To tackle corruption effectively in Nigeria and promote genuine leadership, former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasized that the fight must begin with those in leadership positions.

According to him, without addressing corruption at the highest levels of power, achieving meaningful progress will remain difficult.

Obasanjo shared these thoughts during an interactive Zoom session on Sunday night titled Boiling Point Arena.

The discussion, which was broadcast on several private radio stations in Abeokuta, Ogun State, focused on his political legacies and his perspective on contemporary Nigerian challenges.

Addressing the deeply rooted nature of corruption, Obasanjo described it as a multifaceted problem that has deeply infiltrated Nigerian society.

He blamed those in positions of authority for perpetuating this issue, noting that corruption has become so entrenched that it resists simple or short-term solutions.

To illustrate his point, Obasanjo referenced a saying attributed to the late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Siddiq Abubakar III, the father of the current Sultan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

The saying likens corruption to a babariga—a traditional flowing garment worn by men in the northern part of Nigeria.

The metaphor captures the difficulty of managing corruption; If you try to fold the garment on one side, it unravels on the other side.

If you try to hold it together on both sides, you can’t keep your hands up for long, and as soon as you let go, it falls apart again.

He explained that corruption is not a challenge that can be tackled within a single government term.

It’s not a one-day affair, nor is it limited to one or two administrations, Obasanjo noted.

He stressed that the fight against corruption must be consistent and ongoing, warning that once one government relaxes its efforts, the problem spreads further and becomes harder to control.