Whilst reading through the newspaper my interest was drawn to a piece written by Rod Liddle under the title ‘New football season lacks old spice’.  At the time I did not know that it would give rise to this article.  However, I was drawn to a direct quote from his piece in reference to the price of football tickets of a match Manchester United played in Nigeria, he wrote:

“It would take your average Nigerian several decades of writing fraudulent e-mails to Westerners claiming that they have inherited some money to earn that sort of sum.”

My initial response was to ignore it and let it pass for the reason that it might contain an element of truth or two.  However, the more I considered the implication of the statement and processed it, the more I became determined to rejoin his article and to engage my fellow Nigerians in this necessary undertaking at the risk of overreacting.

After much thought I am convinced that the subtext of this article could be interpreted to mean that Nigerians are corrupt or have the genes of corruption waiting to be manifest or unleashed on an unsuspecting world. 

It would appear that description in Nzeogwu’s speech is rife in many people’s perceptions about Nigerians. One of ‘political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.’

In my own naïve way of reasoning I feel the writer appears to link Nigerians to the corruption of the 419 variety.  Indicating that right at the back of every Nigerian mind lurks the thoughts of corruption, but can we and should we blame Rod Liddle?

To place this in further perspective I think a brief background of Rod Little courtesy of Wikepedia would suffice. He later attended the London School of Economics. Liddle was a member of the Socialist Workers Party in his youth but worked between 1983 and 1987 for the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet. He then returned to journalism. His early journalistic experience was with the South Wales Echo in Cardiff where he was a general news reporter and, for a time, the rock and pop writer. Liddle was appointed editor of the Today programme in 1998, having previously been deputy editor. Today had an unrivalled reputation for its political interviews, but Liddle tried - with considerable success - to improve the programme's investigative journalism, attempting to 'break' new stories.

This therefore is not the musing of a rabid racist but his thinking provides a thought that this kind of view has gained currency in mainstream West today.  We can therefore conclude that all Nigerians are corrupt, but are we?

I am full of reminiscences about my Uncle, M.O.A Ojedele, once a permanent secretary in the old Oyo State and later Osun state. This was a man who served in choice ministries and had many an opportunity to enrich himself but always stuck rigidly to the path of integrity and accountability. On several occasions to my knowledge he stood his ground refused to compromise and soil his name. Now all he has to show for his stewardship as a senior civil servant is a modest half completed house and an uncompleted one in our village. Until recently his only mode of transportation around Ibadan was the very unpublic public transportation where he had to fight his way through many obstacles to get a ride.

Another one I know of, a General. When he was retired some 20 years ago with immediate effect by the then Head of State, OBJ he had to relocate from Ikoyi official residence to Mushin. This was all because he was incapable of being corrupt during his tenure as a Federal Commissioner.

Littered around us, in our very own narrative, in Nigeria and abroad are many hard working Nigerians who are not corrupt and would rather die than visit that road of ruin and destruction.  However, we are all tainted with the same brush, bribes are expected and demanded. ‘Born agains’ are not exempt as many feel compelled to fit in or suffer some consequences for taking and making a stand. Those who do not comply and have not spiritually prepared themselves always have a harrowing story to relay to their people at home.  People have now come to suspect that today’s radicals sooner transform effortlessly into tomorrow’s rouge.

Whilst am not the best of examples to use since am now ensconced in ‘abroad’, however, my own personal story is instructive.  At University I was elected to the position of Welfare Officer of the Student’s Union, one of my 1^st official acts was to visit the many union tenants I was responsible for.  At one of the meetings the restaurant proprietor ushered me into his office and without much thought offered me a bundle of naira notes.  I was shocked and immediately rejected this attempt by the man to entrap me into his corrupt designs.  The point here, is that the way the man offered the bribe indicated that this was a usual rite of passage and others who had gone before me had answered the call of corruption.

