…..Because Corruption would viciously fight you back and win.
I want to make a confession. Listen to me carefully.
If there was a retired civil servant who should have been a multi- millionaire after leaving the Civil Service, one of those civil servants is me and I would tell you why in a heartbeat.
I joined the Federal Civil Service on January 3rd 1968 direct from my teaching job as a teacher at Igbobi College, Lagos under the direct supervision of one of the greatest Nigerian disciplinarians and patriots who became my mentor and role model later in life
His name is Papa Talabi “Esubiyi” from Badagry whose last name should have been shortened to “Olubiyi” from “Oluwabiyi” because he didn’t live his life like the son of Satan from all I knew about him.
My first appointment was to be a Foreign Affairs Officer but because of Pa Obafemi Awolowo whom I hated so much at the time because I heard from the grape vine that he was the one who had short- changed my Destiny because all I had ever wanted to be from my rookie years at the then University of Ife, was to work in the Foreign Service as my ultimate goal was to become a career Ambassador and be addressed as “Your Excellency” like my Brother-in-law Mr. Victor Adegoroye of blessed memory.
Pa Awolowo had persuaded His boss General Yakubu Gowon and his colleague in the Foreign Service Ministry Okoi Arikpo to put on hold their last recruitment into the Foreign Service which which included my set which was next to the set of Dele Olumilua from Ikere Ekiti.
That was how I ended up being posted to the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Lagos where I was made the Assistant Secretary in charge of Army under an Economist named Mr. S A Ogunleye from Ijebu Ode as my SAS and Mr. B. G Popo from Warri as my DPS and Alhaji Yusuf Gobir, a dapper Don Lawyer from Ilorin as my Permanent Secretary.
If Bribery and Corruption were my area of interest, I would have made a lot of money that could have lasted me a life time.
I was posted from Defense in 1971 to the Federal Ministry of Education where I served under one Mr. Adeniyi Coker as my SAS, Mr. S.O Soyode from Abeokuta as my DPS and the great Ahmed Joda from Girei Billage in Adamawa State as my Permanent Secretary.
I was later appointed the Secretary to the Tenders Board of the Ministry to handle contracts for Food Supply to all of the Federal Educational Institutions in Nigeria and most especially the Federal Government Colleges in particular.
That was where I could made millions in Bribery and Corruption from Contractors but I wouldn’t do it, not because I did not like money but because I valued my name and integrity too much to engage in that monkey business. I love other things including dressing well and a little womanizing, I might add as an Akure Prince raised in the Deji’s Palace.
After 4 years in that Ministry, I got posted again to the Federal Ministry of Establishments where I served under P. S. Grey Eronmosele Longe a law graduate from Sabongida Ora and P.S. Francesca Yetunde Emanuel and Alhaji Gambo Gubio and M. A.Soneye two of the most hardworking bosses I have ever served under in my life.
It was under them that I became the Secretary to Staff Development taking over from a Gentleman named Asielue from Ubunokiti in Bendel State.
If Corruption was my cup of it, I could have made millions from my posting there.
My last posting was to the Ministry of Economic Planning where I served Under P. S. Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji and P.S.Ogbuefi Gilbert Chikelu.
I was Secretary to the Joint Economic Commission of Nigeria with all of the Countries of the World but first and foremost for ECOWAS countries.
That was where I would have become the Aliko Dangote or the Michael Adenuga of Nigeria if I was corrupt.
I left all of these sweet deal opportunities as a pauper but I remained a happy and contented man till now because God had been good to me in other ways. Those who know me well will tell you that. Money strangely enough has never been my chief motivator in life. up till now.
Corruption has developed ingenious ways of fighting back that would make it harder to subdue and overcome In Nigeria.
Why? Because Nigerians know how to turn Naked Corruption into nothing but pure Gratification thru Godfatherism.
Governor Wike and Governor Yaya Bello and now Governor Obaseki have enthroned “Godfatherism” as a substitute for Institutional Corruption in Nigeria by bending over backwards to provide the funds and to do all the heavy lifting needed to infect their successors with corruption so they could have full control over them after they leave office.
The phenomenon is all happening today to Governor Fubara of Rivers State and to new Governor Ododo of Kogi and like has happened to Governor Fashola whose Godfather was Bola Ahmed Tinubu the new President.
If you want to fight Corruption in Nigeria, Corruption will fight you to a standstill and defeat you.
The way I fought Corruption in Ondo State when I was Director of DIFFRI was never to allow the first allocation of 2.8 million Naira, a big money in Ondo State at the time, to be deposited first and foremost in a private account for a few months or few years at high interest to generate a surplus for the Governor or who ever is calling the shot on where to lodge the allocation.
I wasn’t going to allow anybody as long as I was Director from the Federal, to lodge the check into any private Account where the interest may accrue and go to a private interest while the Principal still remains intact. That was my reason for not telling Governor Opaleye that the money had come until I have lodged the money into the National Bank and Owena Bank based on my own intuition and nobody else. That courage or Bravado nearly cost me the job, but I stuck to my gun without a Godfather to watch my Back.
Sometimes your Governor orders you to award the digging of an ordinary Well to contractors of his choice and you must let the contractors be paid thousands or millions of Naira for claiming that they have drilled a Bore Hole instead of an ordinary Well. “O ti o”
I was going to allow that for as long as I was Director and the Chief Signatory to the Account of DIFFRI
That is why Nigerians prefer digging bore holes than going for major Water Dams like Owena Dam in Ondo State or Asejire Dam in Oyo State.
Most of us Nigerians are thieves We all love money more than our country with the exception of few. Take it or leave it.
That is why Politicians like Atiku Abubakar who was known to trade in Electricity Generators would never want NEPA or the National Grid to ever succeed or work efficiently. That was why and how he made so much money when he was placed in charge of Privatization of most Nigerian Industries by President Obasanjo
The American Presidential System is just damn too Corruption- infected that It is going to be a Herculean task to fight and to nullify Corruption in Nigeria.
It will always be part and parcel of our national psyche and passion to steal from Government.
I am already in my twilight years as I have hit 80 now and I am going to tell the truth to the younger generation and damn the consequence, come rain or shine.
We all have to save our country by telling the truth and to let the Devil be ashamed.
I rest my case.
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