Obasanjo raised the bar of corruption in Nigeria - Bakare

The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said on Wednesday that despite former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “supposed achievement” in office, his administration was characterised by the raising of the bar of corruption in the country.


Bakare spoke in Lagos as the guest lecturer at the 10th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture/Symposium organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The event, with the theme, ‘Nigeria at centenary: A nation still in bondage?’, was chaired by former President of the Court of Appeal, retired Justice Ayo Salami, who called for the separation of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria from that of the Chairman of the National Judicial Council.

The event, which started in 2004, is organised anually to celebrate the virtues of the late Fawehinmi, who died on September 5, 2009 at 71.

In his lecture, Bakare said Obasanjo raised the bar of corruption to an unimaginable level.

He added that the former President’s administration was known for censorship of the media, targeting outspoken critics and subjecting judicial decisions to executive interpretations.

He said, “Media was censored, outspoken critics were targeted and judicial decisions were subjected to executive interpretations. Meanwhile, Obasanjo himself raised the moutain of corruption to an unimaginable level.

“As apathy set in among the electorate, General Obasanjo, indignant that he could not foist third term agenda on Nigeria, imposed a sick President on the nation through a fraudulent election, I beg your pardon, selection, overseen by Prof. Maurice Iwu.”

He said Obasanjo’s supposed achievements in office had no significant impact on the people’s lives.

Bakare, who expressed support for “a people-driven” national conference, said the atmosphere of abundance prevailling when Obasanjo assumed office in 1999, provided a breeding ground for personal aggrandisement accross all government levels.

He said, “The atmosphere of abundance provided the breeding ground for personal aggrandisement as politicians, from the Presidency to the state and local governments, helped themselves to the nation’s resources became the targets of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Then, complacency set in as General Obasanjo, satisfied with his supposed achievements, which however did not reflect significantly in the living condition of the average Nigerian, sought to perpetuate himself in power and so unleashed the machinery of state against percieved enemies among the political class.”