I venture into the next few paragraphs by drawing from and parodying a West Wing quote.  I suggest that more than anytime in recent history Nigeria's destiny is not of our own choosing.  We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedoms and our way of life visited upon us by our corrupt rulers and their cronies.  We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with this unspeakable evil that has befallen Nigeria.  Yet the true measure of our strength as a people must be how we rise to master that moment to break ourselves free from the yoke of corruption when the time does arrive.

When I remember people like Dr Akanu Ibiam, Prof Ishaya Audu, Mallam Aminu Kano, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Prof Claude Ake, Mrs Kudirat Abiola, Mr Oriade, et al, from the position and limitations of my flawed humanity, I would say that the ‘streets of heaven’ are too crowded with Nigerian angels.  They are our heroes, our parents, our brothers, our sisters and our friends.  Yes I realise that every time Nigerians think they have measured the capacity to meet the challenge, either of fighting corruption or resolving developmental issues, we look up and we are reminded that through God our capacity may well be limitless.  

In the face of unspeakable sufferings, mindless corruption, government induced go-slows and road blocks, I end by stating that now is the time for Nigerian heroes.  We of the chattering classes on the internet space and on the ground in Nigeria must do what is hard in order to achieve what is great.  This is a time for Nigeria heroes and we must reach for the galaxy of stars and the glories set beyond it.

The writer is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and author of the unpublished 'Speaking Truth to Power: Albie Sachs and the work of South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission'

Robot  Villager

# 1 I am a creature of habits and last Sunday was no exception.I undertook a visit to my local fel...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 12.08.2008 20:59

whyworry  Villager

# 2 Sir, yours is a good attempt but the title was much bolder than the content especially where the body is left greatly divorced from the question induced heading. Also, It does not enlighten enough to provide a simple yes/no answer unless it is designed as a rhetorical question serving as food for thought for each individual reader. For me every Nigerian is not corrupt but are daily exposed to and highly susceptible to this corruption virus of which only honesty can provide its antibody. Thank you. Posted by whyworry| 12.08.2008 23:33

Dewdrops  Villager

# 3 =Robot;4295082844>I am a creature of habits and last Sunday was no exception.I undertook a visit to my local fel...Read the full article. Littered around us, in our very own narrative, in Nigeria and abroad are many hard working Nigerians who are not corrupt and would rather die than visit that road of ruin and destruction. However, we are all tainted with the same brush, bribes are expected and demanded. ‘Born agains’ are not exempt as many feel compelled to fit in or suffer some consequences for taking and making a stand. Sure you right!:cool: At least we all cheat a lirrrrrrrrrrrle on our taxes. Sorry uncle Sam, it is my hard earned money. . . . .tell Mrs. Sam to stop having all those illegitimate children and take care of your welfare kings and queens or your "illegals" by yourself. Not on my blood sweat and tears I say! Posted by Dewdrops| 12.08.2008 23:48

philipikita  Villager

# 4 I cannot remember who posted a comment here on NVS that made so much sense. He said he does not regard money given at police check points as bribes, he gives such money for "self preservation", as, even if you have all your legitimate car papers, "stubborn" you could end up a robbery "suspect" the next day! Some won't believe it, but there are incorruptible police officer in Naija too. On the Manchester United match in Abuja, I have nothing against what fans did...how could organizers fix a minimum 2,500 naira gate fee in Nigeria? So mad football fans overpowered security men and watched the match for free! Next time, match organizers should be reasonable. A brother told me of how he was impressed by the quick "mobilization" right outside the stadium. He said it was well organized action and he regretted that Abuja football fans were "wasting" this organized resistance for football's sake, and not against our bad government policies. Posted by philipikita| 13.08.2008 00:27

employlawone  Villager

# 5 =whyworry;4295082866>Sir, yours is a good attempt but the title was much bolder than the content especially where the body is left greatly divorced from the question induced heading. Also, It does not enlighten enough to provide a simple yes/no answer unless it is designed as a rhetorical question serving as food for thought for each individual reader. For me every Nigerian is not corrupt but are daily exposed to and highly susceptible to this corruption virus of which only honesty can provide its antibody. Thank you. Well said and aptly spoken. Posted by employlawone| 13.08.2008 03:23

