Antidotes for Corruption: The Nigeria Story
Babatunde Faniyan
Once in a while, when, from the recesses of a unique mind, there comes a “master” Book that generates an ‘earthquake’ in the land. Some readily come to mind: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart; Wole Soyinka’s The Man Died; the William Shakespeare classics . . .and many others.
Now, here is one in that class. Antidotes For Corruption. Any one aged 18 years and above knows what Corruption is. Everyone talks about it; condemns it and sends curses at it and to the ignoble perpetrators of the scourge. “Wars” are being fought against it all over the world – including Nigeria, by our President Buhari. In many cases however, Corruption fights back and we have on our hands, a war that is yielding mixed reactions and mixed results.
No one, until now, has taken the plunge to confront Corruption as starkly, boldly and comprehensively as in this book. Who is this one who has penned this book?
He was born Daniel Oluwagbemiga Melaye. He has been an activist from secondary School – a positive Reformative campaigner.
Here is a Daniel who, by himself, has plunged – not into the ferocious Lions’ Den – but into the equally ferocious Den of Corruption.
He has gone to confront Corruption eyeball to eyeball; to see how the scourge came to being; how it is wired, and how it has developed to the menace it is today.
He has dragged this monster out of her den, made a comprehensive study of it – from God’s Creation in the Garden of Eden through Ancient times to the Colonial Era; from the shape and colour of the scourge in different countries of the world through the negative influences of the Colonial masters. . . And, finally, zeroing-in on our Nigeria.
In this book, there is a compendium of all forms of Corrupt practices from the pre-Amalgamation era, through Independence, to the present day. No one is spared in this fearless expository work.
Who is this Daniel that has dared to confront Corruption in this manner? What is his pedigree? What gave him the courage to write such an explosive book?
The first two chapters of the Book will give the reader answers to these queries and satisfy every nagging curiosity. Yes, the author is the same Senator Dino Melaye who, consequent upon a recent tiff at the Senate was a target of several brickbats and mudslinging. When you really “meet” him in the first two chapters of this book, it will be established to many a discerning mind, that he is no doubt one of the most misunderstood personalities in the land.
From Secondary School, an elder in his community took a long, hard look at Dino Melaye and named him “Imole” (Yoruba word for “Light”). He then went on to make it his campaign slogan/war cry in subsequent years. “Imole de!” (Light has come!). And the people will respond with a roar: “Okunkun parada” (Darkness disappears!)”
Another elder described him as being “honest and courageous” – a combination which he says, makes a man able to “go anywhere and dare any challenge.”
With his war cry of “Imole de” and from his launch pad of Honesty and Courage, Dino Melaye sailed into the House of Representatives and later, into the Senate – defeating older, well established incumbents.
Antidotes For Corruption is a book no one can ignore, a work all will admire – except, perhaps, those who are exposed in the book, and who are bent on remaining unrepentant. All readers of this book, including repentant corrupt persons will salute the courage of this Daniel in the den of Corruption.
This is arguably the most comprehensive study and expose on the phenomenon of Corruption in Nigeria yet.
It researches on the different types of Corruption, and in different lands.
“From Sodom & Gomorrah of the old testament, the Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires respectively and the Ottoman empire of the 16th century. It is significant to note that these corruption incidents were one of the main reasons for the demise of the mighty Roman empire as well as the others already mentioned, where the modern day type of corruption and nepotism as we know it, was reported to have existed at all levels of administration”.
It probes the evolution of Corruption; its development into a complex monster that has killed nations – and is threatening to kill Nigeria.
The Book discovers that Africa has developed its own brand of corruption, with Nigeria more or less at the helm.
Some of the other chapters in the book include: Systematic Corruption With Impunity In Nigeria; How Developed Countries Corrupted Underdeveloped Countries; War Against Corruption In Nigeria; How To Overcome Corruption.
The book goes on to proffer solutions to the scourge – to free Nigeria from its stranglehold and set her on the road to achieving her full potential.
A compulsory read for every patriotic Nigerian and indeed every discerning citizen of this embattled world, this book will not only be an eye opener to students of our higher institutions, it will also be an enabling instrument for positive National Re-orientation for them as leaders of tomorrow.
––Faniyan is a Lagos based author, publisher and communication consultant.