Nigeria, Dec. 31 -- Let's stop lying to ourselves.

Nigeria is not corrupt because Nigerians are bad people. Nigeria is corrupt because corruption was built into the system, deliberately, carefully, and profitably.

And until we accept that truth, nothing will change.

THE LIE WE WERE TAUGHT

We were told:

"Corruption is our culture."

That is a lazy lie.

If corruption were culture, then why did Nigeria function better in the 1960s than today? Why did civil servants once fear audit? Why did leaders once resign in shame?

Culture does not suddenly collapse overnight.

Systems do.

WHERE IT ALL WENT WRONG

Nigeria's corruption did not begin with politicians wearing agbada and speaking grammar. It began when oil money met unchecked power....