Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has emphasized the need for a consistent and sustained fight against corruption in the country, starting with leadership.

Speaking during an interactive session on Zoom tagged “Boiling Point Arena” on Sunday night, Obasanjo lamented that corruption has deeply permeated Nigerian society. He criticized government officials for exacerbating poverty through corrupt practices.

Describing corruption as “hydra-headed,” Obasanjo referenced a metaphor from the late Sultan of Sokoto, comparing corruption to a babanriga (traditional robe): “If you fold it on one side, it falls apart on the other. When you carry it on both sides, you cannot hold your hands up, and as soon as you put your hands down, it falls apart.”

He stressed that tackling corruption requires consistency: “It’s not a one-day affair, not a one-regime affair, or even a two-regime affair. It has to be a continual, daily effort. Once one regime falters, corruption spreads.”

On leadership, Obasanjo argued that only God-ordained leaders are destined to succeed, while leaders who rise through self-promotion or “satanic enthronement” are bound to fail.