Adeola Aderounmu

I am finding it more difficult to update my blog not because of lack of motivation or information but probably because of the tasks of dragging together all the pieces and bits that makes whole news.

When you write about a country like Nigeria you are never short of news-good or bad.

When you live in a country somewhere in Europe then you gradually face the task of balancing the news from Africa with the imperfectness of every country.

Recently I began to gain more insight into the high level of corruption in the European society and in fact the world as a stage for social injustice. When people say you cannot save the world, they make an unmistakable conclusion, still not pointing out those ills will make the world a more reckless place to live.

In Sweden for example the politicians are very corrupt as well. Sometimes the corruption is open and acceptable. For example when ex-politicians continue to receive huge payments for several years after their service in the parliament it is nothing but corruption. But it is open and stupidly acceptable to be that way. It is very similar to Nigerian lawmakers appropriating excessive sums to themselves for almost doing nothing but sitting and talking bullshit.

It is shocking that the level of corruption in Sweden is that high. There have been several reports in the large newspapers about how parties are held using tax payers money. How money is inflated for private use and luxurious semesters and travels. Sometimes some politicians are forced to vacate their positions after some big expositions. Sometimes the heat fizzle and the looting continues, especially the issue of pension for inactive (lazy) Swedish lawmakers.

It is morally unjust and wicked for someone who owns or runs a private company to be earning pension at the same time.

Corruption is corruption but the dimension and impacts varies. One major difference between corruption in Nigeria and in Sweden is that it is widespread in Nigeria and the impact in Nigeria has led to widespread poverty and aggravated underdevelopment. In Sweden almost everyone has access to the basic stuffs of life and the welfare system takes care of a lot of things no matter how imperfect it is.

Corruption is a global trademark but its impacts will continue to vary from one place to another. The punishment for established corruption also differs. Nigerians live with it and they don’t really bother because they have come to agree that everybody is corrupt including their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and other people that they know in government and private institutions. Without corruption, millions of Nigerians will not make it and with it more than 70% of the population suffer bitterly.

Corruption, lack of control over state resources, lack of true federalism, the condemnable lack of patriotism and lack of sense of belonging has robbed the Nigeria of greatness and there is no end in sight. It pains. It hurts a free mind.

I hope to return to normal blogging as the days come by. Many things are happening that are shaping the hopelessness in Nigeria and it will be disservice to posterity to let them be.