Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has emphasized that the fight against corruption in the country must start with accountability at the highest levels of leadership.
Speaking during a virtual interactive session titled “Boiling Point Arena”, Obasanjo highlighted the critical role of top government officials in setting an example for others to follow in the battle against corruption.
The session, which aired on private radio stations in Abeokuta, Ogun State, focused on Obasanjo’s contributions during his tenure as President and his views on the current state of Nigeria.
During the discussion, he described corruption as a deeply entrenched issue that affects every aspect of Nigerian society, likening it to a “hydra-headed” monster.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head, that is where corruption has to be fought from,” Obasanjo said.
The former President also submitted that the fight against corruption must be a consistent and daily affair to nip it in the bud.
He added, “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.”
Obasanjo also advocated for reforms in the recruitment of public office holders, insisting that appointments should be based on merit
rather than tribal or political affiliations. According to him, leadership plays a decisive role in shaping a nation’s success or failure. He stated, “Self-made leaders or those enthroned by Satan are bound to fail. Only God-made leaders are destined to 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,” Obasanjo stated.
