Nigeria’s Nascent Democracy and ‘WAR’ Against Corruption: A Rear View Mirror

Abstract

One of the problems facing the nascent democracy in Nigeria which is more
pressing than economic development is the high rate of brazen corruption in
virtually all facets of the polity’s national life. Thus, the thrust of this paper is
a review of the recent ‘WAR’ against corruption in Nigeria. The paper
surveys a number of manifestations of corruption in the body politik and the
country’s woes. The paper however infers that unless the institutional
mechanisms put in place are rejuvenated coupled with political will on the
part of the political actors, the so-called war may be a mirage after all.

Key words: Corruption, Kleptocracy, Constitutionalism, Integrity, Poverty.