Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over the failure of administrations that succeeded him to sustain the fight against corruption, which he identifies as a key reason for its persistence in Nigeria.
In his forthcoming book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo reflects on his efforts to combat corruption during his presidency and laments the lack of continuity by subsequent regimes.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s president from May 29, 1999, to 2007, established the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle corruption head-on.
Under his administration, high-profile figures, including former governors, ministers, and even a serving Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, were prosecuted and jailed for corrupt practices.
In his book, Obasanjo recounts his 1999 inaugural speech, where he described corruption as “the greatest single bane of society” and vowed to confront it at all levels.
“No society can survive anything near its full potential if it allows corruption to become the full-blown cancer it has become in Nigeria,” he had stated, highlighting how military rule had allowed corruption to flourish unchecked.
Despite these efforts, Obasanjo expressed disappointment that successive administrations failed to build on his initiatives. “A bit of diagnosis and a bit of prescription here – all to enhance governance and drastically reduce corruption. But the work of one regime without continuity by following regimes would amount to nothing.
“That follow-up from following regimes was not there. What a pity,” he wrote.
Obasanjo, who handed over power to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007, followed by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015), and the late President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), did not mention specific leaders by name but noted that the regimes after his “went to sleep” on the anti-corruption fight. President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, following Buhari’s tenure.
The former president also cited the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, who allegedly expressed frustration with Nigeria’s leadership.
According to Obasanjo, Mandela criticised Nigerian leaders for prioritising personal wealth over public interest, stating, “Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interest of the people.”
Mandela reportedly emphasised the need for education and leadership that does not conflate pubic office with personal enrichment, adding, “Corrupt people do not make good leaders.”Obasanjo further noted Mandela’s concerns about Nigeria’s image, poverty levels, and divisive electoral processes, quoting him as saying, “[Nigerians’] elections are like wars.
“Now we hear that you cannot be president in Nigeria unless you are Muslim or Christian.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s standing, Obasanjo described the country as a “disappointment” in Africa and globally, attributing this to the failure to sustain anti-corruption efforts and invest in education to empower the poor.
He urged for renewed commitment to good governance, education, and leadership that prioritises the people’s welfare to restore Nigeria’s potential.