A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 12: CORRUPTION WITHOUT SHAME

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwkWPWxRQU

Chapter 12: Corruption Without Shame

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JkuNt3C24

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLWCa14kJM

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5tZKXKICn

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tSaiKhUf0

The greatest danger facing a nation is not corruption.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwj5gtrkud

The greatest danger is when corruption becomes normal.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBlws1nRox

When people no longer feel ashamed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPVT8Khsrh

When wrong becomes right.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqpUE2O5wU

When honesty becomes foolishness.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV2n7qkg29

When thieves become heroes.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIE60fQFad

That was the disease slowly eating away at the nation.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ilk7Wjzco

Like termites hidden inside a wooden house.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt57EN1CJ9j

Silent.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNjEWanVLw

Patient.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm6qhlMSB8

Destructive.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfyAylDu3X

Daniel realized this one afternoon while visiting a government office.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZyob5vAcE

The building was crowded.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZbNpQfbQD

People waited in long lines under the hot sun.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEKRxC3xek

Some had traveled for hours.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ180cJSrU

Others had traveled for days.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanGWBGGGrv

They came seeking services that should have taken only minutes.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoElytmQClx

Yet nothing moved.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtsr4vjW8e

Nothing happened.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24s3pKnTky

Nothing changed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLlmc0rWOv

Hours passed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbXhW8z5Jt

Frustration grew.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLtuifk2b9

Then Daniel noticed something.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx1YuIrZ64

A man arrived.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRat3vmnwzP

He walked directly past the line.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yPbNVLynm

He entered an office.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekw6ClsRmk

A few minutes later, he emerged smiling.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSO801YBo9

His documents had been approved.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1BQgnERQ5

His work was complete.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zmz1cbCcb

His problem was solved.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7E4go5fQz

The hundreds of people waiting outside remained where they were.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdWMvc1MLA

Confused.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9FJNWsrRI

Angry.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b934xLXEj

Powerless.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8CJxcmsGs

Daniel approached one of the workers.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf58GeSidV

"How did he finish so quickly?"

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO983lVbVI

The worker smiled knowingly.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCLAHHjSaL

"He understands the system."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISHqsf4UKz

Daniel understood exactly what that meant.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPApwo2hDv

Money.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCUpVgdqjr

A bribe.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsn8yNnsmV

The unofficial language of corruption.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBpp0e0jIa

The language many institutions spoke fluently.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NY60eKQvo

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOCkRNDD3o

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZladkztEwC

Rain tapped softly against the windows.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG6OlFsFqS

The journalist looked exhausted.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4g2oXvWfF

Months of investigations had revealed painful truths.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD550TvXDV

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E0pjrwL7X

"What is it then?" Daniel asked.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oOC5CrmLd

"The celebration of corruption."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWfpxYTRe5

Daniel remained silent.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurzAelkyrt

Hassan continued.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEMlq6TjQV

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX4NPESp1s

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrEEPRf8ba

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFJOd30jfF

The words stung because they were true.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEjzIC6R7g

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq26HBI88zk

People rarely asked how riches were acquired.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV8TRFBLmZ

They only admired the result.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldHFw4Jtm3

The expensive cars.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lqXZYPdTL

The large houses.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTcEpfhD0L

The luxury lifestyle.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwgiPHJAVD

Nobody questioned the source.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvac9Umqlh

And because nobody questioned it, corruption flourished.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmyeCu58mK

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNpaEqeqqu

Several weeks later, a major scandal shook the country.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASotlO1kJf

Billions meant for public projects had disappeared.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdCS83rUOq

The money was supposed to improve schools.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQKVdNVKV

Build hospitals.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhclvpPET2

Repair roads.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgViVXdfGQg

Support farmers.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB61jkpgOs6

Instead, it vanished.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdDSTwfNpM

The investigation revealed shocking details.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUkklG0Pse

Powerful individuals were involved.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHR1mAqmIR

Government officials.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsQnW2jW5w

Business partners.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZx3uxzBWP

Political allies.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq9hzdPNE3

The evidence was overwhelming.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kJZ2zntt0

Citizens were outraged.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwGa6Rf2q6

Radio stations discussed the scandal endlessly.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKCjS6LhgA

Television channels covered it daily.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO3SZhdlU5

Social media exploded with criticism.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID4siRmg8p

For a moment, it seemed justice might finally prevail.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nPrKaRhko

But then something familiar happened.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ukhQtwdK5

The story faded.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6sjM78q1z

The investigations slowed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUySpyDFHVM

The arrests stopped.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWMvZcwahr

The headlines disappeared.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgaTIQdAH9

Life returned to normal.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMQxrUKt9q

The powerful remained powerful.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0qSpxFTJx

The poor remained poor.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBwhWz3bDS

The nation continued bleeding.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7Tf59Zuyy

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Yndd62FB

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOslv4BuzQH

The reality shocked him.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kMwqiXyvJ

The classrooms were collapsing.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm5YZGswCF

The roof leaked during rainfall.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSw4IT5LiG

Students shared broken desks.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2mI95c56r

Teachers lacked basic materials.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZOMrs6hJs

Yet official records claimed the project had been completed successfully.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03FeRw7zuL

Daniel stood inside one of the classrooms.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD2bt6vg4t

A teacher pointed toward the ceiling.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqV9LScfHs

"When it rains, we stop teaching."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADeKYWi8Df

"Why?"

