By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Precisely in 2019, the world was jolted by the inglorious end of Alan Garcia.Alan García, the former two-time president of Peru, journeyed home to meet to his ancestors, albeit ignobly.Garcia died after shooting himself as police attempted to arrest him in the wide-ranging corruption scandal that has implicated scores of leaders in Peru and Latin America. The 69 year old was alleged to have taken bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht in return for massive public works contracts. He denied receiving money from the company.
Garcia died after shooting himself as police attempted to arrest him in the wide-ranging corruption scandal that has implicated scores of leaders in Peru and Latin America. The 69 year old was alleged to have taken bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht in return for massive public works contracts. He denied receiving money from the company.
The corruption was alleged took place during his second term, from 2006 to 2011. When police arrived at García’s home in Lima, officials said, he told officers he was going to call his lawyer and went into his bedroom. But a few minutes later a gunshot was heard, and the police forced their way into the room and found Mr. García in a sitting position with a wound to the head.
If mortals have will to dictate where to be born, Garcia could have chosen Nigeria. The calamity that befell him could have been averted.After all receiving kick backs as gratifications for awarding contracts is now a norm rather than a vice in Nigeria. Even governors are allegedly caught on camera receiving kick backs. Kick backs are so glaring here that you do not need proxies to facilitate them. More worrisome is that cronies of governors and other political office holders are feeding fat on kick backs, and these are done with grave impunity. They own choice houses and cars that are not hidden from the public. That calls for the scramble to join the league.
If Garcia were to be a Nigerian he didn’t need tonbother. What he ought to have done is to play the ball, at worst he joins the ruling party. After all, those who have corruption charges hanging on their necks like the sword of Damocles are majestically walking the streets of Nigeria free. Some of them are even current political office holders.
Poor Garcia was unlucky to have chosen Peru as his country . A a posthumous appeal to Garcia:”Please don’t commit that mistake next time. Even if the worse comes to worst, pay your way through to become a Nigerian. After all it is alleged that you were good in taking bribes. Therefore, you were also good in giving bribes.
“Do you know that if you were to be a Nigerian that you could have attracted the best recognitions within religious and secular circles? Do you know that teams of idle youths would have besieged your compound every morning shouting “e go, go again”-the latest entrant in our political lexicon for some bottles of beer. Garcia, the choicest women and wine could have been yours if you were to be a Nigerian. You would have been treated to rousing home coming by your kinsmen if you were to be a Nigerian.
“Garcia you chose wrongly. You chose to incarnate in a clime where the rule of law is robustly applied. Your ordeal has expressed that all that is required to fight corruption effectively is strong institutions and not strong leaders”.
Adieu Garcia! In your next reincarnation, choose wisely!
