Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said for the fight against corruption to be successful, it must start from the top.
He also said the fight against the menace must be on a sustainable basis for it to have meaningful impact.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head, that is where corruption has to be fought from,” said the ex-Nigerian leader.
The elder statesman spoke Sunday night via zoom at “Boiling Point Arena”, an interactive session aired by some private radio stations in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The conversation focused on Obasanjo’s legacies in government and his assessment of today’s Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Obasanjo said genuine commitment to transparency and integrity must begin with leaders leading by example.
While describing corruption as a “pervasive” and “hydra-headed” problem that requires a continuous, collective effort to address, he said nothing would be too much to ensure the menace is rightly tackled.
Likening corruption to a “babariga” (a flowing traditional attire), the ex-Nigerian leader said: “If you are folding it on one side, it’s falling apart on the other side. When you carry it on both sides, you cannot hold your hands up, and as soon as you put your hands down, it’s falling apart. That’s corruption.”
He added: “Corruption is not a one-day affair. It’s not a one-regime affair. It’s not even a two-regime affair. It has to be consistent, continual, and a daily affair. Once one regime lets off, corruption spreads.”
The former Nigerian leader who called for reforms in the nation’s leadership recruitment process, advocated for a merit-based political appointments that will prioritise integrity and competence over political affiliations or tribal considerations.
Going spiritual on leadership, Obasanjo said a leader made by Satan will fail, while that appointed by God will thrive.
Obasanjo argued that just like God, Satan has power to enthrone a leader but conversely lacks salvation.
Asked if he sees himself as an accidental leader, Obasanjo contended that leaders are both born and made by God.
He said: “So, I will say most leaders are prepared by God and they put in place by God and when that happens the chances of success are higher than when you make yourself a leader which may not be the act of God.
“And again people saying all leaders are made by God, I don’t accept that. A leader can also be made by Satan. In the case of Job, you can remember Satan was going up and down and went before God and God was commending Job but Satan said Job was upright to God because he has gotten from God.
“We must accept that Satan is real and he has power, he has no salvation but he has power and the power of Satan must not be underrated.”
…Abbas on unity of purpose
In a related development, Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas has asked for a unified strategy in the f8ght against corruption in order to defeat the menace.
He said corruption had drained vital resources that could otherwise be invested in infrastructure, job creation, education, and healthcare and others.
Speaker Abbas spoke Monday at the International Anti-Corruption Day event organised by the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, in Abuja.
Represented by Deputy Minority Whip of the House Adewunmi Onanuga, he lamented that systemic corruption deprives communities of essential services and perpetuates poverty and inequality.
“Equally troubling is how corruption destroys trust in public institutions, leading to widespread disillusionment and a weakened social contract between the government and the governed.
“Our increased oversight of government institutions complements these efforts to ensure public resources are managed with the utmost integrity and accountability”, he stated.
In his address, the committee chairman, Prince Kayode Akiolu, said corruption transcends financial misappropriation or outright theft, adding that at its core, corruption reflects a deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.
“It undermines the principles of fairness, justice and common good. It manifests in various forms, including abuse of power, favouritism, nepotism and the neglect of ethical governance. When public officers abandon their duty to serve the people in favour of self-interest, the social fabric is eroded, economic progress is stunted and the trust of the citizens is betrayed”, he said.