NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Olabode George: Victim, scapegoat or example? . By Frank Ediagbonya . As millions of Nigerians worldwide celebrate the conviction of Olabode George and his partners in crime, Yaradua's performance rating has continued to surge, Freida Waziri is now the iron-lady of anti-corruption battle in Nigeria. Social and political scientists, criminologists and anti-corruption campaigners are beaming their searchlight on the circumstances that led to the conviction of Olabode George if it is worth celebrating at all as thousands of politicians and civil servants with the allegations of corruption hanging on their necks like coral beads are yet to be locked up for good. Quantitative and unverified evidences shows that corruption is costing Nigerian government an estimated sum of $65 billion annually. An historical and cultural research into indigenous kingdoms, empires, clans and nations which formed what is now known as Nigeria dating as far back as pre-slave trade era, revealed that corruption was a taboo punishable by ostracism, banishment, imprisonment, public booing or death sentences depending on the magnitude if it is equivalent to 86 billion Naira that was stolen by Bode George and his friends. Bemused Nigerians are now wondering how corruption became an acceptable norms, an institution, a culture and a collective identity in Nigeria. Experts are now considering the antecedents as to whether Olabode George and his cohorts were victims of cheap political ratings by Yaradua's Administration which came under heavy criticisms for his lackadaisic attitude towards corrupt politicians and electoral reforms or; If Olabode George was used as a scapegoat for 86 billion Naira fraud which could involved many others who were not convicted along with him. There are complaints that the sentences given to Bode George is too light for the kind of money they stole from the Nigerian people and meanwhile, there are concerns from anti-corruption campaigners who felt that many like Bode George are busy gallivanting the streets of Nigeria, Europe and Americas spending their loot as they wish. Anti-corruption campaigners arguably think that Yaradua has bow to pressure and has decided to deal with corrupt public officers as he has given his unflinching support to the anti-corruption agency to persecute all public officers past or present suspected of corruption. Therefore, there are indications that Bode Gorge has been used to set an example to all that anti-corruption war is still alive and kicking and that; it knows no status, creed, tribe, religion or boundaries. The celebration of Bode George conviction is still too early, anything can happen in the appellate court, Nigeria has only scored 0.5% in the war against corruption. The judgment of Olabode George is just a tip of the iceberg, it may not change Nigerians' attitude towards corruption. Corruption is an epidemic that has ravaged Nigerian political, economic and cultural system. Corruption has spiral out of control just like violent crime and kidnapping in Nigeria. As Nigerians commend Yaradua on his peaceful initiative and his commitment to support the independence of the EFCC as well as his brave condemnation of corruption, he has earn himself a medal for demilitarizing the Niger Delta militants, a promise to deliver 6,000 megawatts of electricity in earnest, the U-turn of his coldness toward corrupt public officers, we hope this drive continues without any obstacle as he still need to do more to set Nigeria free from corruption. Nigerians want to see more corrupt politicians and public officers in jail. It is time for Nigerians to return to our old value system where corruption and bad leaders are booed and treated with ignominy by members of the public.