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On Friday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo likened corruption to a relentless and insidious monster that continues to plague Nigeria, stressing that the country’s aspirations for genuine and lasting progress cannot be realized unless this formidable challenge is confronted and defeated.
He emphasized that corruption is not merely a hurdle but a pervasive force that undermines every attempt at sustainable development, urging for a concerted effort to tackle it at all levels.
Obasanjo shared these poignant words while attending the memorial service in honor of Justice Olayinka Ayoola (retd.), the former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The service, held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Agodi, Oke Ado in Ibadan, Oyo State, was a gathering that celebrated Ayoola’s lifelong dedication to the eradication of corruption and his significant role in shaping Nigeria’s anti-corruption landscape.
On August 20, 2024, Nigeria bid farewell to Justice Olayinka Ayoola, a man whose contributions to the nation’s fight against corruption were profound. He passed away at the age of 90, after dedicating decades of his life to upholding the rule of law and maintaining integrity in public office.
He said, “Corruption is a great monster that is still battling with us in the country. It’s not that ICPC and Ayoola had not done their job, or that even I, who appointed him, had not done what I could have done; it was the pressure of this great cancer of corruption.
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While giving her tribute, the Chief Judge of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said, “I think all of us gathered here should ask ourselves the role we want to play in this place we found ourselves. What will be said of us when the time comes?
“He has left indelible footprints in the sand of time. We treasure him and all the things he had done to give Nigeria a befitting name. In all the places that he worked, he raised the flag of Nigeria high. He would be sorely missed. He left a legacy we should be proud of.”
In his sermon, “Serving God’s Purpose In Our Generation,” Reverend Simeon Onaleke, Bishop of the Diocese, Agodi, proposed the urgent need for legislation that would prevent corrupt politicians from running for office again. He emphasized that such a legal framework is essential in ensuring that only leaders of integrity are allowed to govern, thereby protecting the nation’s moral and political fabric.
“Do things that will make people remember you. Don’t bother yourself looking for enemies. Ayoola fought many battles, not with guns or swords. He did well.”
