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A PREFACE OF OUR INNOCENT NIGERIA

AND THE REALITY OF CORRUPTED NIGERIANS;

A CALL FOR CHANGE!

J A M E S F E L I X D U N G

INTRODUCTION era of colonisation of Nigeria by Britain in the 19th
century through to the 20th century. During this
he government in her capacity has made for period, Nigeria was colonised politically,
years now, efforts to minimize corruption economically, and socio-culturally. The British,
Tthrough the enforcement of laws and order, during this period of colonisation, infused
but with little success. People's attitudes remain Nigerians with ostentatious life style (16). In
unchanged and are believed to have led to addition, during the colonial era, Nigerian leaders,
corruption. However, this article contained a both traditional and political, were often given
query that will shed more light on the reality of bribes in order to engage and facilitate slave trade.
corruption in Nigeria and its impact on the This act of bribery exposed Nigerian and African
country’s progress. The promise of faithfulness, leaders at large, to ostentatious life style, which
loyalty, and honesty pledged in the Nigeria’s made it imperative for them to indulge in corrupt
pledge, and to uphold the country in unity, in so practices. This gave rise to corrupt tendencies
many instances seems unachievable; and among the leaders during this period, thereby
thoughNigeria, being not inherently corrupt, is laying the foundation of corruption at a
plague by these irredeemed pledges and monumental scale in Nigeria. (16-17).
individuals who engage in corrupt practices and
hindering the country’s progress. In whatever SOME OF THE PERSISTENT CAUSES OF
manner, by redeeming these pledges, addressing CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA:
and tackling these corrupt practices, we can work
towards restoring Nigeria’s innocence and 1. POLITICAL OFFICE
creating a better future for all citizens. Political offices have become cash-cows for
politicians who perpetuate political corruption.
NIGERIA IS NOT CORRUPT, SOME NIGERIANS “Political corruption is the abuse or misuse of
ARE. public or governmental power for illegitimate
Corruption is a complex issue with deep-rooted private advantage”. Relevant conceptions of
causes. The word "corruption" from its origin is political corruption include: efforts to secure
derived from the Latin word "corruptus" which wealth or power through illegal means for private
signifies to "destroy". Corruption as a term is benefit at public expense, the violation of
uncertain and devoid of any strait-jacket established rules for personal gain or profit, and
definition, it all depends on who is defining it and perversion of rules for the benefit of oneself or
from what perspective and for what purpose one’s party, friend or family. Other forms of
(Musa and Awa, 91). For Momoh, this means that political corruption, obvious in Nigeria include;
corruption as a concept is in the eye of the bribery, extortion, rigging of elections, influence
beholder (3). Hence, corruption can be said to be peddling fraud, embezzlement, nepotism,
an unpleasant practice against the order or rule patronage, misrule and so on (George and Joy 84).
set for common good.
2. UNEMPLOYMENT
The background of corrupt practices in Nigeria The rate of unemployment in Nigeria, especially
can be the period in the historical development of among the young graduates, has led many youths
Nigeria that marks the starting point of to corruption. They second to Dubbed Zlatan, who
corruption. Recently, corruption has become a sang a song titled ‘laslas school na scam’. But the
culture that permeates all aspects of our lives. same musician graduated with a national
Despite the fact that, corruption is not equally diploma in business administration from
manifested everywhere, its degree or intensity Moshood Abiola polytechnic after he had started
varies from one society to another which can be a carrier in music (Omeje, 12-13). They agreed with
attributed to certain reasons (Momoh, 16). him, as against the 2024 mantra “No gree for
Corruption in Nigeria however, has colonial anybody”, maybe this came late. With that in
antecedents and invariably, it can be traced to the mind, many youth would prefer not schooling;