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The 419 Scourge And Obasanjo’s War On Corruption By Dozie Ikem Ezeife, Esq. Oakland, California For several weeks now, Nigerians have been heaping encomiums on President Olusegun Obasanjo for his apparent resolve to finally wage war on corruption in government. His new found zeal came to the fore in the wake of Njoku-gate controversy and culminated in the decision to finally put IGP Balogun on trial for corruption. While one lauds the President’s effort, one must hasten to draw attention of the President to one aspect of corruption that one considers more damaging to our nation than corruption in government. It is the destructive impact of the white collar crime popularly known as “419”. While one does not minimize the obvious impact of corruption in government on our body politic, it must be stressed that the 419 scourge inflicts debilitating blows to our economy, our collective reputation and our national standing amongst the committee of nations. It indeed does violence to the psyche of Nigerians especially those of us in Diaspora. 419 have made it impossible for the nation to grow its economy. It has made nonsense of our President’s effort to attract foreign investment to Nigeria. On a micro level, it is increasingly becoming impossible for Nigerian businessmen and women to do business overseas. It is common knowledge that once you are identified as a Nigerian, nobody wants to do business with you no matter how legitimate and/or lucrative your business proposal. Nigerians have collectively and communally been branded rogues. Foreigners and foreign business interests can no longer trust Nigerians. And for good reason. The savvy and sophistication of the scams that originate from Nigerian and from some Nigerians have made it impossible for our neighbours to draw the line between good and bad Nigerians. The apparent lack of effort by our government to mount an effective campaign against this cancer has not helped the situation. It has gotten so bad that ebay and other web-driven marketing outlets outrightly refuse to deal with Nigerians. And they so clearly advertise on their sites. It is very embarrassing. No Nigerian or Nigerian business can dream of buying merchandize overseas on credit anymore. Nobody will extend credit facilities to Nigerian businesses. Even when Nigerians tender negotiable instruments such as checks, travelers’ checks, money orders, etc., merchants will not torch them with a seven foot pole. It is very sad. The foreign media is having a field day with this topic. It has been featured in several prominent programs in the Americas and in Europe. The popular news program 60 minutes have ran episodes on it. The American public radio (KQED) did a 2 hour program on 419 on April 25, 2005. It is indeed becoming difficult for Nigerians in Diaspora to identify with Nigeria. I have personally seen many a Nigerian claim Ghanaian, South African and even Jamaica nationality in a bid to avoid the embarrassment that shadows your identity as a Nigerian. That is how bad things have gotten. If the sons and daughters of Nigeria feel embarrassed to identify with Nigeria, what then is left of our dear nation? One is therefore convinced that Obasanjo’s war against corruption ought to be extended to the eradication of this disease before it completely consumes our nation. There are several ways to combat this scourge and one makes bold to suggest the following: 1. The Federal Government should immediately constitute a separate security agency to be charged with the sole responsibility of tracking, monitoring, collating information and data, apprehending and prosecuting these criminals; 2. The National Assembly should pass a specific legislation on 419 and provide therein stiff penalties for persons convicted under the law. This would act both as deterrence to future crimes as well as proof to the International Community that Nigeria is prepared to cleanse herself of this stigma. Recall the decisive manner in which the Buhari/Idiagbon regime dealt with cocaine smuggling in 1984 by executing the culprits. That singular act, albeit harsh, really stopped that activity dead in its tracks; 3. The enforcement agency should cooperate with Interpol and other foreign law enforcement agencies to track and apprehend both the initiators and “victims” of this crime; 4. The government, in conjunction with the mass media should embark on massive public education and moral re-armament of Nigerians through radio and Television jingles as well as public lectures; 5. The government must commence the implementation of social and economic policies that would help promote the private sector creation of jobs in the economy so that our unemployed youth and young adults will have viable alternatives to white collar crimes; 6. The Church, Mosques and civil society must join in this fight to reverse the moral decay that is threatening to destroy our nation. In that bid, traditional rulers and musicians who shower titles and praises on people with dubious financial backgrounds will do well to be circumspect in their rush to recognize overnight success. 7. Finally, our political leaders must also supply the moral leadership. One cannot win election today and in a few weeks one is cruising round town in a new Hummer and expects youngsters not to develop the get-rich quick mindset. Our leaders must no longer expect us to do what they say and not what they do. They must lead by example. If the government implements all or some of the foregoing programs, we may be able to stem this moral slide that is slowly but surely dragging our nation to the precipice. Dozie Ikem Ezeife, Esq. Oakland, California
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