PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer
Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
P.O, Box 1184,
Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
GOD’S DISPLEASURE IN
GOVERNANCE (Part 1)
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES AND POLITICAL
CORRUPTION
MAIN TEXT: “By
justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes
tears it down” (Proverb29:4) WRITER’S
QUOTE: Politicians
are God’s gifts for nations building, but they disappoint God when they engage
in corruption.
INTRODUCTION: Without
controversy, thrones, kingdoms and governments are established by God, and He
places certain parsons of His choice in positions of authority who, in ideal
situations should first and foremost be accountable to Him, and then, to the society
in which such institutions are put in place. This implies that God expects the
acts of governance to be transparent and fair, as He expresses displeasure when
reverse is the case. And, no doubt, the executive arm of government takes the
lead in acts of governance, though the other arms, the legislature and
judiciary play particular roles. But, just as the executive arm of government
is outstanding in the acts of governance, so also, is “political corruption” a
common feature of its functionaries, especially where the fear of God and moral
rectitude are lacking. In Nigeria, for instance, cases of ‘political
corruption” have uncontrollably taken hold of most of the government officials
of nowadays, that one may be tempted to view corruption as part of the Nigerian
constitutional social values, and here, the writer cites the former governors, Late DSP Alamieyeiseigha of Bayelsa State,
Chief James Ibori of Delta State, and Sir Jude Agbaso, the impeached former
deputy Governor of Governor Rochas Okorocha
of Imo State as examples of persons guilty of ‘political corruption”, though,
some allegedly argue that Sir, Jude
Agbaso may have been innocent or not alone in the alleged fraud, or may have suffered
from certain hidden political intrigues designed to remove him from office,
citing that the lack of due process in the whole exercise may have also indicted
the governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, or played out his desires for a new
deputy. After all, according to the Imo Trumpeta newspaper of Friday, May 24,
2013, “recent developments (on the matter), especially investigations by
private and anti-graft agencies have revealed that the #450m
bribe alleged to have
been collected by the impeached Deputy Governor from Jpross has been traced to
banks in Dubai and Lebanon said to have been masterminded by Joseph Dina, owner
of Jpross”, which now gives rise to the thought that the impeached Deputy governor
may not have had a hand in the alleged fraud, but a victim of some sort of
political plot.
By
way of definition, “political corruption” as Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
renders, “is the use of power by government officials for illegitimate gain”…It
also notes that forms of corruption vary, but include; bribery, extortion,
cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft and embezzlement as outstanding. The Lexicography
further states that corruption may facilitate
criminal enterprise, such as drug trafficking, money laundering and human
trafficking, though it is not restricted to these activities…, and in Nigeria,
as well as in other countries of the world, the foregoing among others are noticeable
and condemnable crimes. However, for the purpose of stressing the evils of
“political corruption” apparent among the ruling class of today, please observe
that:
GOD IS NOT PLEASED WHEN GOVERNMENT
EXECUTIVES USE THEIR OFFICES TO ENTRICH THEMSELVES In every democracy, like Nigeria,
people elect their leaders. Though, during elections, people make a number of
choices which may or may not favour the winner of a given election. However,
when once someone is duly elected, the person in question automatically becomes
the leader of the generality of the people, irrespective of those who voted him
or not, and so, should have the welfare of all at heart, which in normal human
behaviour should rule-out discrimination, greed, avarice and self enrichment, which
work against the good of the people, state or nation being governed. In other
words, a leader with good intentions for the people can hardly think of ways of
enriching himself when he should be working for the benefits of the people.
