I think we don’t even know the true definition of corruption; hence our inability to fight it
Every government comes out mouthing all sorts about fighting corruption and fails woefully each time cos we really do not know what exactly we are fighting
I think we should once again look very clearly at the term corruption, what it represents and its features
In so doing, we also put our culture, our way of life, side by side
So what is corruption?
The simple and basic definition is the abuse of power and authority for private gain
Now this is so ambiguous that a lot of things fall into it- kickbacks, over-invoicing, bribery, falsification, etc
Now, other areas have been deemed corrupt that do not necessarily fall into this universal definition
Jumping a queue, giving tips to achieve a purpose in an inefficient system, showing gratitude for service done or received, and so much more
We lump everything and scream corruption without even trying to dimension it
Now let me state – which Nigerian will see his ‘towns man’ in a queue at the General Hospital and won’t reach out to use his position to help him
Have you noticed how a stern-looking policeman at the checkpoint suddenly starts smiling once he realises that you are both Igala and then immediately starts assisting you to beat the system
Which political office holder is not expected in this country to ‘do something for his people’
There is no tribe in this country that you will not hear them say: when he was there, what did he do for us
I am close to some politicians, and the number of domestic problems they are expected to solve is huge. And if they don’t, they are cancelled
So I think we should really define corruption and better understand it from our sociology and not from the Western point of view
No reharshed definition of corruption can be complete without taking into consideration concepts of Power, incompetence, due process, choice, amongst others
They all interplay in determining the varying grades of corruption as presently defined
My argument, however, tends to want to bring culture into the mix, especially in the downside of corruption
By downside, I mean the lesser but very widely practised notions of tips, bribery, gratitude, attitudes, and in relationships vis-à-vis set rules and guidelines
We are a unique people with unique expectations, unique ethos, all bound together by such strong forces of religion and ethnicity
Prayer plays a more vital role than respecting due process rules and even laws
Ethnicity blurs that line in brilliantly annoying ways
So do you blame the immigration officer who, in the face of collapsed due process, assists a seemingly helpless town man to obtain a passport very quickly, out of corruption
The townsman, in a show of appreciation, gives out money- does that make him corrupt?
The politician who is generally expected to take care of his people who now breaks the rules to enrich himself to do that, knowing full well that if he doesn’t, thousands are waiting to kick him out to do just that and who would now be hailed as a hero by the same people who turn around and shout corruption
The issue is very complex, and it’s completely in the face of a lazy society, leading to avoidance of tackling it headlong, with a resultant lack of comprehension
My suggestion, especially as it relates to the softer ‘downstream’ vices, is to democratise it
Level the field. Everyone should be able to bribe to get admission; everybody should be able to bribe police in a minor domestic dispute; this levels the field and brings parity and balance
In the case of a collapse of due process or legitimate framework for civil life, then a template for survival must be developed
You cannot expect me not to bribe my way through if my life is at stake – I will bribe police to get the guns to free a relation at risk of kidnap
I will bribe a doctor to come to me instead when my chest wants to explode and leave the other person who cannot do the same
A collapse in due process leads to the need to survive, and in that situation morality is thrown to the dogs as we scramble to survive
This is exactly how life is in Nigeria today, and as such, the template definition of corruption no longer holds as we are now in survival mode
The police man whose pay can’t buy him a litre of fuel and whose working conditions are horrendous catches you over the weekend in a minor traffic offence, will cut a deal cos there is no system to process you and penalise you immediately, and he even needs the money (bribe) to save his child who is in a hospital where the doctor is refusing to lift a finger until he gets a deposit, and when he gets the deposit he will still have to go look for the drugs to buy
The traffic offender also knows that if he doesn’t settle, he might end up at a dilapidated police station where nothing works and may end up with an armed robbery charge, will settle to go home in peace.
Both, by Nigerian standards, are not corrupt but in survival mode
In conclusion, a lot of actions we term as corrupt are no longer corrupt in practice; hence the need to redefine the term and properly place it in its rightful context within our current reality. Thanks
Come and beat me
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: November 1, 2026
