Corruption: A matter of convenience or principle?

POINTBLANK with Smart Emmanuel
09066642354

Recently, a new political alliance emerged in our nation, aimed at unseating the current President of Nigeria. I’ve been observing those behind this coalition, hoping to see fresh faces or emerging leaders but sadly, there are none.

It’s the same old political figures, still trying to ascend or reclaim the helm of affairs.

In our nation Nigeria, corruption has become so deeply entrenched in the political landscape that it now wears many disguises. What is most disturbing is not just the act of corruption itself, but the shifting moral standards of those who engage in or critique it.

Politicians, in particular, often have a flexible understanding of what corruption truly is. When they are out of power, they become loud crusaders against corruption. They raise alarm bells, call for accountability, and declare war on mismanagement and greed.

However, once their interests are captured or they find themselves part of the ruling class, the narrative changes. What was once corruption suddenly becomes a “connection”, and what was once evil is now justified as “strategy” or “political alliance”.

This dangerous hypocrisy is one of the main reasons our fight against corruption continues to fail. Corruption is not just about money changing hands under the table. It’s also about favoritism, nepotism, abuse of office, and the failure to act in the interest of the people.

Yet, when a politician benefits from this rot, they no longer see it as evil. They defend it with passion, rationalize it with excuses, and label it as smart politics. They forget that corruption, by its very nature, erodes the foundation of justice, fairness, and development.

We often hear people say, “You have to know someone to get anything in this country.” This statement, though widely accepted, reflects the normalization of corruption in our nation. The same people who cry out against this system when they are excluded from it, suddenly endorse it once they gain access. They start saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know,” with pride. This two-faced approach to governance and morality is at the heart of our national stagnation.

It is time we begin to tell ourselves the truth. Corruption is corruption, whether it benefits us or not. If we only fight corruption when we are not the beneficiaries, we are not sincere. True integrity is standing against corruption even when it is our friends, our party, or our tribe that is involved. It is choosing principle over convenience, truth over personal gain.

The irony of the situation is that those who once screamed “corruption!” from the sidelines often become even worse offenders once they assume power. They understand the system, they know the loopholes, and they quickly take advantage of them. Meanwhile, the ordinary citizens who believed in them were left disillusioned, disappointed, and worse off. This cycle of betrayal continues to keep us in a state of underdevelopment.

To break this vicious cycle, we must adopt a new attitude one that sees corruption for what it truly is, regardless of who is involved. Whether it is a president, a governor, a local government chairman, or even a civil servant, corruption must be called out and punished. We must remove the sentiment of tribe, religion, or political party from our sense of justice. Until we do that, we will continue to move in circles, repeating the same mistakes.

Our fight against corruption must be all-encompassing. It must be through every means possible: through the law, through public enlightenment, through civic activism, and strong institutions. We must encourage transparency and demand accountability. And most importantly, we must teach our children that success does not have to come through corrupt means.

We must also rise to speak truth to power. It does not matter who is involved, what is involved, or how it is done corruption is corruption. When we begin to tolerate it in small ways, we are giving room for it to grow. When we excuse it because it benefits us, we are destroying our future. Silence in the face of corruption is complicity.

It is not enough to complain on social media or whisper in private. We must take action. We must vote out corrupt leaders, report illegal practices, support organizations that fight corruption, and uphold integrity in our daily lives. Change will not come from above if the ground is rotten. It must begin with us the people.

The selective fight against corruption is no fight at all. If we are ever going to see real progress, we must fight corruption in all its forms, without fear or favor. We must stop justifying it with the excuse of “connection” and call it what it is. Only then can we hope to build a nation where justice, fairness, and progress are not just dreams, but reality.