Countering Notion From Certain Quarters, Labeling Africa As A Continent Of Corrupt People, Or Most Corrupt, Globally.
It has always been averred that one major malaise known as Corruption is synonymous to Africa, especially countries like Nigeria. However, I stand to counter the notion and state categorically that Corruption neither originated nor synonymous with Africa. The truth is that it was imported by some Western world who had early contact with countries in the African continent.
In driving home my stand, I want to back it with some points, making Nigeria a reference point and using the Igbo land/Igbo people, as an entry point, because this is where I hail from and very conversant with.
Prior to the advent or invasion by the Western world, what is called Nigeria today, was not in existence. According to history, the various entities known as tribes, peoples or even nations that now make up Nigeria like Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, were existing individually, living their lives and doing their things their own way.
According to historical facts, the Igbo were strong democratic people who practiced Traditional Religion. They believed in the Supreme Being called God, which they so much revered and worshipped through other smaller gods.
They were so tied and devoted to the religious beliefs and dared not deviate from set down rules because of fear of consequences that would result from such disobedience or evil.
They lived communal life and so tied to one another, hence, the slogan, “Onye aghana Nwanne ya”, which could mean, Be your brother’s keeper.
However, when the Whites came in contact with these people, just as other parts of West Africa, they discovered that they were strong and energetic. This gave rise to the Slave Trade where these white people tipped some Chiefs and leaders with gifts to arrange young energetic people sold to them, thus, giving rise to bribery which is one of the greatest form of corruption. Of course, it is known that in matters of corruption, not only the receiver that faults, but both the giver and the receiver.
Aside this, they also stole and carted away some valuables like artifacts and other archival materials. These strangers further provided dangerous weapons to leaders with which they, in turn, used to invade attack other settlements to capture slaves for their foreign acquaintances, thus, spreading wars enmity and fear to the once peaceful, quiet settings .
This is how those people first imported Corruption and polluted the once well organized and sane society.
On a wider scope, later after the occupation or colonization of the area today called Nigeria, it was due to corruption that the colonial masters decided to merge the different peoples into one nation, not actually for the benefit of those peoples, but for their own selfish interest, carting away the “peoples” resources to their own countries at the expense of the indigenous peoples. What is more corrupt than such acts? Stealing, deceit and unjust killing. It is also well known that to feed their insatiable hunger for acquisition of wealth, they devised various tactics including pitching one area or tribe against the other.
It is also on record that the first Census conducted in Nigeria by the colonial masters after the amalgamation was fraught with irregularities, thereby producing fake figures, a practice that has continued to hunt the country till date.
What would one say about the first General Election in Nigeria conducted by the colonial masters which also tended to satisfy their desires as they reportedly ascribed victory to the north, people they could manipulate and twist any how they wanted. They have also continued to sow the seed of discord among the various tribes.
It was strongly and widely believed that the 1959 general election that ushered in Nigeria’s independence in 1960 was rigged, described it as “a total farce”, and needless to mention that till date, elections in Nigeria have always not met the expectations of the generality of the people.
Referring to. ….
‘The Nigerian Federal Election of 1959’ by K W J Post. The Last Great Act of Treason?
source: http://www.libertas.demon.co.uk/badguys.htm
‘The last great act of the British Raj.’ So wrote Ken Post, a young British academic-to-be (if his researches were acceptable) of Nigeria’s Independence Elections of 1959. As the elections were rigged, Ken got it wrong, but British colonial historians often quote his verdict with approval, for he supported their prejudice that the British had behaved honourably.
According to an American Professor, Henry Brettton,
The British act ……. “Represents one of the greatest acts of gerrymaking in history”.
“I have written to many of the academics involved, including Ken Post, about Nigeria’s independence elections, which were in two stages. None reply to my letters. I wrote to tell them of how I had been ordered by the Governor General to rig the elections. It was beyond question, without a doubt, that in fact the last great act of the British Raj in Africa’s largest British territory, practically an empire of nations rather than a colony, was treason”.
Does one need to be reminded that the effects of the long standing erroneous practices have continued to hunt the country up to this moment.
Also, in a paper titled, “Human Rights Issues Surrounding The Non-Return Of Assets To Countries Of Origin”, delivered at the 8th Annual Conference of Anti-corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, held in Abuja on May 21, 2018, a Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, wrote that Western countries are more corrupt than African countries, backing his submission with various points.
Falana put it this way, “Western countries are more corrupt than African countries”.
“There has been a massive and accelerated transfer of much of the wealth from the developing world into developed economies around the world, much of which was looted from various Treasuries across Africa and in the rest of the developing world.”
“African governments and anti-corruption bodies should stop labeling Africa as a continent of corrupt people. London is the centre of global corruption. The banks of western countries receive and keep stolen wealth from Africa and other developing countries.”
According to Falana, “Western governments conveniently hid behind the free movement of capital ideology to fold their arms and turn the other way for many years after the end of the Cold War. This laissez-faire attitude on the part Western leaders encouraged corrupt leaders from Africa to use stolen wealth from their various countries to establish individual presence in their economies; buying shares in major corporations, mansions and other landed properties, yachts, planes, you name it.”
Falana also said, “Mr. David Cameron whose family name was listed in the Panama papers had the temerity to label Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country. The Abacha loot of about $5 billion has been traced to banks in Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and other western countries. Apart from Switzerland which has reluctantly returned part of the loot, no other recipient country has recovered and repatriated a dime to Nigeria.”
Recently too, in one of his speeches after the recent election in UK, the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, accepted and declared that UK is profiteering from Nigerian corruption, advocating that they stop aiding and abetting corruption and its proceeds from Nigeria.
But I will say that Britain and later some other Western countries are not just aiding and abetting corruption in Nigeria, but that they introduced, sowed the seed, as well as nurtured corruption in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, and are reaping the fruits.
Therefore, one can categorically state that the main legacy left by the colonial masters in Nigeria and most African countries is Corruption!
Seeking Solutions, Reversing The Trend, Remedying The Situation
Nigeria in particular, and African continent in general, should devise means to combat this hydra headed monster called corruption in view of the harm it has done and still doing in the country and the continent. Ranging from
Corruption, in its diversities, has been the major challenge in Nigeria and most African countries resulting in poverty, diseases, illiteracy, lack of social amenities, unemployment, disorderliness, insecurity in its various forms like armed robbery, insurgency, kidnapping, terrorism, banditry etc.
This is because schools and hospitals are ill equipped, hunger and starvation, poor law enforcement, lack of good governance, underdevelopment and generally, social deprivation.
This, therefore, is a call to leaders and stakeholders from all strata and segments of society at various levels…. Countries, Politicians, Religions etc to make genuine efforts and map out strategies to redeem the country and continent from the evil grip of corruption to build better and decent society for the benefit of all not minding the fact that it won’t be easy as it has always been noted that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. But in the end, with strong will and genuine efforts, success will be achieved.
Written By Monic Okechukwu
Kpakpando Radio, 101.9 FM, Mbaukwu.
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