Nigeria For Sale!

Life itself is simple, but our thought position makes it complicated. It is appallingly clear that Nigeria has been put in an open market for the highest bidder, where electoral contest has been made a game that favours the man with the deepest pocket, which in turn, encourages participation of criminals, who would give anything, possibly crush anyone to gain free access to public treasury. 

There had been elements of corruption in our electoral practices, which has never been so rotten and daring like what we have in present primary elections; where vote buying is legalized and adopted as a culture for winning elections. Contestants are raining dollars to bribe delegates, which will further depreciate the value of our local currency. The height of corruption in our electoral competitions grants criminals with big pockets the opportunity to rule over the affairs of the public. 

 DEMOCRACY ought to be a system, which features the man with brighter ideas on the platform of meritocracy. It is originally programmed to enthrone selfless patriotic individuals for the benefits of general public. Presently, our political system has placed seats of public authorities in the hands of desperate criminals, who have stolen more than enough to buy the corrupt conscience of ignorant voters. What a “CRIMINOCRACY”!

Political Party Delegates have dedicated their narrow minds to dance to the rhythm of the highest bidders. Openly and consciously giving general public’s goats to hyenas for a keep. And when publics goats go extinct in the near future, they will be among those to wonder why.

It has become a norm that candidates, who fail to scale through elections would demand from delegates a refund of bribes given to them. The public, together with the self acclaimed incorruptible President, are watching the whole unholy scenario at ease, ignoring the fact that the strength of the corrupt remains the silence of the good.

The avaricious culture in our political space has gotten to cosmic proportion. Virtually all the delegates lend no listening ear to positive and constructive ideological posture of contestants. Rather, they are drunk with the monetary offer from candidates in exchange for their votes. Nature cannot be mocked! A man reaps what he sows. Anyone who gives money to bribe his way in order to secure seat of public authority will only loot money and public valuables when he or she eventually gets there. 

 The gory insecurity calamitous displays we have in Nigeria presently are products of past political debris, devastation and damages. Yet we allow evil seeds sowers to continue to have their ways. It is high time we rose from the seat of fear and march in the street of progress to demand death penalty for corrupt public office holders.

It is disheartening seeing political party delegates robbing patriotic Peters of their deserving mandates in favour of money – grubbing Pauls.

What a painful reality! Corrupt political settings have made the corridor of powers in Nigeria a coven of thieves.

Amb. Ezewele Cyril Abionanojie is the President of Peace Ambassadors and the author of the book ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’. He is an award winner of ‘Best Columnist Of The Year 2020, Giant In Security Support, Statesmanship – Integrity & Productivity among others.