Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the imprisonment of corrupt politicians, arguing that “thieves cannot provide just governance.”
Speaking virtually on Thursday at the Denis Joseph Slattery memorial lecture in Lagos, the 87-year-old statesman emphasized that many individuals in both executive and legislative positions today should be behind bars for past crimes and misconduct.
In his address titled “The Imperative for Moral Rectitude in Governance,” Obasanjo stressed that accountability is the most crucial responsibility of anyone involved in governance. He expressed concern that officials lacking integrity cannot make decisions that serve the public’s best interests.
“Some of those in government today should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanours and criminal misconduct,” Obasanjo remarked. Drawing from his tenure as Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979 and as president from 1999 to 2007, he added, “You cannot expect thieves to give good judgment in favor of the owner of the property.”
Recalling his early experiences with corruption in politics, Obasanjo shared his shock at the normalization of criminal behavior. He recounted an instance where a politician lied, and when confronted, casually brushed it off as part of politics. “Every bad thing they do is passed on as politics,” Obasanjo lamented, adding that this mindset suggests politics has no room for ethics, principles, or good character.
Obasanjo further urged the need for “transformational leaders” in Nigeria, leaders who embody truth, honesty, and integrity. He called for an end to transactional leadership, stating that Nigeria needs hope instead of despair, production instead of deduction, and inclusion rather than marginalization.
The memorial lecture was organized by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College, at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island. Denis Joseph Slattery, in whose honor the event was held, was an Irish-born missionary who made a significant impact in Nigeria, founding St. Finbarr’s College in 1956 and serving as the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Football Association. He was honored with the Order of the Niger (OON) by Obasanjo in 2001 and passed away in 2003.
Notable attendees at the memorial included former Cross River governor Donald Duke, football legend Segun Odegbami, music producer ID Cabasa, and actor Patrick Doyle.
