Corruption: Why harsher punishments could just be the solution – Our Security, Our Peace By Prof. O.E Bassey

Corruption has been one age-long battle we have had to contend with as a nation. If it is even traced, it could be discovered to be as old as the country itself. The leadership of the country has forever been blighted with this stain, and blinded by the lure of its comfort to the detriment and ridicule of the country before its people and the international world.

Daily, we find a lot of Nigerians trooping out of the country with many’s  motivations being the results of the failed leadership that has characterized the country over time such that life within its borders has become unbearable for the common man. This is even made more jarring when news on the daily basis records how one individual embezzles N500m, some N2billion as public office holders when the people they are to serve can’t afford three square meals per day. It reeks of the evil the leaders have continually perpetuated against their brothers and sisters in their lopsided ambition to enrich themselves at the expense of the nation’s resources.

For years, there have been campaigns, discourse, summits, conferences, agitations to see that corruption gets stamped out of the country forever, paving the path for good governance that prioritizes the people and their interests.  But from all these good-motive courses has been nothing but the degeneration of the cankerworm that keeps robbing the country to pay a few. However, recently, there have been calls for the death penalty to be served to offenders found guilty of corruption in public offices. The spread of the proposal have been viral with various stakeholders weighing in on the rectitude of such punition to serve as deterrent for corrupt practices.

One of the latest of reactions is that of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume who said that he would not support death penalties for corrupt politicians who steal in millions or billions but for those who steal in trillions. He argued that corruption in Nigeria is people-driven, admitting that politicians steal and share with the people.

His words, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven. If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.

“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth. If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”

You read what he said, and then ask yourself where in the world is stealing justifiable because you intend to use the stolen funds on the people. It is more or less saying that people who rob banks are in the right doing so just because they want to put food on their table and send their children to school. It’s a no-no, and this has nothing to do with the amount or cause for the stealing. When the means is wrong, it is wrong, it does not matter what the end is –  it does not justify. We must be careful with what we support and what we condemn. We should not just because of our selfish interests lose our sense of values as a nation, and lead the country down the path of anarchy. Corruption is corruption, stealing is stealing, and if we are serious about tackling it, there is no middle ground.

The future of the country withers with corruption in full gear, and in commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day – a day we are reminded of our future – it is important that the damage corruption is doing, stealing from the future of our dear young ones be torch lighted and the need for stronger legislation against it be drummed louder. We can’t continue to fold our hands and watch our young ones suffer as a result of corruption and yet deceive them to be the future of a country whose future is bleak. Our children deserve much better, and that should start from now.

Romans 8:21

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

To commemorate this year’s children’s day, you could learn more about the protection of children and the promotion of their interests via my book: ‘The Child’s Best Interest’. It is a book for educators, public administrators, parents, and even children themselves could pick it up and learn from it. To get a copy, you can call or send me a message on WhatsApp on 07065828892

Also, I wrote a book: ‘From the Church’ that addresses corruption, and how the church can join the fight against it.  To get a copy, you can call or send me a message on WhatsApp on 07065828892

Meanwhile, I am delighted to inform you that come October, 1, 2024, we at NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute famous for Peace Leadership will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary.

To this end is our campaign to spread the education of peace leadership to both the old as young, women and children in various places from corporate organisations, to political organizations, worship centers, educational institutions, markets and communities.

It is in our belief that the more educated the people are in respect to peace leadership, the more peaceful our country will become.

So this is a call-to-action, to hop on our Peace campaign train, to arm yourself, your friends, your colleagues, your employees, your congregation with contemporary peace leadership knowledge that makes for a happier and more fulfilled life, personally and collectively.

Kindly call or send a message on Whatsapp to +2347065828892, to be a beneficiary of this.

Prof. Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Leadership, Conflict, Peace and Security Management Coach with decades of experience in the practice and promotion of Law Enforcement, Peace and Security through the Nigeria Police and the United Nations.

He has served and interacted at the top level management of the Nigeria Police as well as internationally as a United Nation’s Monitor/Mentor in Kosovo, Europe.

Ofonime is a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently a Professor of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution with ICOF University, USA/Zambia and a Professor of Peace Education with Charismatic International University, Cameroon.

With his marks well-established in Peace Leadership both in Nigeria and Africa, he is the President, NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute famous for Peace Leadership.

Presently, he is spearheading a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders”, a campaign that is billed to run from 2022-2030 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For leadership, conflict, peace and security consultations and trainings, reach him via:

Facebook: Dr. O.E Bassey

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WhatsApp: +2347065828892

Mail: emmanuelbassey@gmail.com