Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stressed that the fight against corruption can only be truly effective if it begins with accountability at the top levels of government.
He argued that addressing corruption within the highest echelons of leadership would set a strong example for others, showcasing the government’s commitment to transparency and integrity.
Obasanjo made these remarks during an interactive session on Zoom titled “Boiling Point Arena,” which was hosted by a private radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday night.
The discussion, broadcast by several private radio stations in Abeokuta, focused on Obasanjo’s legacies in government and his evaluation of present-day Nigeria.
Describing corruption as a hydra-headed monster deeply entrenched in Nigerian society, Obasanjo emphasized that the battle against it must start with leadership in order to succeed.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head, that is where corruption has to be fought from,” he said.
The former President also submitted that the fight against corruption must be a consistent and daily affair to nip it in the bud.
“Corruption is very hydra-headed and eats deep. I think it was the Sultan of Sokoto, the father of the present Sultan who said corruption is like a ‘babariga’, 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. And that’s corruption”
“It’s 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. it has to be continual. It has to be a daily affair. Once one regime is let off, it spreads.”
He advocated for a reform in the recruitment and appointment of leaders to public offices, stressing that political appointments should be based on merit rather than political or tribal affiliations.
Discussing leadership, he remarked that self-made leaders or those placed in power by negative forces are destined to fail.
He emphasized that only God has the power to appoint leaders, and those He ordains are the ones who will ultimately succeed.
“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.”