by Fasoranti Oluseyi Taiwo
Published on: Nov 10, 2003
Topic:
Type: Short Stories

Corruption is a problem of low culture, an act of wickedness, a low level where truth and light seizes to exist, and a point of heaviness where darkness prevails.

In Nigeria, which is the giant of all countries of Africa, corruption seems to be absolutely free and less risky, whereas, unfortunately, and sadly enough, good virtues, societal values or morals are dangerously expensive. Hence; it is natural that under such circumstances and with indolent people in majority, people will easily fall for that path which is wide, free and inexpensive as the proverbial wisdom of Jesus, that the road to hell is wide, smooth and many are found on that path, whereas, that which led to paradise is narrow, thorny and very few can settle for such path.

The reason is very simple: A path that has not often been used will grow weeds, thorns and dangerous animals could be found along such path, making it inaccessible to indolent ones, who often settles for short-cuts for survival and fake growth, thereby, making that righteous path unsuitable, highly expensive and discouraging to many. Some of the few users often fall away as a result of painful experiences all the time, making them, therefore, becoming weary and weak and are forced to join others on the wider path for possibility of survival.

Effects of such corrupt practices manifests in abject poverty and as most of the citizens get more and more frustrated they also get more involved in crimes of various dimensions such as, hired assassinations, armed robbery, religious and ethnic violence. All for the survival of those unfit in the society. The sum total of the evil of corruption surely leads to poverty, dangerous crimes, civil disobedience, ethnic violence, full-scale wars, famine, epidemics and such other evil manifestations

It behooves every National Government to forcefully stamp out these ills from the society, not just among the appointed Ministers or other Senior Government Officials, but at all levels. The leaders are products of the citizenry, hence; citizens at all levels must be cleansed first and foremost from the evil of corruption in order to save society from all the attendant evils. The truth is that bad citizens will naturally enthrone and sustain bad leadership and will on the other hand, fail to sustain and unconsciously dethrone any good leader whose nature is not the same with theirs.

Corruption, which manifests in poverty and crime, must be made highly expensive for the citizenry, while uprightness should be adequately rewarded as a positive measure of stamping corruption completely out of the society once and for all the time. Governments must honestly be prepared to invest totally towards annihilation of corruption, in order to save the country from the negative consequences.

It should be corruption eradication, more than poverty eradication. Poverty will cease to exist automatically once corruption is tackled, the same manner in which darkness will disappear at the appearance of Light.

Such efforts will facilitate building a cultured society in Africa, facilitate sustainable development and recreate a sound mind and body capable of dislodging all bacteria which now abounds in the air and water and which is capable of destroying human bodies within days or even hours. Uplift the receptivity of the African citizens towards developing new technologies, enabling the continent to march side-by-side with the developed countries along the paths of the current globalization program which ripples are already affecting us negatively for now, and the development of which we now protest against vehemently.



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