As i stopped the car, the Policeman walked past me, apparently heading backwards to stop another car and then the police woman approached me and our conversation went thus: Police woman: Good morning, ma...
Omoba: Good morning!
Police woman: How are you today?
Omoba: Very well and you?
Police woman: Fine, how is the family?
Omoba: Fine and yours?
I was becoming impatient with the pleasantries and eagerly expecting the question "Can i have a look at your particulars?" And then she goes: "MADAM, FIND SOMETHING FOR US NOW...."
I was a bit irritated and in my mind I was like "there we go again!!!, find something for you for being at your duty post or because it was friday?"..But I dare not say that aloud, else I be accused of a heinous crime. I always say "the fear of all Uniformed Men in Nigeria (be it POLICE, LASTMA,FRSC,KAI,e.t.c.) is the beginning of wisdom." I instantly started searching for loose change in my car since I was not ready to part with a higher denomination. Fortunately, I located a N50.00 note in the glove compartment of my car but I thought to myself "this is too small and it does not appear presentable". I searched my bag thoroughly while the Police woman waited patiently and then I located another N50.00 note. Happily, i added the two notes to her thinking she would reject it that it was too small, but surprisingly, she accepted it thankfully and I sped off.
As I zoomed off, my thoughts became as loud as my voice "What was that you just did?" "Did you just offer bribe or not?" " Did you just gave unto "ceaser" what belong to ceaser?".
I have decided to throw these questions open to you all, my dear friends....WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON BRIBERY? WHAT AMOUNTS TO BRIBERY? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRIBERY AND GIFT?
I await your comments and answers.....
With love and prayers, omo'ba (the royal daughter).
Loud Verse: Mark 12 v. 17 ...Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
15 comments:
Hi Aeteju, I am a new follower of yours. Nice post
You did not bribe the people, because you did not pay them money to get out of a crime you committed. I think you gave them the money out of fear of them wasting your time, which I personally do not subscribe to.
I would have preferred it if you gave the the money out of the fact that you appreciated the work they were doing, or as a form of encouragement, or you just wanted to help since they earn meagre salaries, which I don't think was the case here.
Am I right?
I do not give bribes, and I say it upfront if I think I'm in a situation where it may be demanded. My hubby knows my stand but thought I was joking till the customs people at the airport tried rubbish at the airport. I told them off even before he could speak. They just waved us away. I was alone in Lagos when our driver was stopped for driving on a one way. A policeman got in the car and said we had to go to the station, I said fine but he changed his tune along the way and asked for money. I told him and the driver it wasn't happening. The driver unfortunately was too scared and used to the way of doing things. He stopped somewhere and walked out with the police. When he came back, he told me the guy accepted 500 from him, all he had in his pocket. I preached my stand to him but who knows?
On gifts, I believe strongly in that and will offer gnerously as far as I am sure it cannot be mistaken for bribe.
It's called 'LOVE TOKEN'! :D...glad you know that the fear of uniformed men in 9ja is the beginning to survival! Truthfully, i have come to accept it as a 'NORM' in 9ja! If mere N50:00 or N200 can save me trouble, why argue? because a DEAD man cannot speak! it's the SOCIETY we find ourselves...not because citizens like it but because we want to LIVE long to talk about it....where i work entails carrying of goods & there is no week police or lastma or vio won't find one fault or the other even when the vehicle papers are complete and up to date..THEIR EYES NO DEY SEE GOODS COMOT...we give 200-1000 to get out of there and deliver our goods because TIME IS MONEY!....the stubborn ones would refuse and drive the vehicle to their office & at the end of the day, we would spend about 20k, with time wasted and lose sales for that day! ..so my sister...when you are in ROME, behave like the Romans & give what belongs to Caesar unto Caesar... for GOD looks at the intention of the heart.
I chose my battles carefully
If I am stopped at the airport and harassed - and I know I have done nothing wrong - I exchange banter with Customs and I am usually waved along.
However, if I am stopped by police in the middle of nowhere - possibly at night - I will offer bribe willingly and happily. LOL
Bribes, Appreciations- all come in brown envelopes and seems to make things go faster in 9ja, 'it is called due process' the senator collects, so do the police man on the road(roger)
Yes its wrong, what can an average nigerian do?
That one is not bribery but extortion. A bribe is something you give (unsolicited) to achieve a desired outcome. This nonsense wey these "police officers" and area boys do is plain and simple extortion.
Nice post. Im new around these parts :)
i dnt think ur case is bribery. i think bribery is wen ur tryin to get out of something u shouldnt have done or tryin to gain unfair advantage....look at ur case as givin money to a beggar hu has d power to waste ur time nd make u miserable....sad but dats d 9ja we live in
@@ilola: thanks for following!yes you are very right. I gave her the dough 'cos she requested for it and I did not want my time to be wasted. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it.
@Myne: Yeah, I agree with you that gifts should not be mistaken for bribes. I feel your driver o, he had to save you both from an effortless trip and a time consuming one to the Police Station, I dont blame him o.
I always appreciate your visits and comments on my blog.
@Ibhade: lol@LOVE TOKEN!!! yes o, uniformed men in Naija ought to be feared o, Very true that DEAD MEN CAN'T SPEAK, THEY CAN'T EVEN FILE AN ACTION IN A LAW COURT.
MAY GOD SAVE US!!!
@Naija Mum: I love your choice of words.."I CHOOSE MY BATTLES CAREFULLY"...You are such a wise mum!!!thanks for dropping by as usual.
@Nutrition Alert: Exactly!!!"WHAT CAN AN AVERAGE NIGERIAN DO?"...except to remain optimistic that things can only get better.
@Lady NGO: Thanks for your comments and welcome around "these parts".Would visit your blog right away.... May the lord deliver us from all kinds of "EXTORTIONS"...
@OLORI: Thanks for your comment. Am glad mine ain't bribery cos I do not look forward to being in a situation that I would have to bribe. ....
ps: I love your blog!!!
@ OLORI: lol @ "look at ur case as givin money to a beggar hu has d power to waste ur time nd make u miserable" very very funny!!!
Teju omo'ba why are making what you did seem like a "biggy" it aint no big deal sis, that's what an average Nigerian would do found in the same scenario and like your very goodself and Ibahde has stated "when you're in Rome, you behave like the Romans" and "Give what belongs to Caesar unto Caesar". For me there's a police station close to my street every saturday morning is their "service day" where everyone that passes gives the compulsory offering" and more often than not you give "cheerfully sef" though it doesn't make it right but thats Naija for you. But all they ever get for me is Looooooosse change.
That wasn't Caesar's! But from my place of safety I won't try to advise. Grace be with you.
i agree with Olori, i c dem as advanced beggars n not necessarily bribing lol... If dey're not arrogant i do not mind giving, though i wish dey were paid more so i can justify not giving at all
A bribe is usually given with the intent of bailing out of trouble, a gift on the other hand is given as a show of appreciation. Things are just muddled up in Nigeria, and you have to act like the Romans when in Rome to get by, shikena!
I can totally relate with this post.
Once, I was stopped by an elderly police man.
He didn't even ask for the car papers. He just said "My children"... and the prayers started flowing.. It shall be well with you, you will not suffer in your old age...
My friend and I just looked at ourselves as we both reached for our bags to give him money. He didn't ask for it, at least, not directly.
I just felt sorry for him cos I didn't think a man his age should be on the streets, he looked tired and unwell...
I think there are plenty shades of grey between black and white...
Thanks for stopping by my blog :o)
I thank God for your testimony.
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