Corruption has woven itself into the tapestry of the Nigeria narrative such that it has become the eternal plague of this most populous African country. For decades, this malady in its various manifestations – embezzling, backhandedness, kickbacks, internet fraud, thievery and all what not – have defined us more than our characters, capabilities and accomplishments. It is so bad that even one United Kingdom Prime Minister had the cheeks to brand us “fantastically corrupt.
In truth, nemesis awaits every one of them, because corruption is a vicious cycle, a beast with ugly fangs, and a grave sin with consequences that does not and will not spare the perpetrators, especially those in the middle rungs of the ladder, in civil service and the corporate institutions of the private sectors. They will all receive their just dessert at the end of the day―oh, yes!
According to him, “Just last week” the same government official, now retired and no longer enjoying the perks of office, appeared at his company requesting to speak with the CEO of the company about employing his son who since he graduated five years ago couldn’t secure a job. “I could have referred him to another friend of mine who at the time was looking for young graduates for employment in a branch of his real estate office in Lekki, but I was not motivated to help him. I had done enough by not embarrassing him, by not bringing up that episode from 10 years ago,” he explained.
“He came straight to us for a job as a consultant. Yes, he had experience, and trained abroad, but we rejected him flatly. I asked a junior staff to attend to him. And my instruction was to dismiss him as quickly as possible. You don’t reap where you don’t sow,” our friend justified.