Nigeria needs good leaders, corrupt-free system to defeat Boko Haram – Saharareporters Publisher

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HEDA Resource Centre, in its weekly tweet chat session, #MondayTango, hosted Omoyele Sowore, on issues related to the prevalent rate of corruption in Nigeria and the need for good governance.

Mr Sowore is the founder and publisher of the popular online news agency, Saharareporters.

The session began with Sowore stating that corruption had undoubtedly become dominant in Nigeria. He said bad leadership was the primary impediment to Nigeria’s attaining its desirable standard in governance.

Mr. Sowore also stated that bad governance, leadership and corruption were responsible for the lack of necessary infrastructure in the country, its current stagnation, and the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency.

He cited the example of the “arm purchases that blew open in South Africa” as an illustration of the link between bad governance, corruption and the persistent Boko Haram insurgency.

“Corruption remains one of the biggest reasons Nigeria could not defeat Boko Haram,” he said.

Mr. Sowore stated that the incumbent Nigerian government had failed in its fight against corruption.

“The EFCC has castrated itself by fighting petty thieves, most likely because (President Goodluck Jonathan) said stealing is not corruption,” he said.

He also said Nigeria needs institutions bold enough to effectively apprehend corrupt individuals.

In his opinion, to make Nigeria a corrupt-free nation, “corrupt individuals must face (the) consequences” of their corruption.

On the role of the media in the fight against corruption and promoting good governance, Mr. Sowore said, “The media in any society usually imposes a role on itself.”

He accused the Nigerian media of doing otherwise.

“Today’s media has relieved itself of any responsibility,” he said.

Mr. Sowore expressed dissatisfaction over the recent Muhammadu Buhari “death wish advert” placed by the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, in national newspapers.
Mr. Sowore said he does not take Mr. Fayose seriously rather his grouse was against the Ekiti people who elected Mr. Fayose.

The session ended with Mr. Sowore lamenting on the present dilapidated state of infrastructure in the country.

Mr. Sowore, who currently resides in the U.S., said on a recent visit to Nigeria, said there was only two days of power supply in his neighbourhood the entire two weeks he spent there.

Firdaws Ibrahim
Communication officer