The Influential Thieves

Hakeem babalola

The headline-grapping news is shocking and mocking. Nigerian public officials are flamboyant deceivers; they attract us with tricks and jokes while enjoying authority stealing. “What’s Always Wrong with These Our Public Officials?” These people aren’t mad but thieves. And they should be treated as such. Period!

“What’s Always Wrong with These Our Public Officials?” I am aware that the question being asked sounds trite and commonplace. Social critics, political commentators, professional or citizen journalists, even ordinary woman in the street speak and discuss about this question on a daily basis. In fact, I have stolen this question from one of the Nigerian home videos in which one of the protagonists asks the question with frustration and dashing hopes clearly written on his face. Moreover, I had once or twice admitted that Nigerian social critics often repeat an earlier theme of a composition. This is because the events in Nigeria today are a repeat of yesterday’s.

Nigeria is in trouble. Another cliché, isn’t it? It has been in trouble since inception. It will continue to be in trouble in the next fifty years, even if care is taken. Call me a pessimist if you like. This is scary but nobody would be able to prevent it. And unless the daily news reports from Nigeria are false. There are too many injustices and dishonesty in the land. Hypocrisy and authority stealing are glorified, even by those being oppressed. There are too many unbelievable reports about our public officials, including Mr. Presidents. They behave as if they are animals dealing with animals. And Nigerians, it seems, are just too weak to check the immoderations of their public officials?

Just imagine these headlines: “Aso Rock budgets N2.3million daily for refreshment....N1.5m for eye glasses; EFCC: Waziri vows to step on toes, pursue Govs, LG chairmen; Two ex-ministers arrested over N19.5 billion aviation fund; Austrian contractor confesses -"I bribed Borishade N1 billion"; N4.5bn fraud: EFCC arrests another NAMA chief; EFCC set to arrest beneficiaries of PEF fund; EFCC trails three Northern ex-governors; Ex-Gov, minister, army general, reporters fingered in PE car gift scandal; Okonjo Iwela linked with N19.5b aviation scam; Why I gave N1.5m to fake EFCC operatives —Edo commissioner; EFCC: How Ex-Gov Stole N1.5billion In Five Months – Court Puts Him under House restriction; How Emirs, senators shared 65,755 tons of grains meant for starving Nigerians; NPA fraud: EFCC launches manhunt for Bode George…

64 million Nigerian youths jobless; Health workers to go on strike; teachers vow not to end strike Obasanjo’s administration spent N86.3bn on railway project; How Obasanjo’s govt killed automotive industry-report; Why power supply is deteriorating daily-PHCN; EFCC accuses states, councils of squandering funds; Waziri wants psychiatric tests for public officers; The Scandal of the judges: How Osun Tribunal Was Compromised; Ogun NUJ President resigns over graft; N78m spent on Sallah rams lands DG in EFCC net; How Alao-Akala looted over 1bn in 11 months; Yar’Adua, VP spend N655.97m on foreign trips; Accountant General lists points of corruption in govt; Exposed! $800m Fraud Rocks PPMC…ICPC Moves In; How judge, eight others concealed N1.4bn 2007 unspent funds-EFCC; and so on and so forth.”

Now tell me how a right thinking Nigerian would not be angry and sad over these kinds of reports? Now tell me exactly how the nation could progress under this circumstance? Now tell me why I should not repeat myself? Now tell me what other solutions to offer that have not been offered by the experts, analysts and concerned Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora? Hadji Alade Odunewu, chairman Board of Trustees, Nigerian Media Print Awards, uses cynicism, frustration, despair, dungeon and hunger to describe the depth of authority stealing among public officials.

“For lack of better description,” said Odunewu at the public presentation of Chief Dayo Duyile’s Three Books. “We have lately been witnesses to what I call a festival of Probes in the National Assembly, all of which continues to expose high profile looting, greed and thievery in high places. This should not surprise you. The background to the perfidy has to do with the perception politicians in developing world have of public office and stewardship. In developing countries, it has been said that politics is concerned with sharing out a pitifully small national cake”.

In her own efforts, Mrs Farida Waziri, chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recently echoed Prof. Wole Soyinka’s thorough psychiatric tests for all aspiring public office holders. Speaking during a visit by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), to the commission in Abuja to seek its collaboration in fighting corruption, Waziri was reported to have said: “most of the negative character traits exhibited by public officers in the country, especially massive looting of the treasury, are symptoms of mental illness”. Even former President Obasanjo had made a similar call before he became Nigerian president in 1999.