But, certain Nigerian political leaders think otherwise, as statistics shows
that most of them who went into government poor, left office(s) un-warrantedly
rich, and in some parts of Nigeria, such greedy leaders become richer than the
states or areas the governed within the period of time. For example, how rich was Olusegun Obasanjo when he
became a military head of state in Nigeria in 1976 and how rich did he become
when he left office in 1979? Furthermore, how rich was the same Obasasnjo when
he became a civilian president I 1999, and how rich has he become since he left
office in 2007? Also, how rich was ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida when
he assumed power in 1985, and how rich did he become in 1993, when he left
office? At state level, how rich was ex-governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State
when he assumed office in 2007, and how rich is he today? And, how rich was
ex-governor ikedi Ohakim of Imo State when he became the governor in 2007 and
how rich has he become since he left office in 2011? Is it not surprising to observe
that some of these folks whose economic records were in red are today bastardly
rich, at the expense of the people they should have helped? Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo after his regime as military head of state established his
famous Ota Farm and other network of businesses, and also came up with other
business establishments running into billions of naira after his tenure as
civilian president, yet with chains of allegations of financial misappropriation.
Ex-military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is today said to be the owner
of multi-national/international business networks, but also carries uncleared allegation
of the embezzlement of state funds from the oil-windfall during his tenure,
plus other un-accounted financial dealings, as the immediate past governor of
Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva was sometime invited to tell the Economic
and Financial crime Commission (EFCC) how much he allegedly embezzled from the
coffers of Bayelsa State. In Imo State, too, Governor Rochas Okorocha sometimes
threatened to probe ex-governor Ikedi Ohakim for allegedly stealing public
funds, but later dropped the idea for allegedly lack of evidence or moral
reasons, for there are also allegations of financial misappropriation and
recklessness against him, which may have been pricking his conscience, and so,
the reason for not pursuing the purported probe may have been informed by the
words of Jesus “if you have no sin, cast a stone”, (John 8:7), though, the case
is being revisited by the EFCC, probably, for political reasons, or due to
president Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, which some view as lopsided. The
fact of political corruption, which this work had already defined as “, the use
of power by government officials for illegitimate gain” cannot be over
emphasized. And, without mincing words, most government executives in Nigeria
and elsewhere are guilty of this crime which displeases God. Today, it is
obvious that government business is no longer a service to God and humanity,
but a service for self-enrichment, and this may have informed one of the reason
why key positions in government have become price-tagged, instead of
meritoriously offered. For instance, the ex-governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi
Ohakim was allegedly said to have price- tags that ranged from #5m and #10m and above
for the appointment of his commissioners, Sole Administrators (SOLAD), Special Assistants
(SA) and other principle officers, and who knows if Governor Rochas is
presently doing the same thing? Another way government executives
rip off the treasury of their states or nations is through the award of
contracts. Between the late 70s and early 80s, what used to be in place was ten
percent (10%) kick-back or kick front. But, nowadays, we hear of three hundred percent
(300%) upfront payment of contracted jobs. Worst still, is the fact that most
government executives become the client, the consultant, as well as the contractor
in the circ=le of a given project, as a way of attaining maximum profit. In
fact, this is the very accusation which today fingers Governor Rochas Okorocha
of Imo state. And, the reader may have known that a good number of Imo people
believe that the governor is relatively doing well in infrastructural development,
but the allegation remains that most of the contracts are allegedly done by his
own firms in a bid to further enrich himself, which by implication is a way of
impoverishing the vast majority of the citizens of the state. Therefore, if the
cited allegation becomes evident, it then means that the multitude of projects
embarked upon by the Imo State Governor may be “incentive driven’ and not
“economic driven”, as this seems to justify the notion of the opposition party
in the state that most of the projects of the present administration have no
economic values. And,
a critical look at the cited view may readily picture the fact that the
outrageous number of roundabouts and towers littered all over the state by the
government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha may have no economic values, as well as
suggest that what inspires such project may be the concept of “more project,
more money”, ant not the well being of the people, though, there are as well
traces of valuable projects in the ongoing programmes of the state government.
