By Fidelia Robert

There are many unresolved problems in Nigeria , but the issue of corruption is not only troubling but herculean. The damage it has done is so terrible. The menace of corruption leads to slow movement of files in offices, police extortion and slow traffics on the highways, ghost workers syndrome, election irregularities, etc.

Corruption is harmful to life and living; and like cancer, it plays havoc with the cherished value-system of civilized society, destroying all the labours of our hero’s past. Thus many in Nigeria believe that corruption is the bane of Nigeria ’s development.

Corruption is not peculiar to any religion or ethnic group. It cuts across faiths and political systems and affects male and female, young and old. Corruption is traceable to dictatorial politics, capitalist and socialist economies, democratic governance. It lives with the Muslims, the Christian. The Buddhist and Hindu cultures are equally bedeviled by corruption. So it is as old as human existence.

Since corruption is not new, and not limited to any given society, it therefore means it is global phenomenon and not peculiar to Nigeria . However, corruption is pandemic in Nigeria and in many African and Asian nations. The leaders as well as the followers have lived in corruption. The question then is what is corruption? And how does it negatively impact the future of this potentially great nation?

Corruption has received an extensive attention in the communities, and perhaps due to the fact that it has been over_flogged in the academic circles, it has received varied definitions. Corruption has broadly been defined as a perversion or a change from good to bad. Specifically, corruption or corrupt behaviour involves the violation of established rules for personal gains and profit. Corruption is efforts to secure wealth through illegal means and private gain at public expense; or a misuse of public power for private benefit.

Corruption is a behaviour which deviates from the formal duties of a public role, because of private gains. This definition includes such behavior as bribery, use of reward to prevent the judgment of a person in a position of trust. Corruption is an anti-social behavior conferring improper benefits contrary to legal and moral norms, and which undermine the authorities to improve the living conditions of the people.

The recent development in Nigeria where discoveries of stolen public funds run into billions of US dollars and Nigeria naira, make these definitions very appropriate. Corruption is probably the main means to accumulate quick wealth in Nigeria . Thus corruption is a deliberate violation of the normal and legitimate operation of a thing be it a rule, a moral code, a person or organization. And, as such, we could have moral, social, economic, legal, religio_spiritual and political.

Man being a creature of habit, makes corruption second nature once he habituates this deadly disease. And unfortunately this is the state most of us of us find our selves and consequently we have made Nigeria fall suddenly from a high level to the lowest position where do we turn to now?

Can we look up to our leaders for exemplary lifestyle? Is it religion? When fake people have taken our places of worship; corrupt behaviour encourages other corrupt behaviour, especially when the culprits go unpunished. But respect for rules, honest and upright behaviour is certainly bulwark against corruption in many societies.

In view of this, there is no arguing the fact that a special court to handle the issue of corruption in Nigeria has become pertinent. Corruption has being identified as bane of development in Nigeria . Corruption is being widely discussed in Nigeria which means most people are aware of this deadly disease called corruption and thus special attention should be given to eradicate or at best reduce it drastically from our society.

Sadly, corruption is now a high-profile issue in Nigeria ; and those in political power are main culprits. Many laws are already on ground to fight corruption in Nigeria , personnel of ICPC, EFCC is up and doing their best in recovering billions of dollars over the years, even in the area of making sure justice is done and those guilty are put behind bars. Chief Olabode’s case is a good one in recent time.

In order to support the efforts of the EFCC, the legislators should not turn deaf ears to Waziri’s call, as regards the issue of creating Special Courts to help hasten judgment since we all know that the unduly slow pace of the wheel of justice in the country offers a safely value to corrupt public officials.

It is terrible that in Nigerian, court cases go on between 4-5 years even without hearing the plea stage. The legislative body and other Government arms should all do something about it while the Nigerian masses, organizations individuals, societies who are at the receiving end should also do their best to eradicate corruption.

Above all, people’s rights should be respected and protected by the government. The world cannot be considered secure if human rights are violated. To tame corruption, Nigeria has to use multifaceted approach: words as well as actions. Finally, good governance, accountability, transparency and the rule of law are the keys to tackling corruption in the country. If these steps are taken, Nigeria will take her rightful place among the other leading economies in the world.