“Nigeria is not only the country with
the largest black population in the world; it is also, in all probability, the
country with the largest number of big-men”. – Femi
Aribisala, Premium Times, October 2, 2013
"We just need a few good, sincere,
patriotic, dedicated, law-abiding and selfless men & women to make things
work in Nigeria". - Akintokunbo
Adejumo
“When we can influence the minds of
Nigerians to be disciplined, patriotic and work hard, we will all have the
Nigerian of our dreams!” – Ibukunoluwa Alao Babajide
EVERYDAY, I see
our people, both the so-called elites and the commoners, flouting simple
instructions and rule, disregarding law and order and showing BIGMANISM in
their own little corner of Nigeria. The main reason this country is
ungovernable is because we DO NOT respect or obey laws and orders. Both leaders
and followers are guilty of this. Sanctions are also not implemented and
effective. We MUST have a change of attitudes to the positive if we are to
progress as a people and nation. It must start from the individual and the home;
from the leaders to the followers; from the rich to the poor and from the
elites to the proletariat.
Everyone strive
to be either a Big Fish in a Small Pond or a Bigger Fish in a Smaller Pond;
nobody wants to be a Small Fish in Big Pond, of course, but then we can’t all
be Big Fishes in either a Big Pond or Small Pond. We can’t all be.
The kind of
political institution that exists in Nigeria is the one that is exclusive. This
kind of political institution places the instruments of governance in the hands
of a few. As a result, they build an exclusive economic institution where only
their own economic interests are protected. You see why Nigeria's elites borrow
money from the banks and do not pay back and nothing happens to them? The same
exclusive political institution we have is responsible for how corrupt
politicians ensure that the courts are filled up with very corrupt judges who
will work to protect the interests of the few beneficiaries of the exclusive
political institution.
Bigmanism,
Nigeria-style, is the beginning of impunity; and is a form of corruption in
itself, for “big men” (and women, of course) often use their positions, either
in the society, business, industry or in government, to manipulate the system,
identify and use loopholes to commit crimes (some even commit murder or
manslaughter) and get away with being prosecuted and jailed. The common man are
never allowed this luxury, and that is why you will see our judicial system
jail, or even sentenced to death, a poor man for stealing a goat or a mobile
phone, while a big man escapes even being charged for stealing billions
belonging to the commonwealth which could have been used to improve the
hospitals, roads, education etc for the same common man.
All it takes is
to bribe the police, judge or magistrate, hire a defence lawyer (brilliant or
mediocre), bribe or intimidate witnesses, and he/she is home free to commit
more crimes in the future. Such people are without conscience or remorse, have
no respect for constituted authority, law and order, and above all, have no
fear of God. It is a simple reason why our society may never advance to
greatness, though we aspire.
To get a better
picture of what I am saying, take a look at the overall political institution
that operates in the United States. There are many corrupt persons in the
American society just like you can find anywhere. However, the reality of an
inclusive political institution keeps everyone in check and that is why a
person, no matter how highly placed in the society or in government, who
commits a crime, once caught, will be taken care of by the ever-active related
laws.
A serious
impediment to the success of any anti-corruption efforts are corrupt justice
sector institutions. Ethically compromised justice sector institutions mean
that the legal and institutional mechanisms designed to curb corruption,
however well-targeted, efficient or honest, remain crippled.
In addition,
the wider effects of corruption on the rule of law and sustainable development
are not only harmful, but damaging, in particular when the justice division,
which should embody the principles of independence, impartiality, integrity and
equality, is weakened.
To my view the
issue is on the correct application of rules and regulations and the sanction
against those who do not comply to these rules. If people firstly concentrate
on the respect of rules and regulations that govern the entity (family,
enterprise, government, country) and systematically apply sanctions against
those (whoever they could be regardless of their rank, grade or position in the
society) who depart from these rules, corruption will disappear without any
other additional remedy. We need to change the architype.
The importance
of individual choices in enabling or resisting corruption cannot be
overemphasised. All successful
corruption efforts ultimately change how individuals behave around rules and
laws – and it is critical to hold on to that core and truth. The approaches
primarily reflect the emphasis on changing behaviour and the knowledge that
applying sanctions for corrupt activities in a fair and systematic fashion is
often a very difficult undertaking. In many places, corruption distorts every
phase of the sanctioning process. The problem becomes even more complex when
the rules themselves are seen to be the outcome of corrupt processes and are
seen to benefit a group. Perhaps the challenge is ensuring that in responding
to a complex problem, we maintain our appreciation that the ultimate objectives
are relatively simple – that people
entrusted with public authority act in accordance with law and for the public
good.
According to an
article by Roberta Hunja, August 2015, titled “Here are 10 ways to fight
corruption”:
1. Corruption is not only about bribes:
People especially the poor get hurt when resources are wasted. That’s why it is
so important to understand the different kinds of corruption to develop smart
responses.
2. Power of the people: Create pathways
that give citizens relevant tools to engage and participate in their
governments – identify priorities, problems and find solutions.
3. Cut the red tape: Bring together formal
and informal processes (this means working with the government as well as
non-governmental groups) to change behaviour and monitor progress.
4. Deploying smart technology: Use the
power of technology to build dynamic and continuous exchanges between key
stakeholders: government, citizens, business, civil society groups, media,
academia etc.
5. Deliver the goods: Invest in institutions
and policy – sustainable improvement in how a government delivers services
is only possible if the people in these institutions endorse sensible rules and
practices that allow for change while making the best use of tested traditions
and legacies – imported models often do not work.
6. Get incentives right: Align
anti-corruption measures with market, behavioural, and social forces. Adopting
integrity standards is a smart business decision, especially for companies
interested in doing business with the World Bank Group and other development
partners.
7. Sanctions matter: Punishing corruption
is a vital component of any effective anti-corruption effort.
8. Act globally and locally - Establishing international conventions: Keep citizens engaged on corruption at
local, national, international and global levels – in line with the scale and
scope of corruption. Make use of the architecture that has been developed and
the platforms that exist for engagement.
9. Build capacity for those who need it most:
Countries that suffer from chronic fragility, conflict and violence– are often
the ones that have the fewest internal resources to combat corruption. Identify
ways to leverage international resources to support and sustain good
governance.
10. Learn by doing: Any good strategy must
be continually monitored and evaluated to make sure it can be easily adapted as
situations on the ground change.
Nigeria’s development will be difficult,
onerous and impossible until we have a system where EVERYONE is held accountable
for his or her actions. Further fallouts from this is that peace, unity,
equity, equality and progress are fatally compromised.
A society where
“all men are equal but some are more
equal than others”, to quote George Orwell in “Animal Farm”, is never going
to be a peaceful and progressive society!
Akintokunbo A Adejumo MSc, Dip Mngt, CIHM, MCMI, FITP
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