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khamileon · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2005, 06:15 PM

President urges Nigerians to question leaders
From Niyi Bello, Akure

PUBLIC indifference has been blamed for the persistence of corruption in the country through failure of people to question their leaders.

President Olusegun Obasanjo also said the trait was responsible for the inability of his administration to stem the tide of the institutional rot plaguing the land.

Obasanjo spoke yesterday in Owo, Ondo State as Special Guest at the commissioning of a resource centre donated by the family of the late National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, to the Adekunle Ajasin Foundation.

He stressed that people have not been asking their leaders pertinent questions bordering on development, hence the continued prevalence of corruption.

The President added that this has given room for bad administration at all tiers of government, thereby allowing the evil of corruption to continue to thrive in the land despite the efforts of his government to curtail the menace.

According to Obasanjo, numerous changes could have been brought to the system and purpose of government in the country, if Nigerians could ask simple questions, especially on how governments at various levels have been spending the collective revenue accruing from the Federation Account and other sources on a monthly basis.

He said the battle to end corruption had reached a stage where everybody should play a positive part to ensure its success.

Represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Obasanjo specifically urged Nigerians to ask their governors and council officials what they have been doing with the allocations from the federal purse.

He said: "Between 2000 and 2005, no level of government has received on monthly basis, less than at least double of what they were receiving in their pre-1999 allocations, yet ordinary Nigerians have not really seen corresponding physical development in their daily lives".

The President put part of the blame on the people who he said have not really inculcated the ideas of question asking, saying by the time questions are asked, leaders in search for answers will be forced to perform better.

He told his audience, which included the leadership of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation that has been at the vanguard of the clamour for fiscal federalism and polity restructuring, that " before we ask for fiscal federalism, we must first of all demand how the available funds are being expended.

"Some governors are receiving as much as 500 percent of what was accruing to their states before 1999. Are we seeing the results of those huge investments. Where are the NLC leadership at the state levels. What is happening to the in-built mechanism to ask questions that we have in the state legislatures."

While calling on every Nigerian to rise up to the challenge of checking corruption, he asked: "Must it be an Obasanjo that must always ensure accountability? This is a fight that we must all be involved in to ensure that this country grows"

He lauded Ajasin, whom he described as the conscience of the nation, saying that "Baba Ajasin came to office as the governor of the old Ondo State in 1979 with a particular number of set of clothes and left office four years later with the same number."

Speaking at the event, the chairman of the Foundation, Justice Solomon Adeloye (rtd), said "the resource centre is expected to provide opportunities for necessary capacity building for individuals and groups in the form of training in information and communication technology and skill acquisition for educational advancement as well as vocational empowerment".

Among the dignitaries at the event were Ajasin's NADECO compatriot, Ebitu Ukiwe, former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) and Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

Chiefs Olu Falae, Ayo Adebanjo and Ayo Fasanmi Also present were the Oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade as well as Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, among others.

Funmibaby · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2005, 08:47 PM

khami, i see you're holding up our PAC very well!!!

vince · #3 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 07:15 AM

Passiveness is the bane of all nigerians.They still believe that the heavens will put things right for them,while they fold their arms and watch.We need to really get actively involved in how the nation is being gorverned at all levels for changes fort the better to come.
Yes,OBJ can't do it alone!

olofofogal · #4 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 12:34 PM

abeg make he manage finish him tenure then return to otta biko

#5 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince

Passiveness is the bane of all nigerians.They still believe that the heavens will put things right for them,while they fold their arms and watch.We need to really get actively involved in how the nation is being gorverned at all levels for changes fort the better to come.
Yes,OBJ can't do it alone!

cute avatar...reminds me of my cousin...i was not aware that "you" were a woman now...always thought you iZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz a manZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

#6 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 01:02 PM

Yes, the govt cannot do it alone and the public’s indifference is only making matters worse. But I strongly feel that what will eventually help eliminate corruption from our continent is for the President to start paying its citizens reasonable income and there will be no need for corruption, at least for the ordinary citizen. But when it comes to the leaders themselves, the governor, ministers, senators, and the Presidents, it’s another story entirely as they already have the countries money at their disposal and are using it anyhow. In this case, its only just plain GREED!!! To get rid of all that BS, the leaders should all be FORCED to step down and have the younger ones take charge.

While I was in Ghana this past summer, I found out exactly how much the police officer for example is paid: $100 a month!!! This $100 per month is for the police officer's entire family and we are speaking of a month and not a week. This is ridiculous! Other workers are even paid less! With this small amount of salary, how on earth can we expect a person not to go out for bribes and so forth which only leads more corruption?

khamileon · #7 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samira

Yes, the govt cannot do it alone and the public’s indifference is only making matters worse. But I strongly feel that what will eventually help eliminate corruption from our continent is for the President to start paying its citizens reasonable income and there will be no need for corruption, at least for the ordinary citizen. But when it comes to the leaders themselves, the governor, ministers, senators, and the Presidents, it’s another story entirely as they already have the countries money at their disposal and are using it anyhow. In this case, its only just plain GREED!!! To get rid of all that BS, the leaders should all be FORCED to step down and have the younger ones take charge.

While I was in Ghana this past summer, I found out exactly how much the police officer for example is paid: $100 a month!!! This $100 per month is for the police officer's entire family and we are speaking of a month and not a week. This is ridiculous! Other workers are even paid less! With this small amount of salary, how on earth can we expect a person not to go out for bribes and so forth which only leads more corruption?

At least they pay them. In Nigeria they could go without pay for three months!

vince · #8 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samira

cute avatar...reminds me of my cousin...i was not aware that "you" were a woman now...always thought you iZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz a manZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Sex change,samira!

That is the pic of my fav YMG actress.