AUTHOR: IFEANYI OKOYE
The world is a place where every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to become rich. When you ask a young man about his future goals and aspiration, the first thing he mentions is money. The quest for money for money and material things has led so many people inot destruction and unending sorrow.
It is a common saying that the love of many is the root of all evil, I agree with that school of thought because I was once a victim. I write this article to share my experience and let young men and women know that money is good and answers all things if it is pursued in the right manner
In the part of Africa where I came from, Nigeria to be précise, money is the name of the game; you are given honour, respect and loyalty if you are wealthy. Young men preffered and respected than the older as far as the young man has enough money to throw around, people rather follow a wealthy man that a wise man. Hence the quest to get rich at all cost is on the increase. This get rich-quick syndrome has led so many youths into dubious ways of making wealth.
The term “419” is no longer new to our ears; the newest bride is “yahoo boys”. Most young men and women spend hours inside a cyber café or in the comfort of their homes and offices and try to outsmart or dupe either a foreigner or even a fellow Nigerian in the internet in the pretext of doing genuine business. This has become the trend amongst young men and women; it has made Nigeria as a nation and the citizenry to be dreaded amongst the League of Nations.
There is another avenue through which people make money. This one is rather diabolic and spiritually inclined as humans are used as baits and sacrifices to get the wealth and protection desired. These desperate young men lure and kidnap their victims who they cast spell on through diabolic means and afterwards take them to their slaughter chambers where their private parts are taken and sacrificed to the god of money-mammon.This has been on the increase lately in Nigeria and is continually creating a sense of insecurity amongst people living in areas where there crimes against humanity are carried out.
The administration of Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, the Ex-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria tried in its own way to fight and even bring to a minimal rate, the scourge and activities of these “yahoo boys” by the creation of an outfit solely charged with the responsibilities of bringing these fraudsters to justice and try to bring our reputation and respect as the largest black nation in Africa to life again. Hence, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was created and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was made the boss and the Chief Crusader in the fight against corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.
In the past four years, the country has experienced a tremendous decline in the activities of fraudsters and corrupt officials as the EFCC has been on their tail ever since. I write this to let the world know that despite the activities of these few unpatriotic Nigerians, who would soon meet their waterloo, Nigeria still have men and women of integrity like Dr Emeka Anyaoku, a one time Secretary General of the Commonwealth; Chinua Achebe, a renowned playwright; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of EFCC; Dr Ngozi Okonjo iweala, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Dora Akunyili, the Director of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Dr Oby Ezekwesili; Dr Chukwuma Soludo (CBN governor) and many others too numerous to mention. These men and women have left their names in the chronicle of achievers and high fliers in Nigeria and will always be fondly remembered.
