IT is such a shame that in a country where the present administration keeps talking about fighting corruption, the same corruption keeps coming in different forms. Let’s revisit some hilarious money/project scandals in Nigeria. I think this country is becoming a huge joke. First of all, it was the rodents that drove away the then-president, and then we have snakes consuming about N36 million and now we have monkeys raiding a farmhouse.
In 2018, a sales clerk claimed that a snake had swallowed 36 million Naira proceeds from the sale of scratch cards. The clerk was working at an office for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB). The question is, how could such an amount of money be left in the office in this age of banking? The reasons they give for looting are always a joke and a big slap on the faces of Nigerians.
Today, it’s a snake swallowing money and if the issue is swept under the carpet, who knows another animal that will swallow money in the future? Snakes could be figurative though. Another hilarious yet intelligence play of people was that about N70 million belonging to the group was claimed to have been carted away by monkeys in a farmhouse. Senator Ahmed Lawan tendered the sum of N70 million to the 8th Senate, that N70 million was money gathered from the 7th Senate and it was handed over to northern senators of the 8th Senate. There were allegations that some monkeys raided the farmhouse of some of the executives of the northern senators forum and carted away some of this money.
Recently, there was controversy over the much-talked-about Nigeria Air. Conceptualized to be a legacy project of the immediate past president’s administration, the Nigeria Air project sought to give Nigeria and Nigerians a sense of pride in having a national carrier. Most African countries, including those that borrowed a leaf from the defunct Nigeria Airways, now have their national carrier. The controversy has surrounded the Nigeria Air project after it was hurriedly unveiled at the twilight of the past administration. Launched and disappeared.
Regarded as one of the wealthiest young men in Nigeria today, until his appointment was said to be surviving on proceeds made from the sale of call cards in his native Daura, a sleepy community in Katsina State in the Northern part of the country. Today, The then-personal secretary to Fomer President is now said to be the proud owner of several mansions in Abuja, once had several accounts opened that house billions of naira in Nigeria. A domestic staff with no known national office with so much power in the country.
Are these who we will look up to? What legacy are they leaving?
This administration is likely doing what the past promised – fraudulent and corrupt politicians had their way then or was it the merger? Even though it’s just a few months into this administration, Nigerians, especially the masses, are having the most turbulent times. Foodstuffs are beyond the reach of the common man. The hardship people face today is untold.
The most challenging aspect of governance in Nigeria now is not government policy or approval, but implementation, which is clobbered down by corrupt government officials but this new administration is showing some gestures, passing life lessons on erring ones and showing that bad behavior is intolerable.
This administration is suspending its own appointed ministers in response to alleged suspicious money movement from the government to personal purses.
This administration vowed to put the interest of the public first without fear or favor, affection or ill-will and has done well to set the example for its appointees.
If you value your freedom, you cannot remain neutral. Just because you are not affected by what’s going on now doesn’t mean a relative of yours is not affected, or even someone out there, Who knows? It might be you, your children, or your grandchildren suffering tomorrow because you remained neutral today.
Gone are the days when organizations lined up at universities for graduates to offer them jobs. With your first-class certificate, if you don’t have anyone at the top, it’s only a miracle that will get you a well-deserved job. You meet all the requirements for a job, but you are shoved with – you are qualified but the organization needs a person with six years of working experience. Where are you expected to get that experience? From your mother’s womb? Young brilliant minds dont get opportunities in this country.
There is dignity in labour, our youths today have opened their eyes to SMEs, but the situation in the country is not helping them.
After so much digression, I rest my case.
Kabara, is a writer and public commentator. Her syndicated column, Voice, appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays. She can be reached on hafceekay01@gmail.com