Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasized that the fight against corruption must begin with leadership to be effective. Speaking during an interactive Zoom session titled Boiling Point Arena, Obasanjo described corruption as “hydra-headed,” deeply entrenched in Nigerian society, and requiring daily, consistent efforts to combat.
Using a metaphor attributed to the late Sultan of Sokoto, he likened corruption to a babanriga—difficult to contain without spilling over. He argued that combating corruption requires continuity beyond any single administration, warning that lapses allow it to spread.
Obasanjo criticized current leaders for creating conditions that exacerbate poverty, insisting that leadership ordained by God succeeds, while self-appointed or unethical leaders are bound to fail.
He called for sustained reforms and moral integrity in leadership to address the root causes of corruption in the country.
