Raila Odinga, a Kenyan opposition leader, has used Nigeria as a subject of an anecdote to explain how Nigeria has patented corruption in public service. Nollywood should buy the script.
“At the end of the evening, he (Nigerian minister) asked his host how he had managed to do so well for himself to which the Malaysian minister took the Nigerian to his balcony and showed him a highway far off. ‘You see that highway, 10% here’ the Malaysian said,” Mr Odinga narrated, saying that a fraction of the fund for the road had gone back to the minister in kickback used to build his impressive home.
The audience burst in laughter.
Then, it was time for the Nigerian minister to showcase his acquisition as a proceed of corruption.
The Malaysian minister was visiting the Nigerian minister. The two toured parts of Nigeria and, unlike Malaysia, the roads in African country were in terrible conditions with potholes everywhere.
After the tour, the Nigerian took the Malaysian to his Lagos home.
“He found an Olympic sized swimming pool, the sofa sets were imported from Britain, most of the kitchen-ware were golden,” Mr Odinga said describing the Lagos home.
The Malaysian asked how his friend had accumulated wealth and was taken to the balcony.
“Do you see that highway there?,” asked the west African minister but the Malaysian could see nothing.
“‘But I don’t see anything’ the foreigner said. The Nigerian explained, ‘That highway, 100% here’,” Mr Odinga concluded, provoking laughter in the hall.
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