The age-old practice of legislatures and executives allocating extra funds for themselves under the guise of various projects has been a longstanding issue in governance. While it’s easy to condemn this behavior as reckless and corrupt, it’s essential to understand the underlying factors that drive this phenomenon.
One of the primary reasons for this practice is the additional financial burden that political office holders face from their constituents and the people. In many cultures, it’s expected that politicians will provide financial support to their constituents, whether it’s for personal or community development projects.
Those who fail to provide such support are often labeled as stingy or tight-fisted.
Imagine constituents calling political office holders and demanding financial support to organize naming ceremony! A ceremony he had 9 months to prepare for!!!
This pressure to provide financial support can be overwhelming, and politicians may feel compelled to allocate extra funds to meet these demands. While this doesn’t justify the practice of hiding these allocations under various projects, it’s essential to recognize the complexities of the situation.
It’s also worth noting that the lack of transparency and accountability in governance structures can exacerbate this issue. When there are no clear channels for constituents to access funding or support, they may resort to approaching politicians directly, creating an environment conducive to corruption and abuse of power.
To address this issue, it’s crucial for constituents to desist from mounting unnecessary pressure on political office holders. Instead, they should demand transparency and accountability in governance, ensuring that funds are allocated and utilized effectively.
As the saying goes, “if you want to demand equity, you must come with clean hands.” Constituents must recognize their role in perpetuating this cycle of corruption and take steps to change their behavior. By doing so, they can help create an environment that promotes good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Ultimately, breaking this cycle of corruption requires a collective effort from both politicians and constituents.
Oladeji Ebisemiju writes from Idiogba
