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Poverty is a concept that has slowly but surely developed ugly roots in all parts of the world; from the deserts of Sudan to the tropics of Liberia, from the war-ravished Afghanistan through the Asian lands of Cambodia. It is a shame that with so much technology at our disposal and natural resources in abundance in so many places, there is still abject poverty staring us in the face. It is also a mystery why so few people are so rich while the majority can barely eat from hand to mouth.
In Nigeria, some people are so wealthy that they are richer than the country itself. The money is being stashed away in foreign lands and in the event of sudden death; many of such monies are lost. It is a wonder how someone can be so selfish as to amass wealth that even the great, great grand children may not lift a hand in labour. At birth, they are instant millionaires.
People are so greedy that one proverb says "when you climb an iroko tree, collect all the firewood you need from there, as one does not climb the iroko tree a second time". This is an obnoxious proverb that people use to justify embezzling public funds. In Nigeria, political office holders do not serve the people but simply amass wealth for themselves. The Nigerian process of obtaining political power is fraught with irregularities and corruption. People spend a lot of money to rig elections with the backing of different wealthy, and greedy individuals whose demands vary as their faces change. When the elections are finally won, each group demands for its pound of flesh. The public office holder who would have gone through horrible oaths and covenants to seal the memorandum of agreement is left with no option but to satisfy the conditions agreed upon prior to the victory. Apart from the problem of these wealthy kingpins and kingmakers, you also have the masses that have been traumatized by the harsh economic climate and thus fall prey to anything that will satisfy their immediate needs. This is the problem with poverty. Because they are hungry, they can be easily bought over by the slightest bait from these corrupt public office seekers - politicians. The politicians understand the vulnerability of the poor masses and leverages on it to their advantage. They resort to the spray of cash to electorates, giving of bags of rice, salt etc. Some go to the extent of giving motorbikes to men for commercial purposes.
The people characteristically fall for these baits. They sell off their conscience and hence let themselves be bought over by the highest bidder. After receiving the gratification, the electorate can not discern right from wrong. They do not care for what is right or who is right. The electorates are short tempered and can easily be turned into a mob at the slightest prompting by these public office seekers. They are continuously being manipulated by the corrupt few because of their poverty level.
The poverty in Nigeria does not only manifest in the political arena but in all facets of our lives. When amnesty international named Nigeria as the most corrupt country in the world few years ago, we raised our voices to high heavens, screaming blue murder and complaining that the international community does not like us or they should mind their own business and leave Nigeria alone. Nothing can be far from the truth as we brazenly exhibit our corrupt tendencies even before the international community. What happened during our 2003 general election where international observers noted that the total number of votes cast in some centres far exceeded the total number of registered voters? Isn't it incredible?
What about the 419 saga - advanced fee fraud. Nigerians are noted for all sorts of law violations and dishonesty. Foreigners have always been warned each time they step on the Nigerian soil to be careful. One cannot really lay hands on what pushes people to crime. Recently, many Nigerian girls have fled to Italy to become prostitutes. Statistics have shown that the majority of these Italy-bound girls for prostitution are from poor homes. Many of them who were deported confessed that they were pushed to go into the shameful trade because of hardship. Some are breadwinners of large families. Others unbelievably were prompted by their poor parents to travel abroad to engage in the illicit trade so as to send money down to them to buy big cars and build fine houses. It is only poverty that will drive a father or mother to operate as such a low level.
People also preform ritual killings where they offer other human beings for sacrifice in a bid to make quick money. Many people have been declared missing while they left their houses for short distances. They were kidnapped and murdered for money. The list is inexhaustible. The interconnectivity that poverty has with corruption is apparent and something must be done.
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Perfil de Escritor
Chii Torti
I am Chii Torti, a Nigerian. I have a Masters Degree from Lagos State University. I have worked as a human resources manager, a newspaper columnist, and I am presently a consultant with an international business development organization (STEP). I have authored two books.
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Comentarios
Nigerians are afraid Samson Nduleme Onwusonye | Mar 30th, 2004
Someone once defined poverty as the fear of being poor even when you are rich! This am sorry to say is the basis of our attitude in the country. Though this is no excuse for corruption , but if one was sure of his daily bread I doubt if most Nigerians would want to involve themselves in unscrupulous activities. I think an average man wishes to go about his daily activities, come back home to his family, enjoy a good meal, kiss his children good night and go to sleep. He would not listen to the ptoposal of a corrupt official, nor would making quick money through an activity considered crooked appeal to him. A Nigerian by nature is a peace-loving free spirit that pushed to the ground (wall). Because of his nature of not wanting to fight, be has burrowed his way to the core of the earth; but because he has to survive, he is only looking for a breather. Lets give the Naija man a chance.
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