ON THE SEVERE MULTIPLIER-EFFECT OF HIGH-PROFILE CORRUPTION ENCOURAGED BY THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2015
July 6, 2021 | News
I still remember how during the 2015 electioneering campaign, Muhammdu Buhari had always expressed his determination and readiness to tackle corruption headlong if elected president of the country. The now President Muhammadu Buhari did not hide his disdain for corruption – which has been the bane of Nigeria’s growth and development for as long as we can remember.
-By Zik Gbemre
ON THE SEVERE MULTIPLIER-EFFECT OF HIGH-PROFILE CORRUPTION ENCOURAGED BY THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2015
“There is nothing more demoralizing, more destructive, more disempowering to any citizen, than the belief that the system is rigged against them, and that people in positions of power are nothing but crooks – stealing the future of their own people…”
Corruption opens up a vacuum which allows the predators to move in, and no one knows that better than the violent extremist groups…
If we were to honestly trace the root cause of all the problems in the country, which have gotten worse under the Buhari-led administration, we would see that pervasive and unrestrained corruption in high places, is the reason why things are currently in their most deplorable state…
As it stands, the majority of the Nigerian people are just waiting and praying that things should not get more worse than they already are, for this Buhari-led administration of a nightmare to just end…
I still remember how during the 2015 electioneering campaign, Muhammdu Buhari had always expressed his determination and readiness to tackle corruption headlong if elected president of the country. The now President Muhammadu Buhari did not hide his disdain for corruption – which has been the bane of Nigeria’s growth and development for as long as we can remember. A practice that has permeated the entire gamut of the Nigerian society, and today seems to be synonymous with an average Nigerian. In fact, President Buhari has succeeded in instilling some measures of discipline, accountability, fears, and uncertainties within the first few months of being in office. But over the years, it was as if all that initial hype over the fight against corruption within the public space was all smokescreen and deception of some sort.
In fact, there has never been a government in the history of Nigeria that has promoted and encouraged high-profile corruption to thrive in the way Buhari has done, especially since he was returned back to office in 2019. As I noted recently in a similar subject write up, the worst form of corruption is a fake war against corruption as exemplified and demonstrated by the Buhari-led administration. What the Buhari-led Government has been portraying as their fight against corruption, cannot be said to be a real fight intended to end corruption in the polity. But rather one that encourages corruption to thrive undisturbed in high places.
Many of us, including me I must say, never saw this coming in 2015, when Buhari appeared to Nigerians as the best option that would drastically reduce corruption in the country’s public and private space. But apparently, former US Secretary of State, John F. Kerry, saw through the smokescreen Buhari presented then, and rightly described how pervasive corruption in high places under the Buhari Government and the government before that, have actually helped in fueling the insecurity situation in the country.
This was part of John Kerry’s speech then at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in 2016, describing this situation, and how the Nigerian Government has allowed corruption to severely destroy the fabric of the Nigerian society. In his words: “When Nigeria’s President Buhari took office in May 2015, he inherited a military that was underpaid, underfed and unable to protect the Nigeria people from Boko Haram. And one reason for this, is that much of the military budget was finding its way into the pockets of the generals.” Now, one would have expected this narrative to change under a man who swore to end corruption in high places by all means. But alas, the situation was only made worse under the Buhari-led Federal Government.
John Kerry went on to note that: “Just this week (which was around January 2016), we saw reports that more than 50 people in Nigeria, including former government officials, stole $9 billion from the treasury. Now, I used to be a prosecutor, and I know how hard it is to hold people in positions of public responsibility accountable. But I also know how important it is. The fact is, THERE IS NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MORE DEMORALIZING, MORE DESTRUCTIVE, MORE DISEMPOWERING TO ANY CITIZEN, THAN THE BELIEF THAT THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST THEM, AND THAT PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER ARE CROOKS – STEALING THE FUTURE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE. And by way, depositing their ill-gotten gains in ostensibly legitimate financial institutions in Nigeria banks and around the world.
