Obasanjo Alleges Government Officials with Criminal Past Should Be in Jail

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has made bold claims that certain individuals currently serving in government should be behind bars due to past misdemeanours and criminal misconduct.

Obasanjo made this assertion on Thursday during a virtual address at the memorial lecture for Denis Joseph Slattery in Lagos.

In his speech, titled “The Imperative for Moral Rectitude in Governance,” Obasanjo expressed concerns about the integrity of many government officials, stating that individuals with questionable backgrounds cannot be expected to make decisions in the best interests of Nigerians.

He stressed that accountability is the most crucial requirement for anyone involved in governance at any level.

Obasanjo argued that it is impossible for individuals with a history of criminal activities to offer sound judgement in favour of the public.

“If you look clinically at the people in government today at both executive and legislative levels, some of them should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanour and criminal misconduct,” Obasanjo remarked.

“You cannot expect thieves to give good judgement in favour of the owner of the property,” he added, underscoring his view that individuals with corrupt histories are incapable of delivering the ethical leadership needed to benefit the nation.

Obasanjo’s comments have sparked reactions across various sectors, reigniting the conversation on the need for accountability and moral integrity in Nigerian governance.

His speech has also drawn attention to the role of ethics in leadership, with many reflecting on the broader implications of his statements for the country’s political landscape.