Corruption Related Crimes

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Plato

 

Not too sure what the above quote has to do with the schematic of this write-up, whatever it is though, the quote kept haunting me throughout this weekend of bad news.

I got a call from my mum on saturday afternoon, I agreed to grudgingly meet up with her (Saturday is my day of rest and I seldom meet up with anyone). She broke the bad news; a 22 year old boy with a bright future ahead of him had just died in a road accident involving a motorbike (okada) he was in. He had gone to town for some engagements and had contacted his father as part of a routine to pick him up at a junction close to their home, they waited, and he never turned up.

This young man I can say we are family friends because we have been attending the same church for years and his parents and mine have struck a friendship. This young man was someone I knew, he was a good kid too.

A lot of people are sad, a family thrown into mourning for a death that could have been very well avoided. I blame corruption for this, I blame past corrupt governments for this, and I blame lawless Nigerians for this and many other avoidable deaths. May the blood of those who have died directly or indirectly from corruption related crimes forever haunt those who have taken deliberate action to divert money meant for the good of the nation into their personal pockets.

There is a reason why our life expectancy is 54 years old and we rank 177 in the world life expectancy ranking statistics. Apart from the chronic diseases that can kill anyone in the world, try driving on Nigerian roads, you will be lucky to make it to 54 years old.  People are lawless; people have their young impressionable kids in their cars but still beat traffic lights, climb on curbs and display a very high level of irresponsibility. You are stupid if you wait for the traffic light to pass you in some instances in this country you know? If you think I am exaggerating come towards Shoprite apo resettlement, Abuja area during rush hour and you will be amazed.

If this young man was living in a more responsible country, I doubt that he would have died the way he did. Nigeria as we have always been told is a country with plenty of resources, hell people have been stealing billions of dollars for years so there must be some truth to that tale right? If we are as rich as we have been told for ages why don’t we have good roads, efficient public transportation system, and power etcetera, why? Simple, since 1969, government has wasted every opportunity to help the citizens of Nigeria develop. So I blame most problems we face today on Nigerian politicians of the past, if they did their jobs we would have time to start Petitions about ‘sexist pricing’ like the Brits, or some other random luxurious petitions and not the constant moaning about basic amenities we have to consistently busy ourselves with.   

My theory on corruption related crime is simple, if a government has resources and refuses to upgrade its infrastructure or refuses to invest in better means of transportation for its people, when someone dies because of this neglect the government is to blame. Nigeria has had ample opportunity since we became independent in 1960 to improve the lives of her citizens, unfortunately successive governments have continually blown it.

Imagine that we had functioning trains, trams, buses, bicycle routes, researchers continually working on new ways to improve the public transportation sector etcetera, I am positive that many lives would not have been lost the way they have. For one, the option of getting on a motorcycle will not be in the equation because it will not even be a means of transport.

I just wish people that steal and divert public funds understand that they are committing a crime with the potential of leading to the deaths of hundreds of Nigerians. If you work in a public office and you are given money to buy arms or construct roads please do it, you can never tell who you will kill if you refuse to.   

This tragedy has affected me in many ways, for one I know I will work to ensure Nigeria is a better place for my children. L L L L L

RIP young man, Nigeria has wasted another soul. Sad! Sad! Sad! Avoidable Death..


NB: Next time you vouch for a thieving politician because he is from your village or whatever remember that his actions or inactions have led to many deaths.

 

           

 



'Nigerian Syndrome'

"One upside to this regime of Upward tax revenues is that it might finally break Nigerians out of default mumu-mode re govt accountability" Tolu Ogunlesi

 

I read the above quote yesterday and it had me in stiches because I completely agree with Mr. Tolu on this issue of increased taxes and how it might push Nigerians to hold government more accountable. I am so glad that oil prices are going to the gutters and we have been forced to work on loop-holes and force the government to think of new ways to generate revenue. 

For those of you not on social media or avid radio listeners you perhaps didn’t get wind of the various interpretations given to the move by the government to implement provisions of the Stamp Duties Act and Federal Government Financial Regulations of 2009. Some radio presenters said you will be charged 50 naira on every 1000 naira received, some others said it is one 50 naira charge for a total amount received over 1000 naira. I wonder what the facts are, the Nigerian conventional media is known for speculating instead of conducting proper research and presenting facts. Whatever the facts are taxes are going up in one way or the other yaaay!

 
So back to why I agree with Mr Tolu, my number one reason is the attitude of many Nigerians to this fight against past corrupt officials. I have been shocked my many responses when I have discussed with people about these ex-politicians or government officials with massive corruption cases hanging over their heads. People say things like: 'The government is focusing too much on corruption', 'why are they only chasing ex-PDP members' 'Let’s start the probe from 1960', 'he only stole 100 million naira' and other ridiculous statements.

 
Obviously people do not understand why 'countries' and 'government structures' were formed in the first place; if they did they will definitely not be talking like that. Better still, if people pay over 40 percent of their income in some form of taxes to the government I will be damned if they feel sympathy towards an alleged thieving politician or government official.

I was told a story of a Swedish politician (read up on the Mona Sahlin"Toblerone affair") who lost an election and destroyed her political career because the media revealed that she had bought some chocolates with her government credit card. Harsh? definitely, but the Swedes pay over 40percent of their incomes in taxes and I will be damned if they ever feel sorry for a anyone connected to corruption let alone put anyone with a shady past in charge of their finances. Obviously all countries get it wrong sometimes but in this case though I am certain that the government increasing taxes will make us hold them to account more and stop making excuses for criminals. Things like vandalisation of properties will also reduce when people understand that it is their tax that is used to build infrastructure and not some free for all crude oil produce (death to oil).  

NIGERIAN SYNDROME: "A play on the Stockholm syndrome, is a psychological condition where Nigerians feel sympathy towards government officials and politicians who have looted all their resources and mortgaged their futures". T

I will not be drawn into interpreting this document abeg! Interpret the document on the CBN website on your own and draw your own conclusions, God Bless Nigeria and No Place Else! You can also have a quick glance at the CBN directive sent to the banks below: