AREN'T WE ALL CORRUPT?

FROM TADPOLES TO ADULT FROGS

The canker of corruption has become like the biological process of  metamorphosis evolving and getting better at different stages of the cycle. Like the  frog it starts as eggs moves to tadpole to  young frog and the adult frog where it becomes untouchable. We make noise and point accusing fingers at our leaders forgetting that we are the very ones that have nurtured and groomed corruption with our attitudes. Now that its full blown we are hiding behind the tag of good citizens and speaking against leaders we claim are corrupt. 

Breaking News!!! The rot of corruption did not just start with government officials but with us right from childhood.

Have we forgotten how in our primary and jhs schools, as the class prefect we never wrote down the names of talkative friends no matter how loudly they spoke yet the name of the other classmate who whispered to a friend is written with D.P against it. And how about when we were friends of the prefect, we dictated to our friend those whose names should be included and taken out of the list. Yet we want to frown on government when positions are given certain people whom we claim are related to those in power. My investigative journalism (I.J) class will find a nice label for it; Cronyism. But let me ask, how different is case of class prefect from the case of appointments?

Let go to senior high schools where as the house prefect in sacking all juniors to work, our school daughter/son was exempted on the label of sickness while  it was a lie. I.J will say Favouritism. Yet we want to complain about our MP's who have never stepped in their constituencies after elections.  No phone is allowed yet the very prefects who go round ceasing them have power banks in their lockers😂 .Come to the dinning halls and we will find prefects dissolving tables just so there will extra at the prefects table. Don’t our leaders promise us their very lives when they want power but what do we see?  Our exploitation for their comfort!

It didn't just start today, it began way long ago when we looked on unconcerned because our frail minds had not yet conceptualised the idea.This is just a repercussion of the things we did and deemed insignificant.

 Get to the tertiary levels and will find people spreading malicious statements against contestants in an elections just because they don’t support them. Yet we want to complain when opposition finds everything wrong with the current government. So bad that when they come to power, different projects are started to spite the previous government. Small school elections and there will complains of rigging, however we want free and fair in the country’s general elections? Talk of SRC funds being used for personal gains, we support it at those times because we are beneficiaries of the goodies. Yet we want to close one eye with our left hand and talk about those stealing the nation's money.

Step into the banks on busy days and you will find people giving money to the security guys just facilitate their request. We brand it nicely and call it tips, my IJ class will call it Petty corruption. Don’t get me wrong tips are not bad but when the intention is to influence a service then it becomes an issue. We jump waakye queues, inflate the cost of items and transport when sent on errands, give bribes in the name of tips, use our relations with certain officials to get favours yet we will gladly point accusing fingers at those in government. Aren’t we all corrupt?

I applaud the President's efforts, Special Prosecutor but currently how far? A recent report indicate that the office lacks resources to operate. Ah! But HOW?

 Right from infancy we have harboured and garnished corruption yet we expect it to varnish at once from society. The good book says, first take the log out of your own eye then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's. Let us not be quick to pass judgement rather seek to do good way in our own small way. As I keep saying until we change our attitude and seek the good of our small circles the greater good can never be achieved.