Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stressed that the fight against corruption can only be successful if it starts with accountability at the highest levels of government.
Speaking during an interactive Zoom session titled “Boiling Point Arena,” hosted by a private radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo emphasized that tackling corruption among top government officials would set a powerful example for others and demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and integrity.
The session, aired by several private radio stations in Abeokuta, focused on Obasanjo’s legacies and his assessment of contemporary Nigeria.
Describing corruption as a deeply entrenched issue in Nigerian society, Obasanjo referred to it as “hydra-headed,” underscoring the need for leadership to take the first step in addressing it.
“The best way to fight corruption is to start from the top, that is where it must be tackled,” he said.
He further explained that the fight against corruption must be persistent and ongoing, comparing corruption to an intractable problem. “Corruption is very hydra-headed and eats deep. The late Sultan of Sokoto once said corruption is like a ‘babariga’—if you fold it on one side, it falls apart on the other. When you try to hold it, it falls apart again. And that’s corruption.”
Obasanjo argued that the effort to combat corruption cannot be a one-time initiative or confined to a single administration. “It’s not a one-day affair, not a one-regime affair, or even a two-regime affair. It has to be consistent, continual, and part of a daily effort. Once one regime lets it slide, it spreads.”
He also called for reforms in how leaders are chosen for public office, advocating for appointments based on merit rather than political or tribal considerations.
On the topic of leadership, Obasanjo noted that true leaders are those ordained by God, and that self-made leaders or those appointed through unworthy means are destined for failure.
“Most leaders are prepared and placed by God, and when that happens, the chances of success are higher than when leaders are self-made,” he said. “But not all leaders are made by God—some are made by Satan. In the case of Job, for instance, Satan was given power to test him, despite God’s praise of his uprightness.”
Obasanjo concluded by warning that while Satan may not offer salvation, his power should not be underestimated, and that Nigeria must be vigilant against the negative influences on leadership.
