The Political Image of Today's Nigerian Nation
Nigerian politics have turned from the frying pan of having to deal with imminent struggles tampering with sustainable growth and development to the fire of having to cope with derogatory outcomes of not urgently attending to them when they were alighted, decades back. The political atmosphere in Nigeria is heated up to a point where people obviously can tell the system has no definite' stance on the way forward. The today's Nigerian politicians.
It is a norm for Nigerian politicians to hypocritically show their humanitarian gestures, months before the elections begin. Ordinarily, during their first tenure in office, for example, they see the people, who elected them as representatives, as just beings. However, these politicians are aware the votes of the people would needed to secure their second term in office. Regardless of position being vied for, they do all they can to ensure " some fire-brigade approach to addressing issues affecting their geographic space", months before the elections take place. A local government chairman would embark on an infrastructural project that has been lying fallow for years, six months to the local government election. He or she does it in a bid to secure a second term in office. They seldom take it a step further by gifting the locals meagre food items and money to buy their conscience to vote them for the second time. They "convince" the people (loyalists and supporters mainly) with their manifestos which, in actuality , holds no waters.They abscond with their manifestos when they secure the seat, leaving their people to their fate for the next four years. It is similar to what takes place at the state and federal levels.
Corruption is seen as a lifestyle. Most politicians in Nigeria are so corrupt to the point they could get away with any corruption-related offense. The judicial system makes it easy for for them to have their way. All that would be required is for the accused politician to pay a "cheap" fine and the case is over! Before eyes would blink, he is being awarded a medal of honor! A simple google search on 'Nigerian politicians who were corrupt but were awarded medal of honor' will underscore the claim. A official at the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board was accused of financial impropriety. His excuse was that monkey swallowed the money! Interestingly, it was published over the news! Internet fraudsters are given green light to escape the hand of the law. All they need do is to pay less than a tenth of the amount stolen to the appropriate authority (in this case, the Economic and Financial Control Commission, EFCC).
In fact, a former president was quoted as saying "stealing is not corruption" That is the height of it all. Stealing isn't corruption? I guess it's a lifestyle, right? Most young Nigerians are subliminally working on that conviction. It is a general belief, acknowledged by Nigerians: "corruption flows through the blood of every Nigerian"
Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil in the world but over fifty-seven percent of her citizens live below the poverty line (according to the IMF on Nigeria's poverty index). Nigerian senators are the highest paid in the world but it is common to see most Nigerians surviving on less than a dollar in a day! Nigeria produces food for local and foreign uses but the prices are almost out of reach from the common man.
The corrupted image of today's Nigerian nation has positioned the perceived "giant of Africa" as one of the most corrupt nations of the world.
Nigerians are unhappy with the poor image of their nation. On social media, two Nigerians (names witheld) were seen expressing their dismay over the denting image of the country by "redefining" the Nigerian pledge:
"We pledge Nigeria is not a country
How can we be faithful, loyal and honest to an expired country
To be a Nigerian is not by force
We don't defend our unity
We only uphold our honor and glory
So break it God"