WHO ARE WE REALLY FIGHTING?

Corruption is the act of changing, or of being changed, for the worse; departure from what is pure, simple, or correct. It is an act of impairing integrity, virtue or moral principle; it is the state of being debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery.

Corruption has taken roots in Nigeria, and to many, it is believed that it has come to stay. There are different perspectives, views and opinions of what corruption is and what people feel about it. There's a lot of apportionment of blames, some say it comes from the leaders, some say it is an inevitable act, some say it is something necessary, some say it is mandatory and to some others it is distasteful.

Well, the truth is, we are all flawed, we are all broken. At this point, you might not want to agree with me but this is an undeniable fact. You might not be directly involved but you are definitely indirectly involved. It is our flaws as Citizens of Nigeria that promote this same corruption we complain about, our selfishness/love for oneself, our inability to love others, jealousy, hatred, envy, unfaithfulness, you name it.

If we can't stop pointing fingers, then we are going nowhere. This can only stop when complains are no more but actions become straightened, only when irrelevant acts are omitted. 

We need to fight it from the root, you can't cut an unwanted tree from the top and expect the bottom to disappear, no! It would still grow. Corruption has found a home in the hearts of the populace, in our daily actions and inactions. The little acts we do, which we think don't matter is what grows into the daily news we watch and hear; that simple act of reserving a seat for someone who isn't present when others haven't gotten matters; the job you gave to someone based not on merit but through connection matters; that simple question you asked your neighbour in the examination hall during the exam matters; gossip done with other people matters; that bigger share you gave your child instead of giving equal share to all the children matters; that vote you casted for that person just because he gave you something (bribe) instead of voting the person fit for the job matters; that little cash you gave the police to escape liabilities and punishments matter; the list is in fact endless. All these corrupt practices matter and if we can't stop all these, who are we to point fingers? We are the solutions to our problem, if we don't fight corruption from within us, we can't fight corruption around us, the problem is inherent.

Today, insults and curses are thrown on our leaders, we make all sorts of Ill comments about them when we haven't done same to ourselves. Don't you see that the change begins with you? These leaders won't be there if it wasn't for me and you. They are comfortable with their wrongdoings because we are comfortable with them, our leaders would do better when we are not ready to take less. It is so sad, how we have welcomed this corrupt acts with open arms, it is so painful to see that our conscience no longer exists, it is remorseful and annoying to find someone trying to remove sand in the eyes of others when there happens to be stones in theirs, oh! what hypocrites are we? You could even hear comments from people saying that if they were also in public offices and are chanced or are faced with opportunities to embezzle or steal public funds, they wouldn't hesitate. Some people could even tell you, they'd do it more and better. What do we expect to happen with such mindsets? Where do we think we'd be in the next couple of years? What kind of future is being prepared for our kids? What kind of lifestyle are we living? Before the corrupt leaders of today became leaders, they were once followers like us, we are tomorrow's leaders, if we don't begin to act rightly then we would end up just like them, if not worst. This corruption is so engrossed and widely spread that even the purported 'last hope of the common man (the judiciary)' seems to be in ruins, even the devices and machineries meant to curb the corruption is corrupt. What a shame! It looks like the fight against corruption is a hopeless and worthless fight, why? Because we are in bed with corruption, we are not ready to leave our comfort zones, we are not ready to fight corruption.

Do we really want a change? Do we really want a better Nigeria? A better future? If yes, then the change begins with you and I. It is time families begin to distaste corrupt practices, it is time society reject such acts and conducts, it is time our religions teach us to refrain from such doings, it is high time students are being taught from the onset the evils and consequences of the vice (corruption); if possible - it should be included in school curriculums not just as a topic but as a course,  it is due time we rise against such acts and omissions, time to become the right followers in order to have the right leaders, time to do what is right, time to make right decisions and time to be right. Let's quench the small fire before it escalates. A stitch in time saves nine.

I stand for a better tomorrow, I stand for anti corruption, I stand for Nigeria. #TheChangeBeginsWithYou&I.

      Tsalla Emmanuel.