Yar'Adua: An antidote to corruption
ACHO ORABUCHI
Dallas, Texas
Thursday, July 12, 2007
"Corruption is a serious threat to good governance and deters investment.
Therefore, fighting corruption is essential to the development of our
economies for the benefit of our people." Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
- Declaration of Santiago in November 2004
"The war against corruption cannot have meaning until those at the helm begin to live by example," the president's spokesman told reporters, distributing copies of Yar'Adua's assets declaration form dated May 28, 2007.
Indubitably, corruption, a perennial problem in Nigeria, has hobbled and stunted the country's economic and social development with no end in sight. Sadly, corruption has been a vermin in all sectors of Nigeria's socio-economic environment and its upsurge among the political elite is quite troubling. The news about corruption in Nigeria is around the world. Reuters reported this sad reality in December 17, 2004: "Corruption and mismanagement swallow about 40 percent of Nigeria's $20 billion annual oil income, anti-graft Chief Nuhu Ribadu said yesterday. Industry sources say at least 100,000 barrels, or 4 percent, of national oil exports are stolen every day in Nigeria, the world's eighth largest exporter. Despite its oil riches, 70 percent of the West African country's population live below the poverty line because of corruption and economic mismanagement." Indeed, corruption in Nigeria is pervasive and its hydra-headed ills are not limited to the oil sector alone.
Graft
in government is one of the main challenges facing President Yar'Adua. The
president's fight against corruption lurks perfectly behind any other success in
his economic programs. In other words, the success in fight against corruption
would beget success in other economic development programs. The imperative of
winning the war against corruption in Nigeria is now and it's widely agreed to
by well-meaning Nigerians.
The two introductory quotes and the foregoing commentary underscore the urgent necessity to wipe out corruption in our system. They aptly capture the imperative of continued genuine fight against corruption, particularly in every nook and corner of the country. As a result, the new administration must work diligently to curb corruption that has permeated the fabric of our society.
Interestingly, the first step in fighting corruption is cleansing leaders of corrupt culture and vestiges of corruption. Leaders must lead by example; they should be devoid of corruption and venal tendencies, especially with the realization of the enormous impact of corrupt culture on governance, education, investment, economy, and development programs.
Succor is on the way! That seems to be echoing around the world due to Yar'Adua's assets declaration. Based on the realization of the jinx of culture of corruption and the fact that the fight against the ugly gremlin must start with the leaders themselves, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua took everyone by surprise in declaring publicly his family's assets and liabilities just as he did when he was the governor of Katsina State in 1999. Yar'Adua should have limited the submission of completed Assets Declaration Form to the Bureau to conform to Paragraph 11 of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, but he went extra mile to let Nigerians know about his wealth before his ascendancy to the presidency of Nigeria. This is a mark of transparency!
This is precisely why President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has captivated the interest and admiration of many Nigerians, especially those in the Diaspora who are yearning for credible leaders in Nigeria. The public declaration of President Yar'Adua's assets and liabilities-the first in history-was a good omen for Nigeria and its nascent democracy. Furthermore, the action alone shows that Nigeria's president has a superior character and would lead Nigeria by personal example. Indeed, Ya'Adua is a symbol of public service and an epitome of integrity and credibility that has eluded the Nigerian ruling elite for so long.
Admittedly, by declaring his assets publicly, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has unwittingly put other public officials on notice about his temerity to fight corruption in the country. It is now a moral burden and challenge to the governors, legislators, and ministers to do the same. Nigerians would want all public officials to publicly declare their assets-this is the masses' palate. As a matter of fact, the governors and other public servants should be compelled to declare their assets publicly to demonstrate their transparency in governance. In addition to assets declaration, President Yar'Adua should have in place the contraption to monitor all economic activities in the nation to ensure their optimum operation. As Dr. Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Udibe, an economist the United States succinctly put it, "Asset declaration is a sine qua non for leadership accountability in governance. Also important is the need to consciously civilize Nigeria through Accessible Social Security Data Management System for crime control, socio-economic transactions; computerized taxation system, uninterrupted power supply system; and then revenue Allocation accountability at all tiers of governance."
We undoubtedly know that corruption is a curse
that drains country's institutions and impedes the economic foundation for
sustainable economic growth. Also we know too well that corruption warps the
crux of rule of law; it undermines the people's aspirations and commitment to
building democratic structures and equitable economy. Assets declaration alone
is not an
antidote to corruption.
Nevertheless, Nigerians are hopeful that President Yar'Adua would ensure that the country's resources are utilized efficiently. He has shown that he has nothing to hide and would be accountable to Nigerians. Additionally, the president's public declaration of his family's assets is truly commendable. This singular act and other reforms that would ensue inevitably stand to serve as a catalyst that would begin to restore people's confidence in Nigeria's political system.