“Corruption is a social danger, because it feeds to organize crimes. It destroys nation states. It imperils opportunities, particularly for women and girls. It facilitates environmental degradation. It contributes to human trafficking and undermines whole communities. It destroys the future. Corruption is a radicalizer, because it destroys faith in legitimate authorities. IT OPENS UP A VACUUM WHICH ALLOWS THE PREDATORS TO MOVE IN, AND NO ONE KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN THE VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUPS WHO REGULARLY USE CORRUPTION AS A RECRUITMENT TOOL. Corruption is an opportunity destroyer because it discourages honest and accountable investments. It makes business more expensive to operate. IT DRIVES UP THE COST FOR PUBLIC SERVICES FOR LOCAL TAX PAYERS. IT TURNS A NATION’S ENTIRE BUDGET INTO A FEEDING THROUGH FOR THE PRIVILEGED FEW. And that is why it is imperative that the business community of the world starts to demand a different standard of behavior. That we deepen the fight against corruption, and making it a first order of national security priority…”
If we were to honestly trace the root cause of all the problems in the country, which have gotten worse under the Buhari-led administration, we would see that pervasive and unrestrained corruption in high places, is the reason why things are currently in their most deplorable state. Never have we seen things gone so bad in the political and economic history of this country, like we seen under the APC Buhari-led Federal Government. And from the look of things, it appears not to be getting any better soon, as many Nigerians have already given up hope, and only praying that things should not get far worse than they are already are, before this Buhari-led administration ends in 2023.
Under this President Buhari APC-led administration, Nigerians can no longer travel anywhere on roads for fear of being kidnapped, taking hostage or killed by blood-thirsty killer Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgents, armed robbers and Bandits allegedly being sponsored by foreigners. To make matters worse, this government has on the one hand initiated a law banning Nigerians, whose family members are victims of kidnap, from paying any sort of ransom to Bandits for the release of their loved ones, which they Security operatives could not rescue. But on the other hand, they have continued to engage in the payments of huge ransoms to these Armed Killer herdsmen and Bandits that now uses school children as bait to make mindless demands from the Government. And in turn, the criminals use the funds paid by the Government in the name of peace to reign, to further acquire more weapons to continue their criminality.
Under this Government, we have seen the most biased and nepotist President that not only favours his tribe and their region above others, but has also surrounded himself with friends, relatives and cronies at the Presidency – thereby encouraging extortions of high proportions. Only under this Buhari government have we seen a situation where supposed repentant terrorists are given red carpet reception, while efforts are made to ‘negotiate’ with clearly defined criminals hiding under the name of marginalized herdsmen who brandish dangerous AK47 guns as if it is their right to carry out their criminal activities against other Nigerians. It is only under this Buhari APC-led administration, that we have seen a government that values cows and those handling them, than the lives and welfare of the rest of Nigerians. And we wonder why these criminals are emboldened to act with more audacity now compared to how they were in the past.
Under this government, we have seen government contracts inflated the same way, and even worse as it was done in the past. This alone, which is about 65% of the corruption in the public space, has continued under a man who once swore to end corruption in high places if elected as President. Under this APC-led Government Nigerians are made to pay through their nose on electricity tariffs in the midst of gross darkness; the prices of food items and basic needs have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many; the hopelessness and sorry-state of the Nigerian youths on the system is so bad that many have either resorted to rituals to make it in life, or they have risked their lives seeking for greener pastures abroad. And even when they protest and complain against the present Government, they stand the risk of being arrested, detained indiscriminately, denied justice and fair hearing... Should I continue? I believe the evidence is all around us for everyone to see. Except for the likes of those within the Buhari APC-led administration, and his supporters, who have no ability of circumspection, that would want to make Nigerians think otherwise with their usual self-praises.
The problem I have with the President Buhari APC-led Federal Government since they came into power, is their penchant to always push the blame to the PDP past administration as yardstick and excuse for their failures. Holding themselves accountable for once is like a suicide mission for them. And it is actually a suicide mission for them because they know within their hearts that they have all failed in their governance of Nigeria, both at the State and Federal levels of Government. It is just so unfortunate that the majority of the Nigerian masses are so hungry and frustrated to speak out, and the supposed opposition is totally dead because they too have nothing new and positive to offer. As it stands, the majority of the Nigerian people are just waiting and praying that things should not get more worse than they already are.
