[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Nigeria today, only the poor thief goes to jail. This is the reason the poor in spirit do all they can to steal big and unbelievably, and even have the effrontery to brag about their targets: $1 billion, $2 billion, $5 billion dollars. What can you do when they become ‘mega men’ and buy their way through everything including the President?
The reality is that while those in authority mouth a strong fight against corruption and pick up their detractors to be sacrificed as scapegoats, it is increasingly lucrative to steal big and pitch tent with the establishment just as the country continues to nosedive to economic and social cataclysm. Who cares? And the fact is that even if a Buhari is President means nothing, as big thieves still find safe havens in the establishment.
Truth is, as Nigeria continues to celebrate and reward criminality, it will remain the greatest homegrown inhibitor to our development. It’s not a battle that rhetoric can win. The body language of the system drivers appears complicit and even emboldens audacious attempts at undermining Nigeria economically and tithing the spoils to stay afloat.
This is our Nigeria and Femi Odewunmi, a truly patriotic soul, championing national rebirth, has a herculean task at convincing the vast majority that there’s something to believe in about a country with such a reprehensible character.
Oraye St. Franklyn, a strategic communicator and good governance advocate, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He tweets from @RealOraye. He is also on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
