Bribery and corruption is a concept that is not new to many of us, we find them all around us. From the highest levels of government offices down to even the grassroots level, people are always looking out only for their selfish gains and not really concerned about the welfare of the people they are charged with.
But then, even if by some weird twist of fate, the rate of corruption in your country is little and you do not really know of its effects and how those involved carry it out, we see all that in movies of today, we read it in books and we listen to them in music. Corruption has firmly set roots deep into the fabric of the world and I do not think that getting rid of it will come quite easy.
The thing is that those who engage in corrupt practices, who are willing to go to any length just to get what they want, they are always perplexed when they see someone that is very different and does not want to give in to their demands. They are already used to people taking money from them and granting them favors that ordinarily, they would never have done, and so coming up on people who will openly call their bluff usually comes as a surprise to them.
They have already created that mindset that while money is a valuable thing to have, everyone is already tied to it. And as long as there is the promise of getting more of it, people will be willing to do what is necessary to secure it. But thankfully, not everyone is like that. There are those who stand up to these corrupt people and refuse their money. There is nothing quite as frustrating as a person who refuses to partake in corrupt practices.
And then, on the other hand, those who will never stain their hands and their heart for money will be perplexed at the lengths these people are willing to go to just because of this thing called money. They go all out, showing off their wealth and power, and intimidating everyone. And for what? All so that they can get more of the green!
So, these are two sides that have never really reconciled and I doubt they will be doing that anytime soon.
Sometimes, when corrupt people realize that money will not work, they can resort to using force, threat, or intimidation. And sometimes, they can even choose to eliminate the obstruction altogether. Leaving a clear path for them so that they will achieve whatever it was they had in mind. Meanwhile, good people have no choice but to rely on the law. They have to do everything within the confines of the law or there would be no difference at all between them and the people they are trying to take down.
Corruption is just like the grim reaper, but its effects are felt here on earth and not in the afterlife at all. it destroys everything it touches, and what makes it so bad is that it is not usually those that initiate it that will suffer for it. It is the larger masses, the innocents that will pay the price.
A good example is my dear country Nigeria. Considering our population, only a handful are government officials that are engaging in corrupt practices, and the entire country of close to three hundred million people is suffering for it. That is what makes it so deadly.
But then, the good news is that there are still good people in the world. And in Nigeria especially. There are still high-ranking officials that are not corrupt and do things the way they should be done; by the book. It may seem like they do not exist, seeing as the only news that seems to break the internet are the negative ones, but they are very much present and they are doing their good.
And as long as there are good people, then there is definitely still hope.
Corruption may seem like it is winning the fight, but there will come a time when the tables will turn and it will become a thing of the past. Until then, we all should keep on being the best versions of ourselves and try our utmost to stay away from anything that has to do with corruption. In time, we all shall be rewarded.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, I would love to know what you are thinking. Till we meet in the next post.