Jagunlabi  Villager

# 6 Dokitar Olu, Interesting write up i did read the same article in the same paper, and could not but muse to myself when i read the comment you just quoted.Infact, the article went further to say, the premier league chief executive, Richard Scudamore, allegedly said if the scene is not chaotic then African(nay Nigerians) don't enjoy it. Well who do you blame, we blame ourselves for not putting our own house in order, apart from football, in matter of governance we have not shown ourselves to be compete enough to rule ourslves effectively, hence we open a barge of negative comment from outsiders. However that does not excuse the ticket price to be in the region of £200, i don't think that sort of price would be allowed in England, so why Nigeria. As for Rod Little, he's someone i've followed his writing(and watched one or two of his documentry) for a while. I don't think he's the type of person who speak on issue concerning Nigeria, and we should be attaching too much importance to it. He was ousted in the dabacle involving "sexing-up" the Iraq dossier,from the BBC, his comment at times are rascible and polemic.Though, he might have be commenting on the premier league having their 39th match outside of the country, and Nigeria, as a proto type, he's not a journalist i could consider knowlegdable on African affairs. As i said, i've followed his writing and documentary and he's just an a*******. I do not condone corruption on any guise of form, however we should not allow people who know nothing about us, apart from their preconceived and biased mind, dictate the way we see ourselves. Yes the Abacha's of this world(even if his three brother choose to be blind and dear), Iboris, Iyabo, and co have make mockery of any level of accountability and decency in government, but as you rightly pointed out, there are so many unsung heros out there who have not tainted their hand nor soil their soul. And our effort as members of these fora, is to continue to identify these people(and i hope we are part also) encourage them, until somehow good triumph over evil, which i believe who happen someday , Posted by Jagunlabi| 13.08.2008 07:09

Tempest  Villager

# 7 I think there was something to reflect on in your article. Just an observation though in your statement below: I am full of reminiscences about my Uncle, M.O.A Ojedele, once a permanent secretary in the old Oyo State and later Osun state. This was a man who served in choice ministries and had many an opportunity to enrich himself but always stuck rigidly to the path of integrity and accountability. On several occasions to my knowledge he stood his ground refused to compromise and soil his name. Now all he has to show for his stewardship as a senior civil servant is a modest half completed house and an uncompleted one in our village. Until recently his only mode of transportation around Ibadan was the very unpublic public transportation where he had to fight his way through many obstacles to get a ride. The portion in bold disturbs me. I am pretty certain that you did not intend the meaning I read into it. But, just being curious; don't you think if your uncle read this he may be wont to feel that some people (not you of course) are dissapointed in him for having "only these to show" for all those years of meritorious service? I know of a man. His name was Dr Clement Isong. He was former Central bank governor and also for 8 years, governor of the defunct South Eastern state. When he retired, he had "nothing to show for it". Once, he visited his village and the villagers mounted a road block against him and forced him to go back because they had "nothing to show" for all his years of service in the goverment. This I think is one (not by any means the only) reason why some people are forced to go corrupt in public service. What will I show to my people? We all need to realise that our people go into public offices to serve and not to enrich themselves. That may help reduce the "home pressure" on them. Once again, I know you did not mean that. Posted by Tempest| 13.08.2008 09:42

Anioma777  Villager

# 8 As far a I am concerned whoever wants to chop money fine by me. But so long as you deliver!!! Posted by Anioma777| 13.08.2008 20:17

fxo  Villager

# 9 =Anioma777;4295083258>As far a I am concerned whoever wants to chop money fine by me. But so long as you deliver!!! Its your kind of thinking that as created the disgrace Nigeria is today. Why deliver, when I can "chop" and use some of the proceeds to oppress and retard you, with you having no recourse for redress. Your post was shameful. Posted by fxo| 15.08.2008 14:43