneer General Overseer of the Four Square Gospel Church, in Lagos, Dr. Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, former presidential aspirant of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Wilson Badejo, incumbent General Overseer of Four Square and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, also highlighted the negative effects of corruption in the country.
The dignitaries took their turn to speak on the topic of the night.
Afikuyomi warned that the various steps that had been taken by the Federal Government to check the menace would be meaningless, unless purposeful actions were adopted to reduce the level of poverty in the country.
He said poverty has compelled most people to lose their sense of reasoning, thereby "compelling them to do anything on earth to survive the harsh economic condition they found themselves."
Delivering a paper entitled: "Corruption: A battle Nigeria must win," the Guest Speaker, Ogunsanwo, argued that corruption has totally permeated all aspects of Nigerian life, that no meaningful discussion could be had on any aspect of our national life without talking on the subject-matter.
"For the past 10 years or even more, Nigeria has consistently been rated by Transparency International in their perception index as either the most corrupt or the second or the third most corrupt country in the world. In spite of this shameful label, the country has not been able to break free from the shackles with which corruption has tied down her great destiny."
In his welcome address, Badejo, said the late Odunaike, in whose honour the foundation was being laid, would continue to mean many things to those who knew him, during his sojourn on earth.
He described the late cleric as a leader, father, mentor, an administrator, preacher, crusader an evangelist.
Badejo said: "Odunaike was a general of a colossal status, a great soul of our time. A motivator and mentor to many. He was not only a gift to the Four Square Gospel Church in Nigeria with an ever abounding grace that flowed beyond the church but also to other denominations within and outside the country and the continent of Africa."