Zik Gbemre.
July 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
-By Zik Gbemre
ON THE SEVERE MULTIPLIER-EFFECT OF HIGH-PROFILE CORRUPTION ENCOURAGED BY THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2015
“There is nothing more demoralizing, more destructive, more disempowering to any citizen, than the belief that the system is rigged against them, and that people in positions of power are nothing but crooks – stealing the future of their own people…”
Corruption opens up a vacuum which allows the predators to move in, and no one knows that better than the violent extremist groups…
If we were to honestly trace the root cause of all the problems in the country, which have gotten worse under the Buhari-led administration, we would see that pervasive and unrestrained corruption in high places, is the reason why things are currently in their most deplorable state…
As it stands, the majority of the Nigerian people are just waiting and praying that things should not get more worse than they already are, for this Buhari-led administration of a nightmare to just end…
I still remember how during the 2015 electioneering campaign, Muhammdu Buhari had always expressed his determination and readiness to tackle corruption headlong if elected president of the country. The now President Muhammadu Buhari did not hide his disdain for corruption – which has been the bane of Nigeria’s growth and development for as long as we can remember. A practice that has permeated the entire gamut of the Nigerian society, and today seems to be synonymous with an average Nigerian. In fact, President Buhari has succeeded in instilling some measures of discipline, accountability, fears, and uncertainties within the first few months of being in office. But over the years, it was as if all that initial hype over the fight against corruption within the public space was all smokescreen and deception of some sort.
In fact, there has never been a government in the history of Nigeria that has promoted and encouraged high-profile corruption to thrive in the way Buhari has done, especially since he was returned back to office in 2019. As I noted recently in a similar subject write up, the worst form of corruption is a fake war against corruption as exemplified and demonstrated by the Buhari-led administration. What the Buhari-led Government has been portraying as their fight against corruption, cannot be said to be a real fight intended to end corruption in the polity. But rather one that encourages corruption to thrive undisturbed in high places.
Many of us, including me I must say, never saw this coming in 2015, when Buhari appeared to Nigerians as the best option that would drastically reduce corruption in the country’s public and private space. But apparently, former US Secretary of State, John F. Kerry, saw through the smokescreen Buhari presented then, and rightly described how pervasive corruption in high places under the Buhari Government and the government before that, have actually helped in fueling the insecurity situation in the country.
This was part of John Kerry’s speech then at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in 2016, describing this situation, and how the Nigerian Government has allowed corruption to severely destroy the fabric of the Nigerian society. In his words: “When Nigeria’s President Buhari took office in May 2015, he inherited a military that was underpaid, underfed and unable to protect the Nigeria people from Boko Haram. And one reason for this, is that much of the military budget was finding its way into the pockets of the generals.” Now, one would have expected this narrative to change under a man who swore to end corruption in high places by all means. But alas, the situation was only made worse under the Buhari-led Federal Government.
John Kerry went on to note that: “Just this week (which was around January 2016), we saw reports that more than 50 people in Nigeria, including former government officials, stole $9 billion from the treasury. Now, I used to be a prosecutor, and I know how hard it is to hold people in positions of public responsibility accountable. But I also know how important it is. The fact is, THERE IS NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MORE DEMORALIZING, MORE DESTRUCTIVE, MORE DISEMPOWERING TO ANY CITIZEN, THAN THE BELIEF THAT THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST THEM, AND THAT PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER ARE CROOKS – STEALING THE FUTURE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE. And by way, depositing their ill-gotten gains in ostensibly legitimate financial institutions in Nigeria banks and around the world.
