Last week, the Ghanaian president, John Mahama, fired a minister, Victoria Hammah, who played a major role in his election as president. Her offence? She was caught on tape saying she would remain in politics until she made a million dollars. In Nigeria, that’s about N160 million. Note that Victoria Hammah was not yet guilty of corruption. So why should we be surprised that Ghana has done so well in the past few years so much so that we now send our children to schools in the country, troop to its hospitals for treatment, and those who can afford it are locating their holiday homes there?
Ghana is not even nearly as endowed as Nigeria. Yet, it has recorded an average of 8 per cent growth rate consistently for a very long time. It produces only 115,000 barrels of crude per day, which is less than a third of the total quantity stolen by oil thieves in Nigeria without repercussions whatsoever. Officially, Nigeria is supposed to be producing 2.5 million barrels per day; with a better president, we can produce up to 4 million barrels daily. No president in the world ever achieves anything if that president does not see corruption as a grievous crime. President Jonathan does not think that corruption is such a big deal and he does not even pretend about it.
As always, President Jonathan is currently in a rowdy corruption row. Stella Oduah, his very dear minister, has been caught red-handed with her fingers in the till. Nigerians everywhere, including several members of the president’s government and party, think Stella should resign, and, if she refuses, the president should sack her just like his Ghanaian counterpart did. Instead, what we hear filtering out of Jonathan’s villa is that Stella is being persecuted because she is Igbo. What has being Igbo got to do with stealing? Some of the fiercest advocates of “Stella must go” are Igbo. The truth is that it is not Stella that is on trial here; it is Jonathan himself. And if he insists on keeping her, it is he that should go.
During the latest media chat, someone asked the president what he thought about corruption in his government. Every other president, even the most thieving president in the world, would have pretended and talked tough about fighting corruption. But not our president! Instead, he started quoting a nebulous report which placed corruption as the fourth most serious problem facing Nigeria. It was not the first, second or third, he said, feeling very happy with himself. So what if corruption was placed fourth in the order of Nigeria’s problems? Does that mean it is not an issue?
It’s not only Stella’s aviation cars that do not mean anything to the president. The N1.6 trillion fuel subsidy heist also means absolutely nothing to the president; the N100 billion stolen police pension fund means nothing to the president. It was the Senate that was more concerned and the president was even accused of shielding the thief. The Nuhu Ribadu Report means nothing to the president. There are sundry others.
Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore and one credited with transforming his very tiny backward state into a First World nation, has proved that running a good government is not nuclear science. He said that the first thing he tackled as prime minister was the corruption issue. He made it very clear that no country can ever make progress if it is soft on corruption. Till today, Singapore remains harsh on corruption. President Jonathan would gladly say that Singapore is a small country compared to Nigeria; what about China? China moved from a very big, backward and messy country into the country with the second largest economy in the world today and on its way to becoming the biggest economy in the world in the coming years. Listen to the Chinese leaders speak on corruption and you know one of the reasons they are doing so well. China is one of the very few countries in the world where some types of corruption carry the death sentence.
But I know our president doesn’t care and doesn’t give a damn. That is why he will never succeed as president of Nigeria or even as chairman of a local government.
By: Sam Nda-Isaiah Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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You 100% correct ! President Jonathan is a learner and does not deserve second chance.
ReplyDeleteI still admire President Jonathan, but he would a lot more be kind enough to leave the stage while the ovation is loudest.
ReplyDeleteI pity dis country for allowing dis man @d first instance.
ReplyDeleteThen Buhari is the answer atleast for 4 years to wipe corruption.
ReplyDeletePresident Jonathan is one of the most corrupt and wasteful president Nigeria has ever had.he is better of as a village headmaster or better still a councillor in his village.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sam! but Nigerians know this, is only that religion never allow us to take good decision in election
ReplyDeleteIt is easier said than done. No leader, no matter his quality, can lead Nigeria successfully due to the wrong structure. If the author thinks otherwise, he should not have restructured his newspaper. By the way, why is this publisher so blind to the quality of GJ? The same publisher sees everything wrong with the constitutional conference.
ReplyDeleteSee how this people who call themselves Nigeria are speaking ill against the president that He is corrupt. All of you who have comment above, could you mention atleast one person who is not corrupt? Or is it Buhari, the father of corruption in his time? Or which of d past president doesn't have trace of corruption in its blood. My dear people, please if you don't know what to say about the president or you don't have what to do please kill yourself. Infact what contribution have you guys made to environment you are? Please let the sleeping dog lie. GEJ, you are the best and may God give you the grace as you continue to move this coutry forward.
ReplyDeleteYou corrupt bastard! May the forces of hell be with you and your entire generation for the irresponcible comments you just made! What are you saying, that Nigerians should be content with a weak president that clearly condones corruption that is eating our short lives away? Are you not even ashamed, if not for the situation your country is in, at least for yourself? Traitor feeding on bread crumbs of a corrupt system; even a dog has more dignity than you!
