THE POLITICIAN COLOURED NOVEMBER 2013 | Page 122

It is this hypocrisy that is hindering true reformation across our Federation, because the sins which you accuse these politicians of committing are the very same sins that you also are committing, the only difference is that you’re an unknown person so nobody is blogging or tweeting about you. When we can agree as a nation that “corruption” is not only found in politics but in every sphere of society then we will begin to make changes, but as long as we keep pointing our “self righteous” holier than thou fingers at the political class, and forgetting that for every finger we’re pointing at them, 3 fingers and a thumb are pointing right back at us, we will not make true progress. Many Nigerians are in was not born in the Governors lodge and that when his tenure completes he will still have to come home and answer to them, so if he likes let him not begin to share the dividends of democracy with them. His school friends also abandoned him and many other people followed suit. It didn’t take long before this said individual buckled under the weight of the psychological and emotional pressure that his friends, family and acquaintances put him under and he immediately started issuing contracts without due process to people. This is the reality of the Nigerian environment. When a Man or Woman is elected/appointed as Some of the biggest critics of the government their homes praying that a Governor, Senator, Minister and Commission- today are those who use to their Brother, Sister, Aunty, er, do you have any idea the amount of pressure enjoy political patronage Uncle and School friend they automatically come under? Every relative, in the past, but now that will be elected/selected no friend, school mate, town man, old neighbour, their connections are have into public office. Why longer in power they are they so interested in church/mosque member etc would descend to his transformed themselves somebody they know ocor her office seeking for favours. So who is really into preachers of holiness cupying a political posicorrupt, the politician or the thousands of people and integrity. They’re only tion? Is it because they deceiving themselves, love Nigeria so much and that descend on them asking for favours? God because when their “man” want the nation to change? help that politician if he or she refuses to oblige was in power, and they Or is it so that they can use were enjoying contract the “connection” to ben- them. money, they didn’t know efit themselves? The latter is the truth for many people, and just admitting it to one’s self would be a great place to start. When a Man or Woman is elected/appointed as a Governor, Senator, Minister and Commissioner, do you have any idea the amount of pressure they automatically come under? Every relative, friend, school mate, town man, old neighbour, church/mosque member etc would descend to his or her office seeking for favours. So who is really corrupt, the politician or the thousands of people that descend on them asking for favours? God help that politician if he or she refuses to oblige them. I once read an article about a particular politician who attempted to do everything by the book. He refused to do special favours for his school friends, relatives, town people etc. One day a delegation of elders from his home town came to his office to see him. In the meeting they made it crystal clear to him that he 106 that there was corruption in Nigeria. Now that the money has finished and other people’s “Man” is in power, they have turned in a political “John the Baptist’s” and are now preaching repentance to us all. If you truly want to convince us that you’re the righteous messiah sent from heaven to save the nation, then you should start by sellin g all the houses and assets which you acquired through the money you made via your old political associates. You cannot live in a house built with money made without “due process”, drive a car bought with money from the same source and send your children to school overseas with the same money, and still turn around to condemn the rest of us, and call us corrupt. You are nothing but a hypocrite and if hypocrisy was a crime you would be in prison.