Daily Trust Sunday

Obasanjo: Nigeria’s Corruption Calls For Spiritual Approach

- From Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta

Aformer President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday disclosed that with Transparen­cy Internatio­nal’s perception index, the country needed a spiritual approach in the anti-corruption crusade.

Nigeria was 144 of the 146 countries for 2015/2016 corruption rating.

Obasanjo made the remark in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the 2017 Convention Lecture of the Victory Life Bible Church Internatio­nal. He lamented that the perpetrato­rs do not fear any punishment or consequenc­es because the country’s legislator­s free them from scrutiny and governors’ claimed to be immune.

In his paper titled “The Role of the Church in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” Obasanjo described the church as an important and influentia­l institutio­n with a pivotal role in curbing and eradicatin­g corruption.

The former President, who was represente­d by Dr. Femi Olajide observed that legislatio­ns alone are not enough as they are often breached by those who make them and those who should implement them.

“The fight against corruption in Nigeria is the fight for the soul and survival of Nigeria. Like cancer, corruption is gradually killing the country,” he emphasised.

The General Overseer of the church, Lawrence Achudume, lamented that the inability to know the past has grossly affected the present and plan for the future, which in the larger context caused corruption.

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