I do not claim to know what former President Goodluck Jonathan meant exactly by the "now famous" statement accredited to him (ok yes he said it... with a lot of other things that are not reported) that "stealing is not corruption" but I believe in looking at all sides of the coin and not just jum into conclusion based on an obviously skewed media.

I will describe myself as apolitical but I know you will have your views and I do not expect your apologies so don't expect mine. It is a fact that respondents on the "invisible" social media can be brutal in their submissions but "it is what it is".

Jonathan and his team made a fundamental error by not having a counter narrative when the news breaks and in public relations (I'm no expert) it matters what you put out there.

Lets assume I know what Jonathan meant to say... Maybe he meant to say that CORRUPTION IS NOT JUST STEALING ALONE.

What is corruption?

Corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit - Source Wikipedia

The definition above puts a lot of the NORMAL practices in Nigeria (or the world) to question. Even up to the reason we help people or even worship God. You can see why corruption is not just stealing but encompasses a lot of things we have come to take for granted.

We do good not because it is a responsibility but because we want to personally benefit from it so we make a show of it and that is dishonest and therefore a form of corruption.

Nepotism is another form of corruption. Employing only family/tribal/political members to the detriment of the country where better candidates are available for the task (aka MAN KNOW MAN - MKM). That is corruption.

There are some "foundational" issues (aka corruption) that will never make this country develop (or at best slow this country)
Issues like your flawed QUOTA SYSTEM is corruption.

QUOTA SYSTEM that mandated the best regional leaders to be rulers instead of the best overall to be leaders will sometimes (probability) give very bad leaders. There will be no need for quota system if we have an EQUITABLE system where the best thinkers and movers will be at the helm of activities irrespective of race, tribe, politics, belief or family. The argument that the quota system ensures that power is devolved to all regions of the country for peace to reign is political hogwash. If the people see development they would not complain that the man/woman of another tribe is blessing them too much with too much development. There is usually an outcry where there is a grievance afterall no smoke without fire.

Bribery is not stealing (in normal cases) but Bribery is Corruption

Bribery is the act of giving money, goods or other forms of recompense to a recipient in exchange for an alteration of their behavior (to the benefit/interest of the giver) that the recipient would otherwise not alter. Bribery is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty - Wikipedia.

Now we know Stealing is not bribery (where bribery is corruption... therefore stealing is not corruption?)

Bribery requires a giver and a receiver... in one accord. Societies around the world are filled with givers and receivers because it is survival instinct.. that basic of human instinct that kicks up when pushed to the wall or when just utterly lazy and without a moral compass.

Unfortunately our society is experiencing both. Abject poverty that has pushed the populace to the wall and a thieving political/ruling class that are utterly lazy, bereft of developmental ideas and lack any sort of compass let alone a moral one.

So you see my friends, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could have been right all along... hear his own counter narrative.





https://youtu.be/2YmdlExz7Hw