[Tola OdejayiParticipant]

In this topic, I invite all NS members to say how they would solve the corruption problem in present day Nigeria.

Here are the parameters:

- You are on your first day as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

- You have no scandal attached to your name.

- You belong to a party of very corrupt politicians; however, you were chosen as the presidential candidate, because the party members believed that you would not rock the boat.

So go ahead and state what you would do, bearing in mind the realities of present-day Nigeria. Be sure that I will ask questions on your solutions, though.

[kayceeParticipant]

Nigeria already has existing system of checks and balances. We have a constitution. We have laws.
Nigeria is corrupt today because these systems ????? not being followed at any level.
To stop corruption we just follow the law. It is very simple.
Don’t we know how to follow or obey the laws. It would have been a different scenario if their were no rules or checks to all these excesses. The books should be unearthed and followed to the latter.
What is hard in that?

[Tola OdejayiParticipant]

@Kaycee,

Regarding this:

To stop corruption we just follow the law.

There are people who do NOT want to follow the law, because it is to their financial advantage not to do so.

How do you compel such people to follow the law?

Before you answer by saying “prosecute them”, consider that some of these law breakers are themselves the same people who should be upholding the law by doing the prosecution.

[kayceeParticipant]

Following the law entails enforcing the law too.
There will always be people who would want to break the law, for whatever reason. That is why we need to enforce the law.
Like I said earlier, we must follow the constitution to the latter.

[Tola OdejayiParticipant]

And again, I ask – what if the person who is enforcing the law is corrupt?

Who is the ‘we’ who will do the enforcing?

Referring again to my original scenario, how as president will you ensure the law is enforced?

[shaifamilyParticipant]

This is a very painful topic. Painful in the sense that the depth of corruption in the country is so deep-rooted and endemic that it seems almost an impossibility to eradicate the problem.
However, I retain some hope.

[shaifamilyParticipant]

Returning to the issue, I think the way to go is to first look for like-minded individuals…that way it is not like one is the lone ranger.
With more people helping to help enforce the letter and spirit of the constitution, it is most likely corruption will begin to take a back seat.

[Tola OdejayiParticipant]

@Shaifamily, that’s a good starting point.

But bear in mind the scenario I have described; you are the president, and you have been put in power by corrupt people.

You can certainly try to pick like minded people to form your cabinet, but you know how it goes in Nigeria – he who has paid the piper will want to call the tunes to play. So you will likely find the party godfathers recommending their sons or girlfriends to be Minister-of-This and Special Adviser-for-That.

How will you work around this problem?

(See, @Kaycee who was saying that the problem is easy to solve is now nowhere to be found. )

[shaifamilyParticipant]

I hear u, but still it is a question of appointing like-minded individuals. It cannot happen in one fell swoop. But u can achieve ur aim incrementally and gradually. Let them have their short moments, if they will….but in time u can fill ur inner circle with trustworthy like-minded people who will help u drive ur policies.

[gooseberryParticipant]

To stop corruption in nigeria?? Near impossible. It can only be reduced and that should be by obeying and enforcing laws strictly…

…Except a microchip, controlled by an uncorrupt leader is driven into the skull of every nigerian.

[gooseberryParticipant]

To stop corruption in nigeria?? Near impossible. It can only be reduced and that should be by obeying and enforcing laws strictly…

…Except a microchip, controlled by an uncorrupt leader is driven into the skull of every nigerian.

[gooseberryParticipant]

To stop corruption in nigeria?? Near impossible. It can only be reduced and that should be by obeying and enforcing laws strictly…

…Except a microchip, controlled by an uncorrupt leader is driven into the skull of every nigerian.

[Seun-OdukoyaParticipant]

Kill EVERYONE who has ever ruled Nigeria…EVERY MAJOR STAKEHOLDER in EVERY major political party.

Including myself.

[Tola OdejayiParticipant]

@Shaifamily,

OK, let us assume that you are able to fill your inner circle with trusted individuals. What next?

The civil service, the legislature, the judiciary and the police will still be filled with people who will either not be interested in carrying out whatever reforms you want, or worse still, will seek to oppose you and even get you impeached.

@Gooseberry,

I agree with you – corruption can never be eliminated. So I’m not even talking about stopping it, just reducing it. But tell me more about your microchip solution. What will the microchip do?

@Seun-Odukoya!

Trust you to come up with a nuclear solution like that.

[gooseberryParticipant]

@tola, I really dunno o. Maybe turn us into uncorrupt ‘mugus’ whose brains will be controlled by the fingers of a higher ‘mugu’.

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