Winning the corruption battle

Winning the corruption battle

THE emergence of democratic rule in the country after about one and a half decades of military misrule has brought to the fore several nagging questions about our national values and the consequent breakdown of the moral fabric of the nation. Perhaps, excluding the military regimes of the Late General Murtala Mohammed and General Mohammadu Buhari, no government at the national level has ever frowned at corruption and lack of transparency in the discharge of public affairs by occupants of public office. Lack of transparency more often creates room for corruption. Against this backdrop, one views with cautious interest President Olusegun Obasanjo's avowed crusade against corruption. In his declaration speech for the presidential race under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on November 3, 1998, he had expressed disgust over the frightening dimension corruption had assumed in the country: "What is worrisome is that corrupt practices have become acceptable and people are no longer shocked by the magnitude of official corruption which come to light regularly. Those accused of corrupt practices are often welcomed home by their communities with pomp and pageantry and often honoured."

To buttress is aversion for corruption and its retrogressive consequences for the nation, Obasanjo had declared on his inauguration on Saturday May 29, 1999 as President of Nigeria: "Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today will be tackled head-on at all levels ... no society can achieve anything near its full potential if it allows corruption to become full-blown cancer it has become in Nigeria." The President believes in institutional framework for fighting the scourge of corruption. The result is the Justice Mustapha Akanbi Commission against corruption and other allied offences.

The acid test and, in fact, the greatest challenge to the Akanbi Commission is the contract scandal in the National Assembly where properly constituted panel has indicted the leadership of both chambers of the Legislature. Also, the offensive display of naira notes as exhibits of an alleged case of bribery on the floor of the House of Representatives should be thoroughly investigated. The two cases are particularly significant because the lawmakers made an input into the anti-graft bill before it was assented to by the President. Therefore, any resort to political rather than judicial resolution of those issues will deal a fatal blow to the commission. It will have to prove if the law is meant for some Nigerians while others are sacred cows.

Members of the House of Representatives are divided over the issue of lack of honesty and transparency against its leadership. Two cleavages are now discernible; those for transparency and those against it. This is not strange. Across the country, many Houses of Assembly have effected changes in their leadership ignited more often by issues of financial merry-go-round. Contracts were awarded with impunity without regard for laid-down procedures. Legislative business has had to suffer on account of squabbles over largesse, sometimes from the executive arm of government. The skirmishes are endless. But the people suffer the brunt of the legislative laxity.

At the local level, a few examples from Delta State will give a more vivid picture of the gross insensitivity of our politicians at that tier of government. At the last count, not less than five local government chairmen have been suspended and eventually reinstated by the legislators of the respective councils or through the super structure of the state House of Assembly. Most of these cases have to do with financial recklessness and lack of transparency on the part of the chairmen.

However, the case of Burutu Local Government is more instructive. One of the oldest councils in the country and, in fact, the oldest in Delta State, it bears the unfortunate tag of "a difficult terrain"; the only means of transport is by boat. It is completely Riverine. Over the years, successive state governments have refused to site any social amenity in the local government area often explained away as the "difficult terrain" factor. Unfortunately, the present crop of leaders are based in Warri from where they administer the affairs of the council. They hop in only when there are very urgent state functions to attend to.

To inculcate the spirit of transparency in governance, politicians in particular must imbibe the spirit of selfless service and relegate the urge for material wealth to the background. Politicians must take pride in leaving enduring legacies behind for their people. This should be the driving force to serve. Politics should not be seen as a means to an end. A determined and vigorous efforts should be made to apply the appropriate provisions of the anti-graft law against offenders. It is obvious that most of the parvenu politicians in the corridors of power today acquired their wealth through massive larceny of the public till in the recent past. But, unfortunately, those questionable characters are applauded by the society and in particular the youth who see them as their models.

Public declaration of assets by politicians at all levels of government on assumption of office while subscribing to their relevant oaths of office should be given a constitutional provision. In this respect, the shinning example offered by Governor Umaru Yar'Adua of Katsina State should be emulated by others. How many of his colleagues have stood up to that challenge, remains to be seen. Leadership entails sacrifice and suffering which means parting with some personal comfort, as the late sage, Tai Solarin, once counselled in an article in The Guardian, Tuesday May 24, 1994, titled "Leadership means suffering." "And no man who has anything to hide can lead a nation. Nigerian leadership must assume a new orientation and resolve to give rather than take .... A leadership that is not ready to suffer can never lead a great nation."

Provision must be made for reward for honesty. Those who have proved themselves in that regard should be given a pat on the back. Such rewards could be in form of national awards or cash awards depending on the social status of the beneficiary. This will make others who cut corners to know that it pays to be honest. In some instances, honesty itself does not exist in a vacuum. It has several variables to it. The environment of the individual, his upbringing, his economic power, the values and such and such other extraneous factors shape his propensity for uprightness. In this regard, conscious efforts should be made to address the issue of a living wage for workers, especially in the public service of the nation.

Of great importance is the need for Nigerians to insist and ask questions on how their resources are being managed by those elected to do so on their behalf. Political apathy and indifference are just one of the potent licenses on which corrupt officials reap from the public treasury. It is one of the cardinal indices of democracy that questions be asked wherever and whenever necessary. Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) with bias for good governance should torment public officers to account for their stewardship. Whenever there are doubts, clarification should be sought and satisfactory explanations offered. That is precisely where the lot of the press becomes invaluable. The President must be ready to expose at all times cases of corruption. Their redounding investigative skills should be deployed to make the new democracy and our nation a better place. The press has succeeded in removing the initial doubtful leadership of the House of Representative. But the reported financial indiscretion of the present leadership is quite alarming.

The advent of a group seeking to probe the alleged financial recklessness of the House leadership is a good omen for democracy. A leadership which has nothing to hide will not hesitate to subject itself to public scrutiny.

Balebo lives in Warri, Delta