Robert Clarke, a
senior advocate of Nigeria, says death sentence will not stop corruption
because the act of stealing runs in the blood of Nigerians.
In an interview with
the Punch, the lawyer said good governance remains the solution to curbing
corruption and improve the economy.
He said corruption
is strengthened by the perception of some Nigerians who view political
positions as a “money-spinning venture”.
“Whether it is
capital punishment or not, a crook would always be a crook. Most of these
things are in the blood,” he said.
“Somebody who wants
to steal has it in the blood and some Nigerians have imbibed the custom of
believing that when they are working for government, they are there to steal.
If you are made a commissioner tomorrow, all your relations are looking forward
to getting contracts from you.
“So, we believe it’s
a money-spinning venture. Sentencing people to death will not stop people from
stealing. it’s in the blood of Nigerians to steal. Once there is good
governance, the propensity to steal would reduce.”
Clarke called for
the abolition of death sentence, saying most governors refuse to ensure its
effectiveness as a result of their religious beliefs.
He recommended a
minimum of 20 years imprisonment as an alternative to capital punishment.
“When a mechanic has
power supply to work in his workshop and a tyre repairer has electricity to do
his job, when will he have the time to dupe others? Nigeria is so great, with
about 200 million people,” he said.
“Can you imagine if
we have one singlet and briefs factory in Nigeria? Do you know the market it
would have? We import everything. Whereas if most of our politicians who are
stealing money can set up singlet and pants factories in every geo-political
zone, the market is there, but we all just believe in stealing.
“We should abolish
death sentence and make it a minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment. I believe
somebody who killed at the age of 36 and is sentenced to 20 years and comes
back at the age of 56 should have learnt a lesson, rather than keep them there.
“Some are afraid to
sign a death warrant or they have religious phobia that you shouldn’t take life
when you don’t make one. Then, let us agree to cancel death penalty in our
books and make it 20 years’ imprisonment.”
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