Leadership deficit stifling Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, says Don

A professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Babafemi Badejo, has said that leadership deficit has been stifling Nigeria’s efforts to radically reduce the rate of corruption in the country.

Speaking on the topic ‘For Nigeria to Live: Its Rate of Corruption Must be Radically Reduced’ at the third Policy and Governance Discussion Forum (PGDF) Roundtable, Badejo pointed out that leadership deficit is not limited to politicians alone.

He argued that the leadership failure in Nigeria is encompassing, involving failure of leadership at the three arms of government; the three tiers of governance as well as the three main sectors in society – public, private and social.

He noted that there is a pressing need for societal mobilisation against corruption, involving civil society, religious institutions and the general populace.

“Collective action and a culture of zero tolerance for corruption are essential for fostering accountability and transparency in governance. COVID-19 was a pandemic that the world, including Nigeria, got together and radically reduced the rate of the spread of the virus. There is the need for similar team work to fight a different pandemic probably more dastardly than COVID-19: corruption in Nigeria. For Nigeria to live, the rate of corruption must be radically reduced in the country,” he noted.

Badejo stated that the pervasive nature of corruption underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and decisive actions, adding that corruption in Nigeria thrives due to factors such as weak anti-graft efforts, inadequate legal frameworks, lack of political will and societal tolerance.

He added: “The consequences of corruption are profound, including undermining democracy, hindering economic growth, perpetuating poverty and eroding public trust in institutions.

“The judiciary must be reformed to ensure swift and impartial justice, while legal frameworks should be strengthened to hold perpetrators of corruption accountable. Political leadership must demonstrate genuine commitment to anti-corruption efforts, backed by concrete actions rather than empty promises.

“The situation that Nigeria faces requires an organised mobilisation of Nigerians at large to take the bull by the horn and rise up with the capacity to challenge the occupants of the arrangement of society in order to ensure that Nigeria lives. A national reorientation and the return to emphasis on values like Omoluabi with Ubuntu subsumed within it are necessary to halt the rapacious descent that the country is going through.

“Corruption must not be seen as normal. The national reorientation being canvassed must go hand-in-hand with serious consequences for being corrupt. The rule of law has an inverse relationship with corruption. Addressing the dearth of rule of law is an imperative for the reduction of corruption in Nigeria.

“Finally, tackling corruption in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses systemic weaknesses and instills a culture of integrity and accountability. With concerted efforts at all levels of society, Nigeria can overcome the scourge of corruption and pave the way for sustainable development and prosperity.”