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TZqrfdj5v

"Because water falls directly into the classroom."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11F449fqDG

The teacher laughed bitterly.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkR7S8H3GY

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yllfk47Bj

Daniel looked around.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau4WZJKOMF

There was nothing funny about the situation.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5czZlUMwkK

The laughter came from pain.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwILuNZmQrf

The kind of pain people develop when disappointment becomes routine.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOIQqiIMXg

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjRKoCR4Up

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk3d3leyfd

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmsNe0vHl0

His face carried the wisdom of many decades.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqMaGeYuG0

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUgL30js6t

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALQfZaIYut

Daniel listened carefully.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hbza6EWCs

"It begins with a small seed."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HFyHXGcuZ

The old man picked up a dry leaf.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszFMn4KNV0

"Then it grows."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNIMe04QJP

He pointed toward the horizon.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtKkH6UOYd

"Soon its roots spread everywhere."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJmqJnJ21J

He sighed deeply.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRvbS1iNXx

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7rWonXhbn

The words lingered in Daniel's mind.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg80Oe5USZ

Because corruption was no longer limited to politicians.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeaFLkQr26

It had spread everywhere.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nnpitnr24

Into institutions.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZFWvJ5uRL

Into businesses.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeIH83KxRq

Into communities.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJs6DZR8xg5

Into everyday life.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YizsY6Uqv

People bribed officials.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6acdyA3W3

Officials demanded bribes.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7KGBjdY0t

Contracts were manipulated.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9rFyBTQzk

Examinations were compromised.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVJm5XdDmf

Justice was sold.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mU3KYelsF

Integrity was abandoned.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgoVxEgdWg

The poison had spread.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS4WOTViYH

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lHItXFA3n

Months passed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lTjOYX0ox

Daniel continued his investigations.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6UHf3zioN

Every story revealed the same pattern.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnlfHrapCp

Greed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWSJpqVOSx

Self-interest.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0UGj8wcey

Abuse of power.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7svDFgZm3

Yet something else troubled him.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJz1xnC9Zw

Many people no longer seemed shocked.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM7b0hWE8I

Corruption had become expected.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRkKXWPhHV

Almost normal.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRVk1i2RL6

A young graduate once told him:

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsg4rgzppT

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA1mGEkGRP

Daniel stared at him.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHAaTjunMM

"Why?"

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjMUns1VLg

"Because everyone else is doing it."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVD5MHjaYK

The answer frightened him.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZLDHBtYrl

Not because one young man believed it.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdARwTj907M

But because millions thought the same way.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITl1El4MuY

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOVTi8SV0A

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vRHAVSgm8

One night, Daniel sat outside with his father.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEQy6Hur3J

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IGyEJhqr8

When Daniel finished, silence filled the air.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0qWJ0QdJY

Finally, his father spoke.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7YAE1b4nk

"A nation dies long before its buildings collapse."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMBh5vdx8i

Daniel looked at him.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUCFB2sIGc

"What do you mean?"

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUNpdWGy9K

The old man pointed toward his chest.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kW47IytBv

"A nation dies when conscience dies."

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQKS7myIPJ

The words struck deeply.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybJBR8sII7

Because conscience was disappearing.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5w6ocBU4B

People knew what was wrong.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V3H1a6vJZ

Yet many ignored it.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH553vEfYp

People recognized injustice.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVWil9Nav7

Yet many tolerated it.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBxK7NPHZ3

People condemned corruption.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSecfBefC

Yet many participated in it when given the opportunity.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEbuECG3VW

The disease had become both personal and national.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxibBYc1MDo

---

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EZ9YdgB71

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvdXCEBvBN

Somewhere, another contract was being manipulated.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxMtltUNVD

Somewhere, another public fund was being stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JcCFYN4cw

Somewhere, another promise was being betrayed.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1a3fFeZTg

The cycle continued.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06x0q27Exr

Endlessly.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkiovKHDvp

Yet Daniel refused to surrender to hopelessness.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtftwcvYtqf

Because he also knew another truth.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGshL8wQ82

Corruption survives in darkness.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13hNOLkzAh

But truth creates light.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCfrs1yPa3

And light has a way of exposing hidden things.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMPsfLLCaa

No matter how deeply they are buried.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RBkYKhMlK

The nation was bleeding.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NoBDxOXXr

Not only because money was stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y38OGvwGm

But because values were stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABB5qWjs2G

Integrity was stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTWTWLaoTt

Trust was stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqgqLMxnij

Hope was stolen.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTVo7VluqW

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhjElzAwXS

The road to healing would be long.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTLJDCD44d

Painful.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEULEwYjZP

Difficult.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4wJbwA7c5

But every journey begins with a single step.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLdPLDz3aV

And perhaps the first step was simple.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVWGNnPQzq

To stop celebrating corruption.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu9qnzN5bJ

To stop admiring stolen wealth.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVsV4FJjp9

To stop rewarding dishonesty.

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwInr2sAtxO

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

63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBUD50X2HF

And as Daniel looked into the darkness, he prayed that one day the people would remember that truth.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1PTqqABwP

ns216.73.217.114da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically