SIR: The Holy Book says: “Righteousness exalts a nation while sin is a reproach.” If one looks critically at the reason Nigeria as a country is not moving forward as the whole world expects, considering its abundant human and natural resources, the reason can never be any other than the preponderance of corruption all over the land, and the greater factor that rather than repent and be remorseful, the government and its people are even digging deeper and deeper into the abyss of more grievous sins.

Almost all over the entire planet earth, Nigeria has become so notorious that its citizens are viewed with suspicion wherever they appear and even carrying the nation’s passport alone is ­ evidence of guilt.

For whatever Nigeria is or has become, the leaders take the lion share of the blame. Evidences of unbridled corruption arising from absence of accountability and transparency have continued to bled the country into a dungeon of debts while successive governments only take care of their own well-being and those of their cronies at the expense of the citizens who continue to groan under the pangs of severe pains.

Schools are without adequate facilities that can enhance the proper teaching and learning while the health sector is in shambles. Patients die in large number on daily basis under the flimsy excuse of lack of bed space mostly because the nation’s rulers prefer medical tourism to developing their health sector in a manner that can take care of everybody.

Due to the lackadaisical attitudes of the government, and corruption in high places arising from extreme penchant for materialism, almost all the facets of the society are involved in sharp practices. Ironically, the same government which takes the lead in laying bad example for its citizens to follow still set up agencies to arrest and prosecute those who are merely following after the government’s footsteps. At random, few officers who probably for one reason or another fell out with the powers that be are açcused of money laundering and corruption by the same government, which has never been accountable to the citizens in any way and which, therefore, has no moral justifiable to accuse others.

It is for the same reason truth is difficult to find anywhere in Nigeria in spite of the proliferation of churches and mosques all over the land and many claiming holier than thou. Why should this happen if Nigeria is blessed with leaders who put themselves in other people’s shoes? But it’s never too late to make necessary adjustments in order to correct some of the anomalies expressed here. Doing so will return happiness and peace to everybody ultimately.
Jide Oyewusi, coordinator of Ethics Watch International, wrote from Lagos.