Aisha Alhassan, the ministerial nominee of President Muhammadu Buhari during her senate screening was quoted to have said that "Stealing is not corruption", a statement which re-echoed the words of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan; a statement for which he was criticised and mocked by many Nigerians and fellow politicians.
After Mrs Aisha Alhassan's statement, many supporters of the ex-president took to social media to scream on how Aisha's words have vindicated the ex-president- either we are suffering from mass illiteracy in Nigeria or we are selfishly playing mischief with important issues that affects us all but I will rather believe the latter.
Since some Nigerians and our politicians do not know what corruption is or entails, at this point it becomes paramount on ordinary well meaning Nigerians to remind and educate our politicians that stealing remains corruption except if Nigerians have a special dictionary which re-defines what corruption is and what corruption stands for.
Corruption comes in different form and sometimes, it is defined based on the place it is used.
According to dictionary, the word corruption can be seen as follows:
1. Dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers)
2. Impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle :depravity
3. Decay, decomposition
4. inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery)
If we start from the first definition, we can undoubtedly deduce that when a government official steals funds meant for the well being of a country, he is not only being dishonest to his people, he is engaging in an illegal behavior.
When we lump the rest of the definitions to together, we would agree that when a public official steals, it is undoubtedly impairment to his integrity,virtue and most importantly moral principles. Be it religious or otherwise.
According to Wikipedia, "In philosophical, theological, or moral discussions, corruption is the abuse of bestowed power or position to acquire a personal benefit. Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement. Government, or 'political', corruption occurs when an office-holder or other governmental employee acts in an official capacity for personal gain".
When our public office holders can publicly claim stealing is not corruption, then it leaves you wondering if it is an excuse for them to engage in further looting or "look away" while public funds are syphoned by a greedy few.
Corruption have killed more people in Africa than Ebola and every other disease combined.
When you steal funds meant for roads, schools, infrastructure,hospital and thereby putting lives of your subject in danger; then you are not only corrupt, you are evil- something which works "hand in hand".
Most corruption deals with stealing, and as such pinpoints in every sense that stealing covers a large part of corruption that have caused many deaths.
When a government official steals money meant for the public healthcare and thereby exposing her subject to vulnerable diseases or illness without any shield or plans to protect them, then that remains corruption of the highest order- One which might cause deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
The Ebola crisis that took many West African countries by surprise is an example of it. The countries worst affected have little healthcare services to prevent further spreading or properly isolate those with the disease, this led to loss of lives of many.
The very fact that some Nigerians and Our politicians continue to claim that stealing is not corruption, then it is only wise that Nigerians come up with their own version or definition of corruption but as long as we adhere to the general meaning of corruption, then undoubtedly, stealing will always remain corruption- A practice which have left many African nations improvished, destroyed, and underdeveloped with little or no hope for a better tomorrow.
Eedris Ngene
15/10/15d
No comments:
Post a Comment