Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, says the hydra-headed problem of corruption can only be nipped in the bud if government officials adopt the spirit of accountability in their day-to-day activities.
Speaking during a Zoom session titled “Boiling Point Arena” in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo stated that the fight against corruption must begin from the top if the country is to make any meaningful progress economically.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head, that is where corruption has to be fought from,” Obasanjo said.
He stressed that leadership must lead by example to demonstrate a genuine commitment to transparency and integrity.
The former president then charged Nigerians to join hands in fighting against corruption in every facet of their lives, warning that a nation that embraces corruption is only digging its own grave.
Using an analogy attributed to a former Sultan of Sokoto, Obasanjo likened corruption to a “babariga” (a flowing traditional attire): “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 said.
He stressed that the war against corruption requires sustained commitment across successive administrations and should not be left for the government alone.
“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,” he added.
Obasanjo also advocated for merit-based political appointments rather than embracing the age-long system of political affiliations or tribal considerations.
