Against the backdrop of the deep-rooted practice of corruption associated with Nigeria and her citizens, a Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, Professor Charles Adesina has described the on-going crusade against corruption mounted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as a fight against the entire country.

Making this statement during a media chat with journalists on Community Today, an online television programme on CEOAfrica, Professor Adesina explained that the Nigerian Government may have bitten more than it can chew by engaging in the anti-graft war as the despicable practice has permeated almost every strata of the society.

While noting that corruption in Nigeria is beyond classification, Prof Adesina stated that the magnitude of corrupt practices being perpetuated by Nigerians in every sector of the country is so deeply entrenched in such a way that a declaration of war on corruption in Nigeria is tantamount to a declaration of war on the country.

The Professor said “I really sympathise with the government because the capacity to engage in such a fight has been severely circumscribed in the sense that they have already bitten more that they can chew. The thing is that if the government is fighting against corruption, then it is a fight against the entire country because how do you define corruption in Nigeria? Corruption in Nigeria is beyond classification. Almost everybody has one form of corrupt tendency or the other. So it is like the government has taken on the entire country.”

Professor Charles Adesina with the Anchor, Mistura Salaudeen at the Media Chat

Professor Adesina stated that the embezzlement of cash and public funds is only a miniscule aspect of what corruption truly means, adding that there are other obscure areas where people are engaging in corrupt acts that are hindering the development of the country. “The impression is that the government is taking on those who have stolen raw cash. But that is only one per cent of corruption.

“At every level; at every twist and turn, somebody is doing something that is killing this country gradually. Even merely stealing office pins or merely using official vehicles when one is not on duty are acts of corruption, so, it is not an easy fight. So, when you then pillory the government for engaging in this fight and not making any headway, it seems unfair, because those who believe in this fight are very few,” the Professor observed.

Reacting to the allegation that the government’s fight against corruption is selective and biased against the opposition party, the Professor of History disagreed with the claim, stating that in the fight against corruption, it is only natural that the searchlight will be beamed on the officials of the past administration who were in power before the resumption of the present government. He noted that since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been at the helm of the Nation’s affairs for 16 years, probing their activities while in government is a worthy cause.

“I do not believe the corruption fight is selective because if you are going after those who have dipped their hands in the National till, of course you are going to have more of the PDP people than the APC people because the PDP were in government for 16 years. So, do you then want to achieve a ‘democracy of arrests’ by prosecuting one PDP, one APC? It is not going to work. For someone who has been in government for 16 years and you have established a paper trail of what went wrong, it’s easier. So I do not see the fight as being selective.

“Buhari himself has said that once you have evidence to show that somebody in the ruling party is also as corrupt as people who have been in government for 16 years, make the facts and figures known. And that is why they have established the whistle-blower policy. So, if you cannot come out openly, go and blow the whistle. But if the whistle has been blown and nothing is done about it, then that is another kettle of fish,” the Professor stated.

While stressing the importance of cautiousness in the fight against corruption, Professor Adesina expressed displeasure at the attitude of people who according to him distract the government from its anti-corruption fight. He urged Nigerians to show support to the government in its fight to restore transparency and accountability to the country.

He said “Allow the government to do its job. At the end of the day, you weigh everything because there is going to be a point of cause-benefit analysis. If you think they are not doing very well, wait until that electoral time when you can call them to account. But right now, the noise coming from the civil society is distracting the government.”  

Professor Charles Adesina (Seated Left) with Journalists present at the Media Chat