Corruption and wasteful spending are killing development in Nigeria, the Ekiti Council of Elders has warned, calling on political leaders across the country to embrace integrity, accountability and responsible governance.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Friday at a news conference heralding the second edition of the Joel Babatola Annual Lecture Series, the Secretary of the Council’s Board of Trustees, Bayo Orire, lamented that honesty was no longer valued in the nation’s political environment.
According to him, those who resist corruption are often dismissed as lacking political intelligence, while public office has increasingly become an avenue for personal enrichment rather than service delivery.
He cited the high cost of governance, the extravagant lifestyles of political officeholders and the poor execution of public projects as evidence of the rot.
“The situation is particularly disturbing as many communities continue to lack industries, adequate infrastructure and meaningful agricultural development despite huge public expenditure,” Orire said.
On security, Orire commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts at decentralising the military and other security institutions, describing the initiative as a strategic approach to strengthening national security.
He explained that concentrating critical security infrastructure in one location could expose the country to serious risks in the event of an attack, adding that decentralisation would promote local participation, employment and economic opportunities.
“On security, we have seen how the president is trying to decentralise the armed forces and other security services, and that is commendable. Security-wise, that is a very sensible decision because if you concentrate everything in one location, an attack on that location could have devastating consequences for the entire country,” he said.
Orire also endorsed the establishment of state police and the growing involvement of community vigilante groups and local security outfits, describing them as important measures towards addressing the nation’s security challenges.
He said community-based security initiatives were already recording encouraging results, particularly in the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Council’s Board of Trustees, Olufemi Adewumi, said Nigeria’s security challenges and fragile national unity, driven by mutual distrust, religious differences and ethnic divisions, had made responsible leadership more urgent.
Adewumi said the council, comprising individuals of integrity and patriotism, was committed to promoting national unity and contributing to efforts to address the country’s challenges.
He explained that the annual lecture was designed to encourage contemporary leaders to draw inspiration from the life and exemplary leadership qualities of Joel Eyinafe Babatola, particularly his honesty, selflessness and commitment to public service.
According to him, Babatola’s legacy remains a valuable model for rebuilding public confidence and strengthening democratic institutions in the country.
This year’s lecture is themed, “The Paradox of Nationhood: The Struggle for Reinventing Nigeria’s Security Architecture.”
