WHY ANTI-CORRUPTION ISN'T ENOUGH

If a person is ill with cancer, swift action must be taken. To save his life, you must carry out lots of tests, you must administer drugs and perhaps chemotherapy. But could you say you’re doing enough when all you do is administer pills and chemo? Of course not! If that’s all you do the patient will eventually die! While it’s important to fight the cancerous cells that seek to destroy him, you must give him food, water, fruits, vegetables. Things that he needs to feed on and obtain some nourishment.

Nigeria can be likened to that cancer patient and like chemotherapy, the anti-corruption fight is necessary but jarring. It shocks the system and causes much anguish. Clearly such a policy cannot be the sole focus of an economically intelligent government. What foods are you feeding this sick fellow as you treat him? Are you growing the economy? Have you created a pro-business state where investors feel their funds are safe and entrepreneurs have support? Have you undone the laws and policies that make it hard for businesses to thrive and put favorable ones in their place? Have you addressed through the budget the urgent need for infrastructure that will help make it less expensive and more convenient to run businesses?

Or instead of these have you in the midst of a global economic crunch chosen to play hardball with the Niger-Delta, perpetually dwindling your country’s main source of income. Have you told the same foreign investors you’re trying to woo that your country is enormously corrupt? Isn’t that kinda like trying to convince a room full of rich suitors by telling them your daughter is the biggest tramp on your street? What man in his right mind would then nod his head and marry a lady whose father calls promiscuous? That kind of love isn’t just blind, it’s deaf, dumb and extremely brave.

Fighting corruption isn't enough. What are you doing to grow the economy?

Mela Ake