“Corruption is a social danger, because it feeds to organize crimes. It destroys nation states. It imperils opportunities, particularly for women and girls. It facilitates environmental degradation. It contributes to human trafficking and undermines whole communities. It destroys the future. Corruption is a radicalizer, because it destroys faith in legitimate authorities. IT OPENS UP A VACUUM WHICH ALLOWS THE PREDATORS TO MOVE IN, AND NO ONE KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN THE VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUPS WHO REGULARLY USE CORRUPTION AS A RECRUITMENT TOOL. Corruption is an opportunity destroyer because it discourages honest and accountable investments. It makes business more expensive to operate. IT DRIVES UP THE COST FOR PUBLIC SERVICES FOR LOCAL TAX PAYERS. IT TURNS A NATION’S ENTIRE BUDGET INTO A FEEDING THROUGH FOR THE PRIVILEGED FEW. And that is why it is imperative that the business community of the world starts to demand a different standard of behavior. That we deepen the fight against corruption, and making it a first order of national security priority…”
If we were to honestly trace the root cause of all the problems in the country, which have gotten worse under the Buhari-led administration, we would see that pervasive and unrestrained corruption in high places, is the reason why things are currently in their most deplorable state. Never have we seen things gone so bad in the political and economic history of this country, like we seen under the APC Buhari-led Federal Government. And from the look of things, it appears not to be getting any better soon, as many Nigerians have already given up hope, and only praying that things should not get far worse than they are already are, before this Buhari-led administration ends in 2023.
Under this President Buhari APC-led administration, Nigerians can no longer travel anywhere on roads for fear of being kidnapped, taking hostage or killed by blood-thirsty killer Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgents, armed robbers and Bandits allegedly being sponsored by foreigners. To make matters worse, this government has on the one hand initiated a law banning Nigerians, whose family members are victims of kidnap, from paying any sort of ransom to Bandits for the release of their loved ones, which they Security operatives could not rescue. But on the other hand, they have continued to engage in the payments of huge ransoms to these Armed Killer herdsmen and Bandits that now uses school children as bait to make mindless demands from the Government. And in turn, the criminals use the funds paid by the Government in the name of peace to reign, to further acquire more weapons to continue their criminality.
Under this Government, we have seen the most biased and nepotist President that not only favours his tribe and their region above others, but has also surrounded himself with friends, relatives and cronies at the Presidency – thereby encouraging extortions of high proportions. Only under this Buhari government have we seen a situation where supposed repentant terrorists are given red carpet reception, while efforts are made to ‘negotiate’ with clearly defined criminals hiding under the name of marginalized herdsmen who brandish dangerous AK47 guns as if it is their right to carry out their criminal activities against other Nigerians. It is only under this Buhari APC-led administration, that we have seen a government that values cows and those handling them, than the lives and welfare of the rest of Nigerians. And we wonder why these criminals are emboldened to act with more audacity now compared to how they were in the past.
Under this government, we have seen government contracts inflated the same way, and even worse as it was done in the past. This alone, which is about 65% of the corruption in the public space, has continued under a man who once swore to end corruption in high places if elected as President. Under this APC-led Government Nigerians are made to pay through their nose on electricity tariffs in the midst of gross darkness; the prices of food items and basic needs have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many; the hopelessness and sorry-state of the Nigerian youths on the system is so bad that many have either resorted to rituals to make it in life, or they have risked their lives seeking for greener pastures abroad. And even when they protest and complain against the present Government, they stand the risk of being arrested, detained indiscriminately, denied justice and fair hearing... Should I continue? I believe the evidence is all around us for everyone to see. Except for the likes of those within the Buhari APC-led administration, and his supporters, who have no ability of circumspection, that would want to make Nigerians think otherwise with their usual self-praises.
The problem I have with the President Buhari APC-led Federal Government since they came into power, is their penchant to always push the blame to the PDP past administration as yardstick and excuse for their failures. Holding themselves accountable for once is like a suicide mission for them. And it is actually a suicide mission for them because they know within their hearts that they have all failed in their governance of Nigeria, both at the State and Federal levels of Government. It is just so unfortunate that the majority of the Nigerian masses are so hungry and frustrated to speak out, and the supposed opposition is totally dead because they too have nothing new and positive to offer. As it stands, the majority of the Nigerian people are just waiting and praying that things should not get more worse than they already are.
Zik Gbemre.
July 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes