PETTY DISHONESTY, BULKY CORRUPTION

 

I was at the scene where it happened. I had earlier arrived before some other heads that were there. We were there for the National Identification Number [NIN] registration at the ADO-ODO SECRETARIAT, Ogun State. The scene was indeed thronged with people all of a limited patience. We had arrived earlier before the members of staff in charge. Some of the people said they were there by 6am on the dot so as to avoid the usual obstacle as it was apparent they were there not for a first-hand experience. They were used to the routine more than me that was just finding my feet. I seemed all through a green horn peeping at every movement of everyone until an experienced fellow came to my aid.

We were there now about four hours ago still on the initial process of the registration. Here, a staff called us in one after the other and checked our documents for some possible errors. He had earlier reiterated what we must present for the registration in order to avoid undue delay. He mentioned that no altered document especially the birth certificate and the personal identity card or any recognition would be welcomed. This perhaps, was intended to prevent future problems regarding the National Identity Card for there have been cases of some invalid issued identity cards which many had suffered. Sometimes this had happened at an airport or a period of an urgent need of it. Hardly had we sat when the rain started. We were there in the rain and both young and old stood jealous of their position on the queue. It was obvious we were all tired waiting for the next process of the registration. There were many others who were newly joining the queue. 

Not quite a while we finished the checking of the documents and resultantly proceeded to the next stage in which the proper registration and capturing were done. We were again called in this time in group and were seated at what looked like a reception, a room next to the staff office. We graduated from the reception gradually and the batch in which I was, was rounding up. Without delay in my response to the registrar and accurate document that enabled him exhausted less time with me as well as others who had it so, our batch was thought the fastest. Leaving there, I decided to go on a stroll since we were to await the next process. 'The weather was rather warm that we all had our lips jiggled involuntarily in cold'. Hence, I looked for a pap seller to keep them still.
 

Little wonder, on my stroll, approaching the gate, I came an assistant to a man who was also finding his feet. He was all by his appearance an Alhaji. He dressed in an all white up and down native wear in a perforated cap. He summoned my attention abruptly; “my son where do I register for the national identity card?” I sighed at once arching then suddenly threw a cheerful smile at him; hehe…I laughed. Just down there sir. I said to him. He left puzzled by my response to his request. I could recall clearly enough that I was recently in his shoe.

On my return to the scene, I met some men annoyed and raving vehemently against an incident I felt perhaps had just occurred. They were mentioning like; corruption is deadly in Nigeria. Then I decided to engage in their annoyance but rather inwardly. Hence, I was so fixed to every of their words and actions. One out of them stormed away I was then more interested. But I could see other people especially women not touched by the windy air. Some sat, squatted and stood helplessly and were moody one kind as well. I was then still swimming in bewilderment of the bone of the contention but waited curiously and patiently to get the drift. The babble was still on the rise. It was gradually becoming a commotion. Many other men who could not tame their anger any longer, roared away perhaps to prevent some possible violent outburst of the anger. “This is rather unfair! We have been standing here all the while!!” A man said in annoyance. From his expression it was pellucid to me that a cheat was committed and had pierced certain hearts terribly.

In the eagerness to get the crook, I listened and watched more intently. Innocently, I glanced at the registrars’ office where I sighted ‘Alhaji’ whom recently I directed to the scene signing on a list and then a man was behind him who gave him the temporary identity card and advised him to laminate for protection. I was shock to the marrow, it was to only I most incredible. I thought could doubt it but his honest appearance did not permit. He was nakedly the man I had just directed. He left leaving us all gazing in a petrified stupidity. Not one of the raged could say hey! And the Alhaji went away with his card awesomely.

As at when one of the ushers appeared, he was questioned for having let Alhaji in at the expense of all who had been waiting. He replied first that he was not aware of it but when his excuse was despised, he said it was no be big deal and so, should draw no bit of an emphasis. His response of course triggered a looming slaps. Some almost had them on him. I also felt unconvinced by such excuse. Hence, I suspected there was more to it. The usher replied that such act was not to be thought a corruption that corruption is ‘bulky’ meaning that it involves heavy dealings in which money is mishandled in zillion. Then a man unveiled to him that a ‘petty dishonesty’ amounts to a ‘bulky corruption’.

The usher from his response could be breeder of corruption. He had conceived corruption to involve only embezzlement of whopping sum of money. To him, dishonesty, inconsistence, cheat, disloyalty, discrimination, bias, tribalism or nepotism and among other negative values are not corrupt practices in the society. What hit me most was that he publicly finalized corruption in the eyes of the youths who watched intently and listened raptly to every scene of the scenes at the scene. For this, I would suggest that it is reawakened in us how to recognize corruption. This if neglected is a threat to a nation’s progress as the youths will keep be smitten in the furnace of corruption and of course will grow hardened in the trait. The eyes of those who believe corruption has become a doing should be illuminated.

Nonetheless, it is quite axiomatic that it is only the rich that are corrupt. It should be stamped in us; both poor and rich that the seeds which spring up corruption was inherent in us right from childhood. We should accede that the cock was once an egg. The rich were like the poor. He was taught the act perhaps in the course of growing up by the people with whom he grew up and perhaps fed on corruption. In addition, our schools especially secondary schools should be moralized in the sense that students will escape the trait of corruption. Relatedly, public organizations should live on a high standard of moral uprightness as they serve as the mirror through which the youths make or mar, shape or contort themselves.

Hence, if it is hoped the youths are the hope of the present world we must bow to instilling the morals, the gateway to a successful future in them right from infancy. In view of this, parents are sacrosanct in the inculcation of progressive values in the youths.