A renowned poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare, Sunday, condemned outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan for encouraging corruption.
Osundare, who spoke at the annual Distinguished Alumni Lecture of Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, in Lagos, said the President gave “corruption a well-furnished chair in his dining room.”
Speaking on the subject, “No more business as usual: Nigeria’s new-found change and the lessons from the past”, Osundare described the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government as a nightmare to the nation, adding that if the PDP had won the March 28 presidential election, the country would have headed for “the purgatory of desolation.”
He accused the Jonathan administration of promoting impunity and weakening the economy, arguing that it was aberration for a former Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, who was indicted for the N255m bulletproof car scandal to be elected as a senator.
Osundare said, “We have a President who saw no difference between right or wrong. Here is a President who saw no difference between stealing and corruption. The PDP offered transformation without change, motion without movement. The President made evil deed attractive. People commit crimes and get away with it. As long as you belong to the President’s party or you know his wife, you are safe. A criminal runs to Aso Rock for being called a thief and the President shuts the gate and say, be not afraid.”
The poet appealed to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to deliver on his campaign promises, adding that the US President, Barack Obama, refused to visit Nigeria because the country was not leading by example.
“Rather than be the giant of Africa, Nigeria has become a gigantic embarrassment.
“We demand drastic reduction in the remuneration of public officials. Government should no longer be a ‘chop chop bonanza.’ This outrageous expenditure of the government is destroying the economy and depleting our moral capital.
“We must break the jinx of erratic electricity. Let us try a knowledge-driven economy. The new government should surround itself with people who are not afraid to ask questions. If leaders steal less and think more, there will be change.”
Comments