By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stressed that the war against corruption can only be effective if it starts with accountability at the highest levels of government. Speaking during a virtual interactive session titled Boiling Point Arena on Sunday night, Obasanjo emphasized that leadership by example is critical to fostering transparency and integrity in public office.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head; that is where corruption has to be fought from,” Obasanjo declared during the session, hosted by a private radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and broadcast by other local stations.
Describing corruption as a “hydra-headed” problem deeply rooted in Nigerian society, the former president likened it to a babariga—a traditional flowing garment—saying, “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 argued that the fight against corruption must be relentless, extending across regimes. “It’s not a one-day affair. It’s not a one-regime affair. It has to be consistent, continual, and a daily affair. Once one regime is let off, it spreads,” he warned.
Leadership and Meritocracy
Obasanjo also called for reforms in the recruitment and appointment of leaders, advocating for merit-based political appointments rather than selections driven by political or tribal considerations.
On the nature of leadership, the former president argued that successful leaders are often divinely prepared and ordained. However, he warned against equating all leadership with divine will, asserting that some leaders are influenced by malevolent forces.
“Most leaders are prepared by God and put in place by God, and when that happens, the chances of success are higher,” he said. “But to say all leaders are made by God—I don’t accept that. A leader can also be made by Satan.”
Obasanjo cited the biblical example of Job, underscoring the reality of Satan’s power and its potential to influence leadership. “We must accept that Satan is real, and he has power. He has no salvation, but his power must not be underrated,” he cautioned.
The session reflected on Obasanjo’s legacy in government and provided his assessment of contemporary challenges in Nigeria. It reinforced his reputation as a vocal advocate for integrity and reform in governance.