DeleteGbenga be reasonable,,, stop insulting people for their opinion...
Deletejona is d best president so far forget dat notherners n allow him.
ReplyDeleteNIGERIANS BWARE.PPL COMMNTING IN SUPPORT OF GEJ ARE HIRED AND PAID TO DO SO BY MINISTRY OF INFORMATION.NO SINGLE NIGERIAN LIKES EPIDEMIC GEJ WHO'S COFIDNT OF 2ND TERM AS PDP KNOWS HOW TO RIGG
ReplyDeleteMr WRITER! CORRUPTION flows in our BLOOD. If U think otherwise ask IBB & late Tai Solarin on PEOPLES BANK? Before we PULL the WOOL in bros JONA'S EYE & I think we shld REMOVE the WOOD in our EYES. LOOK around U Mr ISAIAH, U see CORRUPT. Most People in Govt now were observers some years back COMPLAINING abt the System, now that they are there, what have they achieve? NOTHING!
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOD NO BODY HAS THE MONOPOLY OF RIGGING.
ReplyDeleteWE SHALL ALL MEET COME 2015. THE MAN GEJ LACKS EXPERIENCE, MORE OVER HE NEVER PREPARED FOR ALL THIS. HE HAS NO QUALITY OF A LEADER AT ALL.
@anonymous 7:48pm:pls dont be so bais in ur judgement,if u nd ur kinsmen re corrupt be bold enough to say it like el-matosky said it boldly that corruptions flows in the blood of his family and his people but not all nigerians.
ReplyDeleteCorruption didn't start with GEJ, but the fact is WE want to forget the past. Nigerians desired a changed that was why GEJ was voted in the first place. WE desire some fresh air, a man who is not like our past WICKED leaders, that was why he got a massive voting from Nigerians. But today, what do we have? Disappointments, Incompetency, Lack of will power and above all ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION which has been our major problem. It is only SENTIMENTAL, FOOLISH AND THE WEAK MINDED that cannot SEE the HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. GEJ is a failure, he will compound Nigeria's problem, so the best is to get him out before he causes more harm for OUR CHILDREN.
ReplyDeleteWell written. A God fearing leaders is the answer.
ReplyDeleteNot only is he weak, not intelligent, not charismatic, uninspiring, but he is a complete failure who lacks initiative. I cant recomend him for a local govt chairman.
ReplyDeleteWhich comes first,
ReplyDeleteThe President or Corruption?
BabaPupa!!!
the sleeping government, most corrupt leader, promises and fail. surep fund missing, drivers licence renew, plate number changed, oduagate, suspension to opposition, witch hunt amaechi, abandoned the source(obasanjo) "pride". presidential pardon "alams", tobolo private jet. etc . the answer is Buhari if at all am voting
ReplyDeleteMY SUBMISSION ON NIGERIA'S ISSUE OF CORRUPTION IS THAT ALL OF US SHOULD JOIN OUR FORCES TO FIGHT EVIL AT ALL LEVEL NO MATTER WHOSE INTEREST IS AFFECTED. NOTE, THIS IS A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE RESPECT AND HONOR TRIBAL INTEREST THAN THE INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY. I THEREFORE RECOMMEND, WE SHOULD SHUN EVIL PRACTICES IN OUR OWN LITTLE WAY. AND STOP POURING BARRAGES OF WORDS ON A SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE GREAT NATION LIKE OURS. THANKS AND GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem of Nigerians is short memory,Who is talking of Buhari,I would have clapped for the comments if only you are not only campaigning for Buhari and APC,whenever any Nigerian talk there must be something in it for Him,If Jonathan Cannot deliver Buhari cannot,because,people like Tinubu whom Fashola has put to shame by His works are still going to join forces with Buhari,govt is not an individual its a team,for me any talk of these old breed is equal to treason,are we saying that we do not have people again ,if so lets put Nigeria on sale so that foreign country can manage us for 10 yrs ,I tell you ,you will not believe the good result,we really need Gods help,and I know that a man whom we never espected will emerge for the good of Nigeria
ReplyDelete@sam,if u can read this,then try to answer me this....tell the truth,have u ever given a kickback to any govt official who brought any job to ur newspaper or company?do u now see that most of us have corrupt mindsets?God can save us but we must be the change that we want to see...i think president gej is doing a great job except for the fact that he's a bit slow to implement some of these things that are still gon come for sure that will help transform Nigeria..terrorism is declining and there are moves to stabilize power in the country by privatisation and the injection of funds into the sector,this is going to open up doors for other developmental stuff to come in
ReplyDeleteNigeria needs a good n smart president not a mentally retarded one. All we need is change
ReplyDeleteTAURANI! no be Ur brothers CIRRUOT pass? Even U dey receive salary for TAURANI LGA when na mau BARO U be for CENTRAL MARKET, KANO. Idiot! OGBO KILL U! Mumu!
ReplyDelete