Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s deepening corruption crisis, describing it as a critical threat to the nation’s survival.
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, New Haven, USA, over the weekend, Obasanjo warned that corruption in Nigeria has “passed the alarming stage and entered the fatal stage.”
Delivering his keynote address on the topic “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” Obasanjo stressed that corruption remains one of the most pressing issues affecting the country’s development.
He cited data revealing that over ₦700 billion in bribes were paid to public officials in 2023, with most transactions occurring in informal settings or official offices.
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“Corruption goes with power; therefore, to hold any useful discussion of corruption, we must first locate it where it properly belongs—in the ranks of the powerful,” Obasanjo stated.
He warned that continued inaction would lead Nigeria to “sink further into chaos, insecurity, conflict, division, and underdevelopment.”
The former president also highlighted Nigeria’s poor ranking on the Transparency International 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, where it placed 150th out of 180 countries.
“This illustrates how systemic and embedded corruption is in the country,” he said, adding that corruption is Nigeria’s most significant developmental challenge.
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Drawing from Chinua Achebe’s 1983 treatise “The Trouble with Nigeria,” Obasanjo echoed the sentiment that the nation’s woes are rooted in failed leadership. “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership,” he admitted, emphasizing the need for moral and ethical reform at the highest levels of governance.
Despite his stark assessment, Obasanjo offered a message of optimism. He urged Nigerians to confront the twin challenges of immorality and corruption, expressing confidence that the nation could overcome its current difficulties with determined action. “All will be well with the country if we address these challenges squarely,” he affirmed.