- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that combating corruption in Nigeria requires strong leadership and consistent, continuous efforts to achieve results
- Obasanjo described corruption as a “hydra-headed” problem and warned that a single administration’s efforts cannot solve it
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that combating corruption in Nigeria must begin with strong leadership to achieve meaningful results.
Obasanjo described corruption as a “hydra-headed” problem deeply rooted in Nigerian society during a Sunday night Zoom interactive session, “Boiling Point Arena. ”
The discussion focused on his legacies in government and his perspective on Nigeria’s current state.
Obasanjo stressed that fighting corruption requires consistency and daily commitment. He likened corruption to a babanriga, a flowing gown, explaining, “If you fold it on one side, it falls on the other. You can’t raise your hands if you carry it on both sides. Once you lower your hands, it falls apart again.”
He warned that corruption cannot be addressed as a one-time effort or confined to a single administration. “It must be consistent, continuous, and a daily effort. If one regime relaxes, it spreads further,” he noted.
The former president also criticized government officials for fostering poverty in the country, calling for accountability and decisive action.
On leadership, Obasanjo argued that leaders who rise through manipulative or immoral means are destined to fail. “Only God appoints true leaders, and those He enthrones will succeed,” he stated.
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