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Oby Ezekwesili Talks Tough on Corruption, Tackles Nigerian Politicians for Poor Governance
Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 09th Dec, 2015 - tori.ngDr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has said Nigeria can tackle corruption successfully if its people come together with sincerity especially on the part of elected political office holders.
Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili
The senior economic advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has said Nigeria faces serious problems of corruption and bad governance.
While speaking yesterday at the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) 2015 roundtable discussion hosted by the United States Embassy with the theme “Break the Corruption Chain”, she described the country's situation as a serious interlocking padlock that has defied all effort to force a change. She identified poor governance as another problem bedeviling the country.
The former minister said: “Our own is not about breaking the chain, our own is more than a chain. Ours is a serious interlocking padlock and so we have to make this priority number one. Our country even more so should understand that. Research has shown to us of all the obstacles to growth that we suffer the most hideous one, the most invidious, the most relentless and almost intractable one is this matter of poor governance.
"Poor governance is an obstacle to growth. The truth is that growth is the process of increase but an obstacle that stands in the way of it if it is as hideous and malignant as what we see in our own environment where poor governance has been more the norm than the aberration then we must pay attention.
“Only yesterday, I had reasons to have a conversation with someone and in the process of that discussion and this person was saying we want this anti-corruption and that anti-corruption how about other things that need to be done? You know he made a point. It is a good point even for someone who loves policy like myself I was glad that he was making that point. But then the point I made is that it is true that we need all manner of important economic, social and developmental policies in general in order to grow but we cannot do that without simultaneously tackling this monstrous scale of corruption in our society because it is a hindrance to our growth.”
She said the government must invent a new approach to stop politicians from looting the treasury. She was optimistic that the Buhari-led administration will not tolerate the excesses that took place during the last administration.
“In tackling corruption what have we learnt from research? We have learnt from research that in environments like Nigeria where it is a major obstacle that you need a multi-pronged approach. And your multi-pronged approach is represented in the numbers of the various people that we have around the table today.
“So the good thing is you at least have a president that people can relate to as standing for anti-corruption. It helps. What is worse is when you have a president or prime-minister who wants to fight corruption and everybody just laughs because they know he doesn’t represent the fighter against corruption. So this is the whole enlightenment, the process of re-orientating people to agree that the climate of corruption is costly to everyone. But then the second bit of it is the preventive. And on the preventive side of things every sector is involved.
“The preventive aspect of it is so key and central to changing the incentive system. The incentive system that permits bad behaviour. That is very critical. Then the final one is the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) of this world. And for that role I am glad that the minister of justice is here as I whisper to him quietly,” she stated.
Oby said she is optimistic that soon, Nigeria will experience a change that has eluded its people. She also expressed high hopes that soon the problems facing the country will be tackled while she called on well meaning Nigerians to contribute their quota to make Nigeria better.
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