14 April 2018
Lula DaSilva, seen below cleaning tears from his eyes was firmer Brazilian President. He so much improved the lives of ordinary Brazilians as President.
These were some of his last words to the people before he surrendered to federal police to serve a 12 year prison term for official corruption. He said referring to the people” you will have to transform yourselves, the death of a combatant doesn’t end the revolution”.
Do you want to know his crime? He is accused of collecting bribe from a construction company that got a contract from government. In nigeria we call it ten percent, some government officials call it consulting fee, some call it rob my back I rob your back, some directors in federal ministry will be very blunt and would tell you Oga Must follow wack, but in developed climes where the state institutions are supreme, they call it bribery and corruption and people go to jail for it no matter who you are.
Let’s move further to South Korea. The woman below in white prison robes is the former president. Her name is Park Geun Hye, she was popularly called strong lady. She is heading to a 24 year jail term.
Do you know her crime? She is accused of collecting bribes through third parties. You know how you will give something to Ministers boy to give minister, or you buy a house or land and dash governor. In Nigeria we call it try to appreciate Oga, overseas they call it bribe.
Especially when Oga help sign your contract after collecting money. Through third parties she collected monies and gifts from Samsung and Hyundai to favor them on government deals.
One reason I still support Buhari even though I frown at his ethnic insensitivity and slowness in doing things and maybe his age and Nepotism, nobody has come out to say Buhari is collecting bribe or is doing deals. While I can vouch for Buhari as a person, I cannot do the same for his party and members of his government.
Let’s go to South Africa. Just last week former President Zuma is standing trial for corruption. Want to know his crimes? He took the usual kickbacks or 10 percent for some arms deal contracts. Can this ever happen in nigeria?
It can never. The police boss himself in most cases has a cut for police arms, army navy and air force all accomplices. Who will prosecute them when they themselves are charged to lead prosecution? If it gets to court it becomes a child’s play.
Prosecutors openly demand bribes and collect money, the judges in most cases are compromised, the prisons are compromised, so who will jail who? Some would say let us build the institutions, I only laugh at them.
You cannot build an institution whose very foundation is ethnicity, religiosity and greed emanating from resource control. Our case is different, the foundation is faulty so the house cannot stand. Once we address resource control, whether from Class base, Community, Individualistic or Statism, from then on we can start building our institutions. In simpler language, we have to redefine our understanding and purpose why the state system or government exist. Is it to serve an ethno religious interest, or serve the interest of any political party in power or serve the interest of the ruling class, the private sector or the masses? Until we are able to answer that question we will continue to go in circles.
Attempting to fix broken walls in a house standing on faulty foundation is a waste of time. We need to break the house, break the foundation and rebuild again.
Princewill Odidi
Writes from Atlanta, Georgia