I have a friend who was elected into a political office. Before he was elected he was well known for his uprightness and integrity. Now, his new office is filled with corruption in the form of looting of government funds. He told me that when the allocation from the central government comes, the chairman of the local government will call them and give them a large amount for their upkeep. But they still receive their monthly salary and allowance.
He is well aware that the allocation was for the development of the local government, but he is forced to take it since almost all the elected officers are collecting it. The first time he rejected the money, he received a threat that he would be impeached or violently attacked. This is because his colleagues are scared that he might reveal the corruption that is going on in the local government.
My friend decided to set up a foundation that gives scholarships and builds schools. With the illegal funds, he usually receives every month, he has been able to finance the education of many poor students in his ward and has also built and refurbished a few schools.
He knows that those funds he receives are illegal but he vowed not to use them for his personal needs. What is your opinion on this matter?
From my understanding of this. Your story is that your friend is a good person and he will be well known as a good politician but that doesn't give the excuse that when they are talking about people who spend public funds he shouldn't be mention, as far as you are a politician you will be counted among the one that spent public funds, I don't blame your friend for saying he is not collecting the money giving to him but if it was me I will collect it and even ask for more, I will never reject money and no one will come to me and said that I'm spending public funds.
Your friend makes a good decision because he can use that to make a good name for himself and still get a vote when he wants another post, building schools and helping the poor is also a good thing that everyone capable can do, especially politicians, but as he doesn't want to take the money from the beginning I think he never know anything about Politics and when they want to judge them he will also be among those that spend public funds, so he should take it.