It seems there’s nothing Nigeria does that will present her in a positive light over issues relating to corruption or lack of it. The global anti corruption organisation last week rated Nigeria in the negative following the release of their corruption perception index. This is an annual ritual that has come to signpost this country’s steady effort to reform. On the other hand it could also mean we have been doing all the wrong stuff in our bid to show proof yet have not mastered the real issues and how to deal with them.
Transparency International claims that the country sits at number 136 of a total of 176. In the same report it claimed that our country scored 26 per cent the year before; whereas this year she moved by two steps up to 28 per cent. This is a marginal improvement but a reminder that a lot of work still needs to be done. Especially so when the current administration has made anti corruption one of its cardinal objectives. The expectation was that things were going to improve but it doesn’t seem the rest of the world understands the kind of anti corruption fight we are instituting.
Since the administration came to power, it has arrested many politically exposed persons, recovered alleged stolen funds and these funds have formed part of monies earmarked for budgetary spending. As we speak, several persons are on trial, however some of these trials have suffered from poor prosecution or even poorer criminal investigation. This has resulted in chaotic prosecution and dismissal of these cases to the detriment of the country.
Critics have continued to label the anti corruption tone of this administration as tokenist, politically motivated or even worse, without depth. They alleged that institutions have not been strengthened so as to ensure justice for all at all times. Institutions are still brazen. Strong men rather than strong institutions still parade the public space. Little or no effort has been made on drama of arrests and detention rather than actual diligent prosecution. Worse till date, no preventive mechanism has been instituted to reduce the drama of arrests.
In MDAs we are still confronted by the same scourge as it was. No improvement. Bribery and corruption are still prevalent. Getting files to move on is still as mercantile as it was 20 years ago. The police is still in a terrible state. No reforms have been instituted to reshape the force. It’s still brute, more brute and a 12th century mentality in our police. If any administration wants to make progress in putting impunity and corruption in a cooler, the police is the first organisation to reform. This regime seems not to be bothered about the significance of the Nigerian Police Force.
Rather than read politics into the damning report as released by Transparency International as we saw in reports where administration officials blamed former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Oby Ezekwesili (both founding members of the group) -government should take the criticism by the chin and work to improve. Obasanjo and Ezekwesili are major critics of the administration after they backed it at inception. The right to support a government rests with the individual therefore should not become something to be tossed around to gain global heads up.
We expect the government to equally realise that the report was for 2016, thus not something to antagonise anyone about. They were barely a year in office. It could have been a report of the last days of the much exposed former president Jonathan. But we deserve better. We deserve a responsive government who will engage the citizenry on a matter like this. Positive engagement that will reveal new ideas and strategies that will help bolster our image.
At this point, all hands must be on deck. Although we believe some progress has been made but it could have been better. We have the capacity to make holistic progress Willy nilly. Nothing should prevent us from doing that. The executive should seek for better collaboration between it and the other arms of government. Fighting corruption does not require strong arm tactics. Rather it seeks open and unfettered collaboration. The executive must learn how to work with the legislature because they make laws. The executive must also listen to the judiciary because they interpret the laws.
Apart from inter agency collaboration, there should also be inter government collaboration. Although the government is making hay here, it could do better. Then of course, government must work with non state actors. Non governmental organisations both local and international must be given opportunity to contribute positively to the fight against corruption. In the same vein, Nigerians must be mobilised to back this crusade. We must show them that it is in everyone’s interest to banish corruption.
