How Nigerian ‘corruption’ is a cautionary tale for the UK | Chibundu Onuzo

British cronyism is not on the same level as the billions of dollars flowing out of Nigeria. But that money is being spent somewhere

The British self-proclaimed reputation for probity seems to have taken a battering recently. If it's not Boris Johnson's dubious WhatsApps, it's David Cameron's lobbying on behalf of the doomed financial services company Greensill. I have to admit my first reaction to the latter was glee at the comeuppance for a former prime minister who once described Nigeria (my country of origin) as fantastically corrupt". I thought to myself, look who's fantastically corrupt now? My second reaction was distaste for my schadenfreude. After all, if my private texts were held up to public scrutiny, I might have much to be ashamed of. If I had easy access to powerful and influential members of the cabinet, who is to say I wouldn't try to use this access on behalf of my friends? A little more grace, I reminded myself.

Strictly speaking, what has been reported in the Greensill scandal is cronyism", the preferential treatment shown to old friends and associates, and not corruption, which involves the criminal appropriation of public funds. But as the Nigerian proverb says, it starts with clapping, before escalating to dancing.