However, God is not pleased, if the drive behind the project in Imo State is
self-enrichment. GOD IS
ALSO NOT PLEASED WHEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS USE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS TO UNDULY
FAVOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS Government
is not a family affair, nor is it a forum for comradeship, but an institution
designed to take care of the socio-political and economic needs of the
generality of the people within its jurisdiction. This is not to say that
people in government should not grant members of their families and friends certain
opportunities while in office, but a stress on the need for fairness and
adherence to the rule of law in governance, as well as a move against
favouritism in government business, and here, it may be helpful to bring to the
notice of the reader that this gospel piece drives towards ethical matters in
governance and not technicalities. For instance, there is nothing wrong for
someone in government to appoint certain members of his family or friends into positions
of trust where there is equity and fair-play in the exercise, but there is
everything wrong where such appointments are done on the basis of affinity or
affiliation, without recourse to qualification and principles of technocracy. Put differently,
it is unethical for a political leader to appoint his brother or girlfriend,
with or without qualification in accountancy to head the mechanical unit of the
ministry of works, where countless qualified engineers are looking for the job.
It is equally wrong for a government executive to unduly favour a friend who is
a roadside mechanic for a road construction work, whereas, people who are
trained and have what it takes to do the job are sidelined for the simple fact
of place of origin. No doubt, such things happen almost every moment in Nigeria
and other parts of the world. For example, during the regime of Chief Achike
Udenwa in Imo state, it was alleged that Nze Ignatius Umunna was appointed the Secretary
to Imo State government (SSG) simply because he is his half-brother. Chief
Ikedi Ohakim, as well toed this inglorious path, when he appointed his brother Chief
Emma Ohakim, the Chief of Staff of his administration. Today, Owelle Rochas
Anayo Okorcha has allegedly been appointing his kinsmen or people from his senatorial
zone into key positions in his government, and by the same token has allegedly
handed over the Imo State Sanitation job to his wife, coupled with the rumour
that certain valuable contracts in the state are either awarded to members of
his family or friends, and where people outside this cited circle are asked to
do some minor jobs for the government, they allegedly find it difficult, if not
impossible to receive payment for the work done, and who knows is president
Mohamadu-Buhari today runs Nigeria in the cited constitutionally forbidden
style? The reader should please help the writer find out if these specified
allegations are true, as well as pray for a change of heart, since God is never
pleased when such things take place in governance.
GOD IS EQUALLY NOT
PLEASED WHEN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES TAKE BRIBES BEFORE AWARDING GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTS By now, the
reader may have been aware that “political corruption” borders on the use of
governmental powers for illegitimate gain, and this work carries a sweeping
x-ray on those who may have been found wanting, including, Sir Jude Agbaso, the
impeached Deputy Governor of Imo State, whose removal from office was hinged on
the #458m bribe which he allegedly received from
Joseph Dina, the owner of Jpross group Ltd. In fact, the above cited dimension of
“political corruption” is what this section of the gospel piece before the
reader is designed to tackle Bribe
taking before the award of contracts by some government functionaries is
unethical, as well as scripturally wrong, and so, displeases God. According to
the main text of this piece, a king who is greedy of bribe tears down a country,
(Proverb 29:4). And, no doubt, this is one of the reasons why Nigeria, and many
other nations of the world are moving backwards, instead of moving forward, and
this may have also informed the reason why most government services that are
usually done by government ministries are nowadays contracted out by some
government executives, probably in a bid to receive up-front bribes from
desperate contractors who would bribe their way through. Today, hardly can one
notice where road maintenance is done by ministry of works or where other
essential services of government are done by the civil servants who are duly
employed for such services. But, one notice to the dismay of all that, even
hospital and other social services of government are mindlessly contracted out
by certain greedy government executives for illegitimate gain, and from the grapevine
the writer gathers that the present contracts of the Imo State Government of
Owelle Rochs Okorocha to present managers of certain government parastatals in
the state may not have considered the welfare of the people as claimed by the
government, but may have carried a hidden motive for private gain. This is too bad,
and displeasing to God, if the allegation becomes real.
In conclusion, the fact that God is the
Governor-General of all nations is both biblical and experiential, and so,
those in leadership positions should be aware that they serve under a sovereign
God who knows and sees all things, even before they happen or are done, as well
as takes delight in honest and transparent services in governance. As such, the
idea of “political corruption”, which this work has repeatedly cited from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, as “the use of power by government officials
for illegitimate gain” is biblically not proper, and therefore, could lead one
to divine judgment that results in administrative down-fall and eternal
destruction. BE WARNED!
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