A Brief Review of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Classic Book - Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Stories Behind the Headlines

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Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Stories Behind the Headlines is a 2018 book by renowned, Havard-educated Nigerian development economist Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who served as Nigeria's Minster of Finance under President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan. Before serving as a Minister in Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala had had about 25 years working experience at the World Bank where she rose to the rank of a Managing Director.

In Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Stories Behind the Headlines, Okonjo-Iweala recounts the political persecutions, intimidations, and threats that came her way while trying to fight corruption in Nigeria during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Widely known to have pioneered reforms in Nigeria's downstream sector that exposed oil thieves and looters, Okonjo-Iweala tells the world the intimidations and pressure mounted on her to discontinue her crusade against corruption.

Okonjo-Iweala narrates how desperate and ruthless the beneficiaries of corruption can become, telling us how her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped and would only be released on the condition that she resigns as Minister of Finance on national TV and go on exile. The courageous and fearless woman that she is, Okonjo-Iweala refuses to be intimidated, damming the consequences of her actions. Luckily, her octogenarian mother miraculously regains freedom and gets reunited with the family.

Apart from the intimidations and threats, Okonjo-Iweala also points our attention to several malicious articles authored by fifth columnists with only one aim - to dent her image and twist the truth in favour of the beneficiaries of corruption. Regardless, Okonjo-Iweala remains resolute and undistracted in her fight against corruption in Nigeria to the extent that she is often regarded as one of the most influential cabinet members during the Jonathan years.
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Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

It will not be out of place, therefore, to say that the book Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Stories Behind the Headlines reminds us that there are consequences for fighting corruption since corruption will always fight back. Yet, the fight against corruption is always worth it. Therefore, Okonjo-Iweala's didactic book provides a well of inspiration as well as succour to those who are hungry to drive change in their respective communities across the globe.



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