Here is an experiment for you: go over to the BBC news website and do a search for the word "corruption". And then do the same thing for the word "sleaze".
Results: Of course there are exceptions, but as you’ve probably identified the trend is that the more powerful and damning word "corruption" is reserved for Third World countries, whereas the more mild and acceptable "sleaze" is used to describe Western political/financial shenanigans. Faulty track in upcoming athletics games in India? Corruption. Major international fraud leading to the collapse of one of America’s largest companies? Sleaze.
Using pathology as a metaphor, "sleaze" as a label is like a common cold whereas "corruption" is like Aids. You will bounce back from a cold unscathed but there is no known cure for Aids. And sadly it has a stigma attached to it.
This is a sad reality for Third World countries, especially ones like Nigeria. Due to the failures of a few, all Nigerians find themselves in the horrible situation of being stigmatised as corrupt. This is a prejudice. But it’s become an acceptable prejudice that has bred a stereotype which in turn has bred a cottage industry culminating in the disgusting and dehumanising portrayal of Nigerians in the film District 9 (a film of such magnificent agitprop significance that Leni Riefenstahl would be surprised she hadn’t directed it).
Disappointingly, on The Apprentice, Lord Sugar proudly displayed his anti-Nigerian credentials by saying "I had an offer like that from Nigeria once and funnily enough it didn’t transpire," in response to a contestant’s guarantee that he’d be a solid investment as an employee.
To prove a point one could highlight many equally offensive stereotypes of many different nationalities but it would be irresponsible, insensitive and unacceptable. Why is this not true of Nigerians?
The Nigerian high commissioner struck back by calling Lord Sugar’s remarks demeaning and unfortunate. It’s rare I applaud a Nigerian politician (especially one who served in Abacha’s cabinet) but bravo Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida.
No, my head is not in the sand; Nigeria, like many countries, does have a corruption/sleaze problem. And no one hates Nigerian fraudsters and corrupt Nigerian politicians more than the average Nigerian (especially those in the diaspora). They’re the biggest victims of these criminals. They share in the shame, their country and cultures are reduced to a comedic fodder, the calibre and quality of their opportunities are diminished regardless of ability and some even deny their nationality… all because they share a heritage with some unsavoury characters.
The least the higher echelons of society (such as a member of the House of Lords) can do is not stoop to the level of inflicting collective physiological punishment on an entire nation of people due to the failures of a very minor few. That would be like holding the entire British public responsible for the E-mailer.
Original Story:
He is used to handing out the criticism. But today Lord Sugar was on the receiving end as Nigeria's High Commissioner in London accused him of insulting millions of his countrymen.
In a statement, His Excellency Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida accused the Apprentice boss of making “demeaning” and “spurious” comments about the African country on his hit BBC show The Apprentice.
His Excellency accuses the peer of smearing Nigeria's reputation with an “unprovoked” and “damaging” attack based on his sordid dealings with one individual.
It comes after Lord Sugar suggested that Nigerians could not be trusted over financial promises.
During the opening episode of The Apprentice, the peer asked contestant Stuart Baggs why he should not be “fired” from the show.
Mr Baggs said: “If you give me one hundred grand a year, I will deliver to you 10 times that and if I don't — take it all back. A money back guarantee, I'm that confident”.
Lord Sugar replied: “I had an offer like that from Nigeria once and funnily enough it didn't transpire.”
The peer gave no explanation as to whether his comment was based on a real event or a stereotyped view about Nigerians.
The BBC, which is often sensitive to such pejorative remarks, allowed the pre-recorded clip to be broadcast.
Today a statement issued on Dr Tafida's behalf said: “Lord Sugar's remark on Nigeria is preposterous and spurious for a number of reasons.
"It was an unprovoked, damaging remark on a sovereign and independent state of over 150 million people, based on his alleged sordid and isolated deal with a Nigerian individual. It is indeed demeaning and unfortunate.”
Nigeria has developed a reputation, however, as a base for “mass marketing” rackets in which organised criminals seek to cheat victims of their money by offering prizes or other incentives, which subsequently fail to materialise, in return for cash payments.
A report this year by the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group warned that the country continued “to serve as a base of operations for a wide range of mass-marketing activity.”
The 2001 census said there were nearly 90,000 Nigerian-born people living in the UK — just under 69,000 in London — and both numbers are believed to have increased significantly since.
The Hackney businessman versus the High Commissioner
Lord Sugar started in business selling electrical goods from a van after leaving school at 16, and is now worth about £730 million. He founded Amstrad, the electrical goods firm, which he sold in 2007, and was chairman of Tottenham Hotspur for several years. The Hackney-born entrepreneur was knighted for services to business in 2000 and was last year appointed Gordon Brown's Enterprise Champion and elevated to the Lords. He also supports charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jewish Care.
His Excellency Dr Dalhutu Sarki Tafida was appointed Nigeria's High Commissioner in London in 2008 after a career in medicine which included studying in Newcastle, Liverpool and the US. He was appointed chief physician to the Nigerian president between 1980 and 1983 and later served as minister of health between 1993 and 1995. He was a member of the Nigerian senate between 2003 and 2007, including a period as the Senate majority leader. He is married with nine children and his interests include playing Scrabble and table tennis.
I know it was a light jibe but if you're part of a group who gets shots taken at them, one can only take so much.
Had to give the writer (who I've known since Uni) some spotlight, he's been smashing it at the Standard's blog since the summer : )
Also: Major facepalm at the idiots in the comments section of the original story who think that those Nigerian scam e-mails come from actual Nigerians or the Nigerian government....smh..
Source: Nelson at the Evening Standard
Source: http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/52380735.html
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