THE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: DEVOURING OR SHARING THE NATIONAL CAKE?

ABSTRACT

That corruption abounds in Nigeria is an indisputable fact (Agbiboa, 2012). The corrupt man is everywhere, the man on the street, the man next door, the man in the church or mosque, the man in the market or the departmental store, the policeman on beat patrol and the soldier at the check point (Okadigbo, 1987).  My frank and honest opinion is that anybody who can say that corruption in Nigeria has not yet become alarming is either a fool, a crook or else does not live in this country. Corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage (Achebe, 1983). Corruption is a clog in the wheel of progress in Nigeria and has incessantly frustrated the realization of noble national goals, despite the enormous natural and human resources in Nigeria (Ijewereme, 2015). Corruption cases have been on the increase despite anti – corruption crusades (Izekor & Okaro, 2018). The rate of corruption is so high that the Federal House of Representative in Nigera is now contemplating hanging for treasury looters as a solution to corruption (Ige, 2016). Corruption dynamics in Nigeria reveal that politicians and public office bearers in Nigeria have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that they are not able to translate their anti – corruption “gospel” into action; theirs is to devour rather than share the “national cake”. This is very true because, once elected into power, Nigerian politicians, just like other dubious politicians around the world; have a tendency of forgetting about the promises they made during their campaigns and start pursuing other objectives better known to themselves. Today Nigerians continue to languish in extreme poverty and yet Nigeria is one of the few African countries with abundant natural and human resource endowments. Nigerian political leadership (ruling or opposition) should be more serious when dealing with corruption, if economic growth and development is anything to go by in Nigeria. In the fight against corruption, Nigerian political leaders should simply lead by example! This study seeks to demystify the dynamics of both political and electoral corruption in Nigeria in relation to the Nigerian political landscape. Amongst other policy recommendations, the study urges Nigerian politicians to walk their talk on corruption.

Key Words: Corruption, Electoral corruption, Political corruption, Politicians, Nigeria.