By Ayodeji Fadugba
But truth be told, politicians are very good about using media influencers to change the narrative and divert attention. I know you are one so my apologies, my comment below is not directed at you in any way but I am angry at the whole charade.
I am amazed by the ignorance and quite bewildered by the trend of conversation around this sleaze.
- How much did the Minister pocket for herself?
- The list of notables who got money is long including the President’s Personal Chief of Staff, a brother to his Lawyer, another Minister etc. The list is public. Where is the outrage? Are they not all men?
- The contract for which over 400 million was paid was to survey 11 million houses, do the math! How much per house? If it is a decent sum, no problem!
- What other services were rendered by other co-receiver? Value?
- Someone came out to say that it is the practice to pay monies into private accounts to controvert the single treasury account. How many MDAs are doing this and for how long? Why continue with a system everyone is trying to sabotage? Has it not created more avenues for corruption? Why should we keep it?
- How far in the hierarchy is this scandal going?
I notice that the debate went from corruptiom pure and simple to the parody of women in high office and how they are worse than men. Is 3Billion the worst of the sleaze we have seen? Or are we saying “don’t use women, they are thieves” better eat alone among boys?
So we are not even asking deep questions of our leaders. They know how to distract us as a people. The same people taking the female Minister to the public square for lynching have not spoke about the other participants in any depth. It is actually infantile.
Gbajabiamila and Tunde Ojo have had access to power for over a decade, how much monies like this have they collected? They are still collecting?
He will launch Gbajabiamila projects in Lagos and we will huu and haa about how much he is giving to Lagos. From monies meant for women, youth and children living in refugee camps and going without schooling, proper housing, food, and sanitary facilities? In subhuman conditions?
The UN fought hard for the Women, Peace and Security agenda under Resolution 1325. Each country created structures to implement that resolution; in my country people are sharing that money? The lack of empathy for the poor and outrage of the citizen who should be informed is alarming. All we analyse is the beauty and gender of the accomplices not the real perpetrators?
Where are the real perpetrators? How much did each one get and for what?
Yorubas suffer thieves badly. Our culture reflects it. Ẹni bá jalè léèkan, to ba di ogún ọdún, to farán bori, aso olè ló dà bora! Irredeemable offence in the eyes of society. No gender attached! When a child is being named in those days, the elders use red oil to show the child that oil on white is as good as a permanent stain. We as a society can look within our culture for reference. A thief is a thief for all seasons!
My take!
Corruption Incorporates is a better name for this country!
Our money has been shared, we are not demanding accountability but discussing the beauty of the women? Their caricature? etc. How did we get this shallow? We are abused and traumatised but the abuser has turned our face to the other way so that malfeasance can continue.
Maybe if we applied the same standards to men by degree, we should see penises being hung out to dry.
