In the Grandiose Parlor…

The NaijaBlog raised a very important and interesting topic and discussion on corruption. Highlighting how the socio-cultural antecedents of the Nigerian people help breed and nurture corruption, and the need for religious groups to help reverse the trend by being anti-corruption proselytizers. Interesting.

This post is an elaboration of my comment on Naijablog.

First, I think the blog over simplified and over-dramatized the corruption phenomenon in Nigeria. For example, the blog states “If you go into public office and don’t come out rich, you are a failure. Your immediate and extended families will curse you…” Really? I didn’t know this. And as I peruse the post I couldn’t find any plausible solutions proposed to solve the problem beyond asking various religious bodies to speak against corruption. The Priest, Imam, Bishop etc, have never been effective ‘anti-corruption’ advocates because of how they operate under the constitution and in the society.

And by “showing how it (corruption) is grounded in social expectations and conventions” is really no news. All Nigerians know this. And to expect that breaking away from “ patronage culture and clientism” will solve corruption is not realistic. Well, except there is a way to collectively and safely erase the conscious and subconscious memories (if there is anything like these) of millions of people all at once. This is a wishful thinking at best.

Jeremy, the author of the blog questions:

“How many could accept public office without caving into demands for access and contracts from friends and relatives?”

This makes me wonder if those in positions of authority in the more advanced democracies don’t do this?

First, no nation is free of corruption; from America to India, corruption abounds, in a variety of manner, style and presentation. Even the America of the early 18th and 19th centuries was laden with corruption.

What needs to be done is the creation of viable and independent institutions to counter balance the effects of corruption and other ills in the society. That with time will lead to the “transformation of ethical values” the mentioned. It will take time and effort, but can be done.

Although I’m unpleased with the modus operandi of EFCC (anti-corruption apparatus set up by the state), they are crude front line instruments needed to initiate the fight against corruption in a chaotic place like Nigeria. As these agencies create the ‘buzz’ around corruption, and make “I-might-end-up-in-prison” possible options in the minds of some of those crooks, the quantum effect in the society is a reawaking of some sort. This will address the “Abacha-within-us” issue Jeremy raised. And as far as this is concerned, the EFCC has done a fairly decent job and needs to do more.

The next level is through the electoral system. Would the electorate take a clue from the EFCC and do their civic duties? Would the activities of the EFCC, as biased and crude as it is, spur some decent folks to step-up and take control through the ballot system? What steps are community advocacy groups/street associations/social groups taking to ensure that the elections are free and fair in their areas?

By the way, there are some innovative steps taken by some to address the issues corruption. See ACID- the Anti Corruption Internet Database on Africa Unchained and the Mzelendo Project initiated by Kenyan Pundit and Thinkers Room.