Are Nigerians Natural Born Thieves? I Think So!

A lot has been said of our President Muhammadu Buhari badmouthing Nigerians abroad as corrupt, thieve or generally criminally inclined as the case may be. Most commentators roundly condemned the president for such positions. But the fact remains that the president was making a valid point, mouthing a evident observation, and in fact stating the plain truth! And we were just being hypocritical for fake self-righteousness sake.

Nigerians are most ingenious at devising innovative and model ways of stealing money in whatever way, place or time. Be it physically through robbery, heist or kidnappings; electronically through the banking or computer systems; contractually through over invoicing and bogus dealings; bureaucratically through the political and government systems, Nigerians have no match in stealing money. Just put us there and leave the rest.  We are so good at it that we do not need to be taught how to steal once we find ourselves in any possible stealing position, corporately or governmentally. Even when the position is not evidently conducive enough for stealing, we are always patient enough to sit and let the condition mature, and then strike. It seems to come naturally to us. We are born with it. It flows in our veins. We do not learn it. It is we rather who teach other people how to shine their eyes. Our ability to create, generate, introduce, modify, perfect stealing methods is innate.

Granted, a lot many Nigerians have impeccable records of service both in public and private sectors, where in the course of their duties have resisted, rejected and fought stealing of money even though they were in a position to do so. But my assertion is that should these good Nigerians, for any reason, decide and choose to become corporate or government thieves; they would not have to learn stealing from anybody! It will come to them naturally and in no time out-steal established thieves.

And we don’t seem to care who the victim is: government, community, father, mother, sister, brother, friend – Nigerians don’t seem to care as long as there is money to steal. We just steal it. And we also do not care how old we are: young or old we steal money from our own people and others. And we also do not care how big the money is: even if it will take five lifetimes to spend we will steal it for ourselves. The whole world marvels at our money stealing skills, whatever nick name you gave to it.

I do not have to cite any evidence whatsoever for any of the assertions made in this write up. I assume you are reading this on the internet, so just Google efcc.

Article by Fred O. Amakom II