President George Weah’s Minister of State, Nathaniel McGill’s recent pro-corruption remarks, are not only annoying but are also provocative.

Then the question is, does he have a conscience? Because if he does, he would have thought twice before suggesting that even if he were stealing public money as it is being alleged, there is nothing wrong with it the fact that he is using the same money in Liberia and not elsewhere as was in the case of officials of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Wow!! Just listen to yourself Mr. Minister and you will realize that you have knowingly or unknowingly shot yourself in the leg by admitting that even if you are robbing the Liberian people of needed financial resources, there is nothing wrong with it because officials of former President Sirleaf also stole public funds but spent the stolen monies in other countries and not in Liberia as you are doing or have done.

Your justification here Mr. Minister is absolutely pointless. Take it, or leave it, taking money that is not legitimately yours, amounts to a form of corruption even if you were to use such stolen money or monies to build skyscrapers in Bong County or anywhere in Liberia.

Mr. Minister, this is not meant to disrespect you, but apparently, you haven’t checked up the word corruption or understood its meaning.

If this is the case, here is a brief tutorial Sir. Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.

It erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development, and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division, and the environmental crisis.

So you see Mr. Minister of State, this is why you have shot yourself in the leg. When monies intended to improve basic infrastructure, standardize the healthcare and education sectors and as well improve the living standards of ordinary citizens are misdirected into the pockets of dishonest officials of government, it erodes public trust and exacerbates poverty in the wider society. While your admirers and supporters say you spoke in context, your recent pro-corruption remarks amidst the current excruciating economic hardship are not only annoying but are also provocative because you are using the power that President Weah entrusted to you for your personal aggrandizement. So Mr. Minister, with your recent pro-corruption remarks, you did not only expose yourself but also shot yourself in the leg.