December 9 is the International Anti-Corruption Day, set aside to ignite a positive and pro-active stance against corruption. The United Nations regard corruption as a complex social, cultural and economic phenomenon affecting all countries. It has proven to be a serious crime that undermines social and economic development in all societies. No country is immune, least of all Nigeria. According to Transparency International, corruption is the abuse of trusted power for private gain. In Nigeria, we are all too familiar with the different forms it takes; from abuse of office, giving bribes, taking bribes, abuse of authority, commercial bribery or other unlawful use by an individual of his official position. With such a mammoth problem intricately woven into the fabric of our society and into the everyday culture of communication and transaction, it is audacious for one man to hope for change, and more incredulous for that one man to lend his voice, his time, resources, and faith to the global anti-corruption fight by gifting coming generations with inspired words of wisdom, a history of political awakening, an intellectual discourse into governance, and a naked analysis of the Nigeria that is now, and a future Nigeria stripped of corruption.
That man is Honourable Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe – the protégé of Francis, Green, and Dr. K.O Mbadiwe, and a man of honest repute who has served Nigeria in various capacities within the Imo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives. Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe has written two books, ‘A Scientist in Parliament’ and ‘Stunted Nigerian Dreams’. While the former inspires a journey into the stark realities of Nigerian Politics unveiling both the failures and near-successes within the walls of governance, the latter jolts a call to action towards a fight against corruption, a stance that says ‘enough is enough’.
A Scientist in Parliament reads as an autobiography, which triggers a consciousness of civil responsibility towards working together for the development of our country Nigeria. In the book, we follow Dr. Eddie in his inspired milestones as he grants us access into snippets of his political past, his experience of the Nigerian Civil War, foray into politics, a peek into manufacturing in the UK and lessons learned, as well as his professional opinion on growing our nascent democracy away from its present corrupting influences. It is a 130-page easy-to-read induction into Governance, Leadership, and Righting Wrongs. A Scientist in Parliament gives birth to an informed foundational awareness, which every student of politics, history, anti-corruption, and leadership may require for anti-corruption consciousness and heightened sense of social responsibility.
Stunted Nigerian Dreams reads as a carefully selected and well blended cocktail of compelling narratives that x-rays the Nigerian mis-governance, the way forward, and inspired tributes that leave you asking, “What can I do for my Country?” In the book, Dr. Eddie did not spare on his depth of meaning, and neither did he leave any stone unturned in his quest to jolt the reader into common sense patriotism. We are taken aback by his review on cosmetic governance, the charade of local government elections, democracy’s teething pains, the Legislature Party Switch Syndrome, and the disgrace of the National Assembly debacle. Indeed, Stunted Nigerian Dreams will shock you into signing up for sustainable change as we receive within its inspired pages the much-needed ammunition to fight the anti-corruption war along with the comity of Nations. Truly, these two books pull the wool off our eyes igniting our stance against corruption in Nigeria. And, in the infectious words of Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe; It has been said that corruption thrives in Nigeria because as a nation we are completely depleted of honour, and shame has no meaning. The thrust of these contributions is to stimulate discourse, for unless we have honour and integrity in the conduct of our personal lives, it is virtually impossible to transmit these to the national scene. Only Nigerians can save Nigeria. The task indeed is herculean and the time to start is now, so help us God.
Originally published in DailyTrust Newspaper
