By Umar Farouk Salihu
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| Photo used for illustration only. |
There is an affordable eatery here in ABU Zaria where an average Nigerian student can eat three times a day. They are open from morning until late at night.
In the morning, the business owner, an elderly woman, runs the place with her daughter and a few workers. Their business account number is pasted on the wall, and there is a Moniepoint POS machine for card withdrawals.
In the evening, a young girl, probably the granddaughter, takes over with another coworker.
When customers come in the evening, especially when the grandmother and her eldest daughter are not around, these girls do what we call 'custom duty.' They ask customers to send money to their personal Opay accounts instead of the business account. Money meant to grow the business gets diverted into personal pockets.
I experienced it this evening.
The young lady asked me to send the money to her Opay. I was shocked. I asked if she thought I would leave without paying. She replied calmly, "If you are making a transfer, send it to my Opay."
I paused. I remembered how kind the old woman had been to me. My conscience would not let me cheat her. So I ignored the request and sent the money to the business account.
As I was leaving, I told her coworker the bitter truth: uphold good values and stop what they are doing.
The Bigger Picture
What happens when corruption becomes normal at the grassroots?
We end up with leaders who embezzle public funds and walk away. Because we are made of the same product.
These are the same people crying about bad governance. The so-called "leaders of tomorrow." The hope of millions of Nigerians.
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| Umar Farouk Salihu |