Marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary, Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau’s Director General, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, appeals to Nigerians to stop honoring fraudsters and other dishonest elements.
Dr. Oghenesivbe gave the charge while speaking as a special guest on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and a popular radio talk show in Asaba, Delta State capital, on Saturday, emphasizing that celebrating ill-gotten wealth has contributed to the country’s socioeconomic woes and moral decay.
He lamented that 64 years after Independence, Nigeria’s reputation was fast dwelling in the global stage due to acute corruption and primitive accumulation of wealth by some corrupt leaders, noting that looting of public funds had become endemic and a way of life, which is why the younger generation of Nigerians no longer believe in patriotism, moral values and integrity.
He urged parents, foster parents and children caregivers to consistently inculcate positive moral values, patriotism and fear of God in their children, pay attention to their needs, and ensure that they keep the right company all through to adulthood, so as to avoid polluting society with hardened criminals with little or no value for human lives.
He noted that until corrupt and morally bankrupt leaders begin to do the right things through genuine attitudinal change, show remorse by voluntarily returning stolen public funds and abstain from primitive accumulation of wealth, the nation will consistently slide deeper into socioeconomic woes, while the poor will continue to be poorer because of the unscrupulous transactions of greedy leaders in high places.
Dr Oghenesivbe who is also a full member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, urged the federal government to urgently do something positive about the negative image of Nigeria in the comity of nations, through deliberate and transparent efforts in the fight against corruption.
He noted that war against corruption based on selective justice will do the nation no good, adding that recent media reports allegedly linking some senior government officials to executive bribery and strategic corruption in the case of transgender Bobrisky, had dealt a big blow on the nation’s reputation, home and abroad, while commending federal lawmakers for initiating investigation into the matter.
The Bureau Chief noted that the lifestyle of transgender Bobrisky and his type had impacted negatively on the younger generation, urging governments at all levels to enact laws that would prohibit bad and negative influences perceived to be repugnant to our values and beliefs as Africans, even if it requires constitutional amendments to get it right.
“We thank God that Nigeria is still united. That’s the only thing that I see in us as a nation, 64 years after Independence.
“Nearly, if not all sectors of the nation’s economy, are in comatose. Inflation is at its peak at between 34% and 38% high. The Naira has become powerless, exchanging at N1,700 to one United States Dollar, while poverty is already killing our people more than any known killer disease.
“The cause of all theses non-achievements is bad leadership and corruption. Nigeria is on her kneels today because of greedy leaders who consistently ransacked and looted our common treasury with the aid of wicked financial experts who in time past and even now helped them to balance the books.
“God gave Nigeria everything that a nation would need to become exceeding great, but we mismanaged God’s special gifts to our nation. We need to cry to God for forgiveness. We are taking God’s grace for granted. Time to relent is now.
“Until we genuinely begin to question ill-gotten wealth, stop celebrating fraudsters and unscrupulous elements in Nigeria, we shall continue in this trajectory of socioeconomic retrogression and morally bankrupt society.
“At 64, Nigeria is still looking for ways and means to feed her citizens, provide enduring social services and qualitative education to her teeming youth population. It is that bad. Insecurity is destroying the very fabric of our nation. We have been overwhelmed by too many self inflicted challenges, and counting.
“I weep for Nigeria, the giant of Africa that is still crawling at 64. Our leaders must have attitudinal change, repent genuinely from massive looting of our treasuries, and show good example for the younger generation to emulate.
“Our youths have gone haywire, no longer interested in moral values, integrity and love of country. majority of them abandoned classrooms for yahoo yahoo advance fee fraud criminal activities, and some morally bankrupt members of society are busy celebrating them. It’s a big pity.
“To get Nigeria working, we must begin to question the sudden wealth of those who live in affluence without visible and genuine means of livelihood. This is where to begin a new journey to a greater Nigeria,” Oghenesivbe averred.
