By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Nigeria and other African countries will remain underdeveloped because of high level corruption and poor leadership.
The Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, disclosed this in a message to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, celebrated on December 9, 2020.
Obi lamented that if not for corruption, Nigeria would have been among the comity of highly developed nations, judging by the wealth of human and natural resources the nation is blessed with.
He appealed to leaders at all levels of government to understand that development would continue to elude Nigeria if the virus of corruption was not done away with.
He pointed out that corruption in the country would be eliminated if leaders, and Nigerians sanitized their hearts.
“We must purge ourselves of selfishness, greed and self-aggrandizement if we must do away with corruption.
“If every one of us, especially the political leaders, can dust corruption off our hearts, then we will develop better as a nation”, Obi said.
The former Governor of Anambra State also urged the government to set up checks and balances that would ensure accountability in governance.
Obi argued that corruption thrives more in an environment of porosity and lawlessness.
He said that if there were operational systems that could easily expose corrupt practices, then leaders would be forced to discharge their duties without favour.
Obi further called for more public awareness on the dangers corruption pose to national development.
His words: “By different means available, we can raise anti-corruption awareness and encourage the public and political leaders to imbibe integrity in their daily lives.
“If we all pursue moral rectitude as a people, then our nation will be rid of corruption and we will be on the path to glory”.
