A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 12: CORRUPTION WITHOUT SHAME

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQd2bqLaxY

Chapter 12: Corruption Without Shame

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F7P8oreNN

«African Proverb: "The fish begins to rot from the head."»

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSkPIRuSyK

«Yoruba Proverb: "When a child watches his father steal and celebrate, he learns that theft is success."»

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCXzUj9Wyd

«Another Proverb: "A nation does not collapse when corruption appears; it collapses when corruption is celebrated."»

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI6aSIKH7j

The greatest danger facing a nation is not corruption.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6kT32AI6X

The greatest danger is when corruption becomes normal.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1yGNVNluP

When people no longer feel ashamed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJICUh6A0y

When wrong becomes right.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWG1n3jZYG

When honesty becomes foolishness.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc0DNkFjw9

When thieves become heroes.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkdQOSq2eY

That was the disease slowly eating away at the nation.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaTOJiohgL

Like termites hidden inside a wooden house.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ1fEvE3Gq

Silent.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dk48tZoah

Patient.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHszfgUavZP

Destructive.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dtV75YTDp

Daniel realized this one afternoon while visiting a government office.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfFruwpRAj

The building was crowded.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqnlvFVMls

People waited in long lines under the hot sun.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzOEoJl6o

Some had traveled for hours.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0j1akuY8C

Others had traveled for days.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0ub2C7CrD

They came seeking services that should have taken only minutes.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v26MCZfHy

Yet nothing moved.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41YFjpsVE

Nothing happened.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmwF3T3oaD

Nothing changed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVsSbFk15b

Hours passed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BrgvwGXhA

Frustration grew.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d9DQtRGcB

Then Daniel noticed something.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgbUDQ8UYL

A man arrived.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF1nClVePf

He walked directly past the line.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagoFanMABC

He entered an office.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyfbt5Nr5v

A few minutes later, he emerged smiling.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYidJESj2Uy

His documents had been approved.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGfjPQwmXj

His work was complete.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wd4wv8C3X

His problem was solved.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQNda9dwJs

The hundreds of people waiting outside remained where they were.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhQPIWdO51

Confused.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdJdE74R9d

Angry.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr16aoGQyr

Powerless.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItRKQWqqFC

Daniel approached one of the workers.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVRIUZ5onu

"How did he finish so quickly?"

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtcGYsSULn

The worker smiled knowingly.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlEGpxco0m

"He understands the system."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26seiwP10V

Daniel understood exactly what that meant.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguKgYFyBmK

Money.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCWFxK9YrN

A bribe.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyJu0r6Py9

The unofficial language of corruption.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP891J9ttCI

The language many institutions spoke fluently.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxuKDRflCr

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F4YnHkCOq

Later that evening, Daniel sat with Hassan in a small restaurant.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyc6b62WxY

Rain tapped softly against the windows.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpdRMrBLqb

The journalist looked exhausted.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ6V3932F9

Months of investigations had revealed painful truths.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN418dobDDr

"What troubles me most," Hassan said, "is not the corruption itself."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjDjUXvTKk

"What is it then?" Daniel asked.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu5HLA027N

"The celebration of corruption."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesIlunmKgO

Daniel remained silent.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSi6qFqJbg

Hassan continued.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfObXu37kw3

"When a corrupt politician arrives in a village, people rush to greet him."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgT3X3Jfbm

"When a thief builds a mansion, people praise his success."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6pJUWNZsY

"When stolen wealth is displayed, many admire it."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnUKA6l7d6

The words stung because they were true.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTfLmB2h2N

Somewhere along the way, society had confused wealth with integrity.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJsn5U5yNx

People rarely asked how riches were acquired.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLnyZaGZKT

They only admired the result.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VESmj9SSo

The expensive cars.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgoI2Gx5he

The large houses.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJSJzxPgZX

The luxury lifestyle.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskBF7Tqoxy

Nobody questioned the source.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa12XmNMXpK

