Obasanjo: Corruption Has Become a Way of Life in Nigeria
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria, cautioning that meaningful development will remain out of reach as long as the practice persists.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Monday in Lagos during the public presentation of a book titled "Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria: Law, Prosecution and the Recovery of Illicit Assets." The author is Dr Wahab Shittu, a lawyer and lecturer at the University of Lagos, who holds the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Obasanjo chaired the launch.
Drawing on his own history in the anti-corruption struggle, the former president recalled how he first became involved while serving in the military, where he acted at various times as a prosecutor and as a member of a court-martial handling corruption-related cases.
He said his dedication to the cause grew after he left office as military head of state and took up farming. It was then, he explained, that Peter Eigen, a former World Bank official who went on to found Transparency International, approached him. According to Obasanjo, Eigen's time at the World Bank had opened his eyes to what the former president called "grand corruption," especially the diversion of funds from international loans.
Obasanjo said he and Eigen went on to establish Transparency International, with Eigen as chairman and himself as chairman of its advisory council.
When he later served as a democratically elected president, Obasanjo said his involvement with Transparency International shaped his decision to prioritise the fight against corruption. The organisation, he noted, gave him a model anti-corruption law that was later adapted into Nigerian legislation and formed the foundation for creating the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Obasanjo recalled that the bill met resistance in the National Assembly. "They said to me that if they pass the bill as I gave it to them, most of them will end up in prison," he said. It took the lawmakers 18 months to pass the legislation, he added.
After the ICPC law was passed, Obasanjo said he set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to bolster the anti-corruption effort.
He stressed that corruption hits poor people hardest by making their economic situation worse. "Those who suffer most in a corrupt society are the poorest. And it makes them poorer," he said.
Obasanjo described corruption in its various forms, including unexplained wealth and illicit funds, as "antisocial," "anti-development" and "anti-progress." He added: "It is not in the best interest of any country or any human organisation."
While acknowledging that no country has fully eradicated corruption, he said some societies have managed to prevent it from becoming entrenched in daily life. He called on Nigerians to take concrete steps to reverse the situation, saying the books presented at the event could help in that effort.
Also speaking, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo argued that unexplained wealth "weakens development and diverts resources from schools, hospitals, roads, and social welfare." He was represented by Ade Ipaye, a lawyer and former Attorney General of Lagos State.
Osinbajo further noted that the problem drives illicit financial flows and undermines public confidence in the state's ability to punish theft while protecting honest work. He conceded that Nigeria has numerous laws on the subject, but said what is needed is a "clear, fair, and constitutionally sound approach that can recover what was stolen without threatening what was lawfully earned."
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