BRIBERY, VARYING PERSPECTIVES

Pastor OAKS, Finbank Jos, explained that bribery is any gift which is intended to pervert JUSTICE; of course this is a very contemporary topic in present day Nigeria, many Nigerian see this phenomenon as a means to an end, an integral part of a process or system, an activator or catalyst to speed progress or boycott bureaucracy; with the increasing demand for time and the high value placed on it, Nigerians have found or created innovative ways to save it, use it, explore it, give and take it; in relation to this very familiar topic BRIBERY, time is very essential. Do people really call it bribery, my guess is there many posh and justifying words for the term under discuss; it bothers me why people have welcomed it open arms and accepted it as norm in the society! Question is: does it work? Answer is: YES; people have accepted it, it works for them, funny enough there are more advanced ways to go about it; it however declares the degree of moral decadence of a given society. If we consider pastor OAK’s definition, we must observe it carefully; firstly: ANY GIFT, so gift may not necessarily be a bribe. This tells me that, if I receive a gift from you today, am not supposed to pervert justice to your favor tomorrow with the notion that I owe you favor in return because of your previous gifts; that means I must do away with the mindset that every gift or favor must be re-payed in other forms.

However this is a very sensitive subject. People give gifts with a pre-calculated motive to demand or expect favor in return in the nearest future. And many times to pervert justice, this does not negates the saying that says “one good turn, deserves another” but if I give you a car, I should expect a free ride or a car at most from you, not falsification of a budget to my favor or signing attendance in class for me or lying on my behalf; this is ridiculous and negates every moral standards, both in school and in religious centers;

Question is, why give a bribe or expect one, there is such integrity, morality and posterity; these subjects transcends any long or short term goal, any situation or need; ie this values should be the watch word of every Nigerian; these are values when up-held create a formidable foundation for prosperity and economic development. Seriously Bribery is not sustainable, take it or leave it; my late dad, would always say to me that “the short cut is definitely the wrong cut” if it doesn’t manifest now, it will later; Mr. mohammed ahmed- MD Profile Builders Jos; argued that “Desperation determines who makes the offer and who pays the price” so in a system where Bribery is the modus operandi, what is the solution? Should` I beat them or join them, should I ignore them or leave the system? Stay tuned for more perspective!! Mean while WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON BRIBERY?