Divisive political interest, huge barrier to building greater Nigeria – Prof Badejo
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
A Professor of Political Science and International Relations with Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Prof Babafemi Adesina Badejo has said that the burden of myriads of challenges hindering the growth of the nation rest squarely on the divisive political agenda being pursued by those at the helms of affairs in the country.
Prof Babafemi Badejo disclosed that even though politics was about interest, such interest should see to the entrenchment of good governance and well-being of all rather than seeking to pursue selfishness, corruption, embezzlement of public funds, nepotism among others as daily exemplified by the nation’s handlers.
This is just as Badejo predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led administration will be worse than that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption.
The don declared that, Buhari failed woefully in the fight against corruption and Tinubu may not do any better in that regard.
Babafemi stated this on Wednesday in the maiden inaugural lecture of Chrisland University with theme “Interests”,
He explained that except the politicians begin to use the political power acquired to pursue interests that ensure that allocation of resources to satisfy the yearnings of the people, there is no end in sight to all that troubles the country.
The Professor of Political Science and International Relations opined that, Tinubu may do better than Buhari in other sectors but not in fighting corruption.
He argued that, Tinubu’s silence on anti-corruption war since assuming office had proven that the President may not be serious about fighting corruption.
Babafemi said, “It is my own view that former President Muhammadu Buhari failed woefully on the issue of anti-corruption. He did start by wanting to implement the UN anti-corruption’s strategy and went further to appoint a committee and that committee did nothing till today.
“On President Tinubu, it is too early to give a conclusion, but I can say that from what he has done in one month, he will do by far better than Buhari, but not on corruption.
“He (Tinubu) has not been talking about corruption, but all he has been saying is that he is going to make sure that make judges are comfortable, make everybody comfortable, but no country around the world can be comfortable by staying very far away from fighting corruption. Maybe he will change his mind later on corruption. I wish him well.”
Babafemi lamented that, Nigerians had been making corruption to thrive by being “too docile and tolerant of corruption for too long.”
“Successive administrations, including that of President Buhari, have not faced corruption frontally with the full force of a political will that goes beyond mere lip service.
“Though possibly a hasty conclusion, I do not think the objective realities would allow President Tinubu to do any better, even if he ever wanted to fight corruption. The resultant outcome is unfruitful half-heartedly done prosecutorial gimmicks and noise, cherry-picking and selective haphazard trials.
“There is need to ensure that in dealing with corruption, no one is immune or beyond the reach of the laws, by virtue of whatever relationships or status. This is indeed very important as part of steps by the President and those in top leadership positions, to begin to demonstrate their commitment to the anti-corruption war, through their personal examples of zero tolerance for corruption.
“The fight against corruption in Nigeria requires concerted commitments and ingenuity as part of a holistic approach”, the don added.
