Corrupt Leaders Can’t Deliver Good Governance, Says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that politicians involved in corruption cannot deliver good governance.

He made this remark during a virtual address at the memorial lecture of Denis Joseph Slattery, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“You cannot expect thieves to give good judgement in favour of the owner of the property,” Obasanjo said, condemning political leaders with questionable integrity.

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He further emphasized that such individuals should be held accountable and jailed for their misconduct. “The most important demand of anybody involved in governance at any level is accountability,” Obasanjo remarked.

Obasanjo also shared his personal encounters with corruption, stating, “The first thing that shocked me when I went into politics was the level of corruption of election officials, which was taken as normal. The second was the general and criminal misbehaviour, which was taken with levity and impunity.”

He further stressed the need for transformational leaders who prioritize truth, honesty, and integrity, saying, “We need transformational leaders rather than transactional leaders, truth instead of lies, honesty instead of dishonesty, integrity instead of disintegrity, hope instead of despair, production instead of deduction, inclusion instead of exclusion and marginalisation.”