WAR AGAINST CORRUPTIONS: A Matter Of Conscience -By Ikpang Sunday

The amplitude of the gross corruption ransacking the social, economic and political arena of this our beloved country Nigeria is so hectic, that one begin to wonder if this country is moving forward or backward. And this indecent behaviour is so practice with incivility, manipulations and openness; which is ebbing the flow and development of this country.

The severity of the crime of corruption ‘anybody’ commite in this country cannot be adjectivized with anything. When I mean anybody, I am referring to does in leadership and the common man in the street. They are those who practice lawlessness and think because, they are not politicians or culprits of corruptions; they cannot face the wrath of the law.

Whether, we like it or not there are repercussions to every corrupt practice, being executed by any person. The only way to combat, this disease eating into the fabric of every sector is to bring the efficacy and efficiency of our conscience to work.

War against corruption is an old school song, sang many times with the same lyric and rhythm. Mostly, the common man sees corruption domiciled in the territory of the leaders or politicians. And the affluent; those that are movers and shakers of the society, sees the common man as predators of corruptions.

But the truth is corruption is found everywhere, every corner; the list is enormous and the only way to fight corruption, the only way to wage war against corruptions is to look into our conscience and say the truth to ourselves. This make me drives this point to a stand that war against corruptions is a matter of the conscience. Yes, we know we have bad elements in all the arms of government and some of our leaders, have so indulged in this dilapidated practice, that it had become obvious; they cannot denied this fact. Some when leaving office leave a footprint of corrupt practices for their successor to emulate, which most time, some sincere successors used the opportunity to copped their predecessor to exposure.

A lot of citizen of this country narrowed their mindset to embezzlement of public fund, as the only outrageous crime; that deserved capital punishment. This is so because politicians or leaders dragged theirselves to court; on who is involved or who is not and the commoners sit and sipped their ‘garri’ for relaxation and laughed at them, and, chant their usual song in pidgin ‘thieves, dem wey dey chop our money’ but forgot to x-ray or scan other aspect of corruptions the common man is involved or embracing also.

Every citizen of a country is also involved in governance. For a country to be a good country with good government, the leaders and citizens have responsibilities to display to build a good nation.

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. It is dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power. It is also a process whereby a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regard as erroneous or debased.

Just like its stated above corruption is storming the world, the question is how can we wage war against it and then conquer? I will say emphatically, that, the conscience is where the battle of doing right and wrong is fought and can be won.

The conscience-a person moral sense of right and wrong, it is viewed as acting as a guide to one’s behaviour. This involved the leaders and the common man to do the right thing with their conscience.

The vandalizations of public amenities or government established structures; sometimes these structures or amenities are turn to personal use; is corruption. When we refuse to performed our citizenship duties is corruption. When business owners skyrockets prices of commodities, because they is no regulation of prices and excess profit is made on commodities is corruption.

When leaders or common man are given responsibilities to carry out, in their own cardinal areas of life, but turn these opportunities to favour theirselves and families is corruption. When we allow ourselves to be use as agents by some affluent and influential citizens of this country; to assist them in their mischief is corruption; and sometimes government interventions towards the common man are objected and subjected by these same people.

If every citizens of this our beloved country Nigeria, can embrace tranquility and execute their citizenship roles and carry out their obligations, judiciously, without debasement, we are sure of enjoying the dividend of democracy-which one is a better society.

As we grabbed our leaders collars, and shout out on them for bad governance, bad leadership, and bad roles. Let the common man in the street also drum it into his own ears and his conscience, that, corruption can only be curb; if we are conscious of our action and inaction.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (popularly known as JFK) 35th president of United State of America, make this resounding quote, which keep echoing and is written in the sand of time, “ask not what your country can do for, ask what you can do for your country” he was sworn in as 35th president on January 20th 1961 before his assassination in 22 November 1963.

In his inaugural speech he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens. Likewise, if we must fight corruption and win in this country, all citizens of this country Nigeria must be active citizens; in fighting corruptions not with stampede but with our conscience.

PS: Ikpang Sunday is a talented writer; an author, screenplay, radio play, an essayist, articles writer and also a ghostwriter. He can be reach with this e-mail address:ikpangsunday@gmail.com or whatsapp no: 09011866308.