What else should I add? Nigerians are suffering. Nigerians are dying. Nigerians want to enjoy basic amenities. Another cliché, isn’t it? Are Nigerians demanding for too much? Perhaps! In Nigeria, it is part of class struggle for the rich to see the poor begging them for amala or tuwo or isiewu. Life is not complete unless our public officials find someone to oppress. After which they would invoke the name of God. “Allah is the one who appointed me,” is now a common parlance. And the masses in bittersweet moment would shout hallelujah.

What could make our public officials so daring in the way they steal? Further cliché, isn’t it? Surely it’s not because they are mad, so I consider the recommendation of psychiatric tests by Prof. Wole Soyinka and others as literary. I think the Nigerian society is contributing immensely to this horrendous official thievery that has shaken our cities. Each time public official assumed office, their family, relations, friends and even colleagues immediately put them under intense pressure. They would admonish them saying, “Oh, by tomorrow you shall be in tears over lost opportunities.”

If authority stealing is treated as armed robbery, I doubt if any senator or governor or local chairman would be so audacious in the way they steal. I agree with Mrs. Waziri assertion, “If a man is punished for violating the laws of the land others who are of like mind will be deterred.” In addition, we need honest declaration and leadership by example before we can be able to curb authority stealing. Also, we must guide against any kind of expression not supported by real conviction. Unfortunately each regime has been unable to implement leadership by example. In fact, every regime has made mockery of curbing official thievery.

Apart from excessive stealing, incompetence is another cliché in our dictionary. Our public officials are too relaxed in the course of discharging their duties. They don’t see the opportunity as a call to serve but a heaven to accumulate necessary and unnecessary wealth. From the local chairman to the president, no one is reliable. Otherwise many social and cultural issues plaguing the country today would have been resolved. It’s quite unbelievable that our public officials are in the habit of referring to themselves as patriots. What kind of nationalistic thinkers would prefer to die in the United Kingdom, or even acquire dual citizenship?

I strongly believe eight years as a local chairman or governor or president is enough to effect a positive change in the lives of citizens. One year or two could be devoted to health care system; another two years to education; power could take one or two years; and the remaining years for other infrastructures and equally important issues that could progress a nation. But what we often heard is loud and confused and empty talk. The Niger Delta issue is a typical example of such grandiosity. It’s rhetoric masquerading as promise since time immemorial. Virtually every government has been insincere in an effort to usher peace and justice in the region.

After almost 50 years, the Nigerian govt still lacks knowledge about governance. Public officials are deliberately wasting time on issues, especially Niger Delta, a region where oil – Nigeria’s main revenue – is being produced. Niger Deltans have water but thirsty; they have wealth yet remain poor. Nigerian public officials are flamboyant deceivers; they attract us with tricks and jokes while enjoying authority stealing. The headline-grapping news is shocking and mocking. These people aren’t mad but thieves. And we should treat them as such. Period! No wonder Gen. Yakubu Gowon, ex-Head of State excused himself from the Niger Delta summit chairmanship. He knows it‘d amount to the usual rhetoric.

What’s wrong with these people? I mean, who would have predicted that FESTAC Town and Jakande Estate for example, would one day be flooded with crocodiles and water respectively? Who would have predicted that education, health care and other social facilities will be so rotten in a country once called Giant of Africa? So decayed that Mr. President prefers to be siphoned abroad for treatment! So crappy that the Education Minister prefers sending his children overseas for schooling! The worst injustice is when public officials use the instruments of state to cheat citizens. It’s worse than armed robbery, for armed robbery is armed robbery while government is governance; it’s basic duty being to protect citizens.

Even the National Assembly and the Senate that supposed to hold the executive arms of government responsible is as incompetent as ever. They seem to be in the House for their own pocket. We had witnessed what is now popularly called Ghana-Must-Go being exchanged in both the Lower and Upper Houses. As a result, our representatives often compromise their civic duties. Since there’s no one to make these erring public officials accountable, they become audacious explorers; invulnerable to fear of any kind. In the process therefore, the judiciary, legislature and the executive become one. And they surely have the ability to cajole the masses. What’s always wrong with these our public officials?

This piece is dedicated to all those who are genuinely analysing, discussing and writing about Nigeria for a possible permanent solution. They should not relent on their efforts no matter what.