And because nobody questioned it, corruption flourished.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLRKSQR7Dy

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE0bjRMPqC

Several weeks later, a major scandal shook the country.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgyp9zZKqB

Billions meant for public projects had disappeared.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp934WtYjaP

The money was supposed to improve schools.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW7SjeenKI

Build hospitals.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm05Gll7fDW

Repair roads.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cMh9V7YUT

Support farmers.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflpnEH8N3H

Instead, it vanished.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tev4DK31O

The investigation revealed shocking details.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuTR2ILXbc

Powerful individuals were involved.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21hZg0e1zi

Government officials.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xZJ6aeDbS

Business partners.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG85vLBZsZ

Political allies.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxjYdtQfkD

The evidence was overwhelming.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN89bHCmY5

Citizens were outraged.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffKfNiUlb

Radio stations discussed the scandal endlessly.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19bhCrek4W

Television channels covered it daily.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrq0E0qJOE

Social media exploded with criticism.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0wBqi6eaA

For a moment, it seemed justice might finally prevail.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJe4jXEIHD

But then something familiar happened.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwyTtoaEI2

The story faded.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtGbZWLThP

The investigations slowed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiswIrEozL

The arrests stopped.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGjb3q8aw9

The headlines disappeared.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HHNXKsOCD

Life returned to normal.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2Ngwjhkpl

The powerful remained powerful.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPUN3lZrOS

The poor remained poor.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqJ8HVbCMz

The nation continued bleeding.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1iFOwcma4

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1ZtKZ9m5z

One day, Daniel traveled to a rural community where a government school had supposedly received renovation funds.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqPkaVeAey

The reality shocked him.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqfPsxHT1s

The classrooms were collapsing.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HXt8cOLjY

The roof leaked during rainfall.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymXC3uuBKH

Students shared broken desks.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfrSIMboUw

Teachers lacked basic materials.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcpmSndJBL

Yet official records claimed the project had been completed successfully.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfKh0HrDcO

Daniel stood inside one of the classrooms.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTmRkBPpY0

A teacher pointed toward the ceiling.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPAz8KCeNN

"When it rains, we stop teaching."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOY6x38p36

"Why?"

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTSaxOo9IG

"Because water falls directly into the classroom."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIBgrg423v

The teacher laughed bitterly.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LBFtJ511B

"According to government documents, this school is one of the best in the state."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRMas2lghn

Daniel looked around.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH1yblBZE0

There was nothing funny about the situation.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIQjGPOJf0

The laughter came from pain.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfeGbgwq2G

The kind of pain people develop when disappointment becomes routine.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUyQepLBDY

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNAspSMuEe

That evening, he met an old farmer named Pa Ade.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4oDjGS5UQ

The elderly man had spent his entire life working the land.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlnzmkpskk

His face carried the wisdom of many decades.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOuQrguMzL

After listening to Daniel's frustrations, the old man spoke quietly.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUw78wEee0

"My son, corruption is like a poisonous tree."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH5kdlY4hk

Daniel listened carefully.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W4KUGEWZE

"It begins with a small seed."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUlNu166y0

The old man picked up a dry leaf.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EWDeMwWh8

"Then it grows."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqSxCDksFv

He pointed toward the horizon.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ZTyEGYlf

"Soon its roots spread everywhere."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGzbT1uyAs

He sighed deeply.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAq6shSHl4

"And before long, even good people begin eating its fruit."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgcW0dmjhG

The words lingered in Daniel's mind.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqa1beYuQ1

Because corruption was no longer limited to politicians.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyInvArNDh

It had spread everywhere.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnIPzyPWL6

Into institutions.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4svUzabYLP

Into businesses.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlwv1iKJoR

Into communities.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mceqKwPOh

Into everyday life.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK2JemRI7D

People bribed officials.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNAAB2fDAn

Officials demanded bribes.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3h3QsXnWZ

Contracts were manipulated.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkEpXnZPjC

Examinations were compromised.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnYu3nHqLL

Justice was sold.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMgC36owpv

Integrity was abandoned.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChXPwxxhhZ

The poison had spread.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MmoTP3neZ

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6BHlNkEdv

Months passed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrt3hxQFHo

Daniel continued his investigations.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkpMLnmzwG

Every story revealed the same pattern.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWlc6jE69v

Greed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOhuoOMF7q

Self-interest.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjo5alPaMu

Abuse of power.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqo2OTOTjq

Yet something else troubled him.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjxaLyexI7

Many people no longer seemed shocked.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbZD5oXsUB

Corruption had become expected.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXveZ2ft8Z

Almost normal.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheTyAo6aNX

A young graduate once told him:

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0giJ7FWKsb

"If I get into government, I will take my share."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7XEhcpEQB

Daniel stared at him.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsHpCYb8Al

"Why?"

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi01JFOPh6v

"Because everyone else is doing it."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSAYQ689oe

The answer frightened him.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70m66eSKJX

Not because one young man believed it.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobePFBbVWr

But because millions thought the same way.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV45DnsMip7

When corruption becomes a culture, fighting it becomes far more difficult.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7t8oRYsQw

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57BYWxKFLT

One night, Daniel sat outside with his father.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZH5WxtswU

The old man listened carefully as his son described everything he had witnessed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡingKUheCFP

When Daniel finished, silence filled the air.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNEo9QhB5G

Finally, his father spoke.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuamWHqHzyR

"A nation dies long before its buildings collapse."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptEFQEiwhp

Daniel looked at him.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAtwLy5oiy

"What do you mean?"

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1jY5UCdbF

The old man pointed toward his chest.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwK0MVqnBd

"A nation dies when conscience dies."

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6icrt871HP

The words struck deeply.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd75QZEwku2

Because conscience was disappearing.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouv5EvJcAY

People knew what was wrong.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPSbdIWThq

Yet many ignored it.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAxFDNY8hH

People recognized injustice.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pG7V9ssg1

Yet many tolerated it.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XpA0CkCHd

People condemned corruption.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6EsSjvrn8

Yet many participated in it when given the opportunity.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuct9D2kIra

The disease had become both personal and national.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EPJ1HZ53J

---

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YRUK90AOu

As darkness covered the city, Daniel stared toward the distant lights.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zQYH5ijJQ

Somewhere, another contract was being manipulated.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuaFgiHjsW

Somewhere, another public fund was being stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK60sguYZfw

Somewhere, another promise was being betrayed.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSNqc9wSvP

The cycle continued.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cRx0so53e

Endlessly.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRYdvdGRtT

Yet Daniel refused to surrender to hopelessness.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4afoqfmPL

Because he also knew another truth.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBC8MI6r8r

Corruption survives in darkness.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRFG1Ps7Hz

But truth creates light.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKvFx9m19B

And light has a way of exposing hidden things.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcF0OU5evk

No matter how deeply they are buried.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ365oZXhZxr

The nation was bleeding.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9yzBzDNEm

Not only because money was stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSUQxL3ByT

But because values were stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOi229fIsR

Integrity was stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyxbu3qZ4R

Trust was stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiUyZXtFsp

Hope was stolen.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSxglsI8Vl

And until honesty became more honorable than wealth, the wounds would remain open.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteiuxJ8Xva

The road to healing would be long.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFBVnq5m0S

Painful.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhslrGSvox

Difficult.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXebUTazJfg

But every journey begins with a single step.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg19I0K4EDF

And perhaps the first step was simple.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2DsoA9hbx

To stop celebrating corruption.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPHgImYUMf

To stop admiring stolen wealth.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLBEa1vrwZ

To stop rewarding dishonesty.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKvWzicU1i

Because a nation cannot heal while it applauds the hands that wound it.

62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3bo8vPN7F

And as Daniel looked into the darkness, he prayed that one day the people would remember that truth.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi26ZnnwaDM

ns216.73.217.114da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically