Nigeria lacks the leadership to defeat Boko Haram – Osinbajo

by Kolapo Olapoju

The Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has ascribed the state of the nation’s economy to inefficient leadership, poor management of resources and gross corruption.

While speaking on Saturday, December 27, at a media parley in his campaign office in Victoria Island, Lagos, Osinbajo cited an absence of proper management as one of the major problems of Nigeria.

He said: “The problem is management of resources. If we plug the loopholes, you’ll see the resources being pooled together.”

The Professor of Law also pledged that insecurity would be the first agenda of his government, as it affects every Nigerian irrespective of ethnic group, class or creed. He added that if the necessary leadership was not lacking, the present administration would have successfully curbed insurgency in the land.

“Security is the first duty of any government; you cannot fight a war where leadership is uncertain; where leadership is not sure of itself and its responsibilities.”

“The type of leadership we need to successfully fight a war is lacking. The commander-in-chief has responsibility for everything. You can’t continue to say your enemies did this or that. You’ve got to take responsibility and that is what is lacking in the current dispensation.

“The people I talked to in my bus trips, both men and women asked, ‘What are you doing about the Chibok girls?’ I was surprised that people here in Lagos could be that concerned. It shows everyone is concerned. My take is that as the president, you should visit these places, talk to them and let them see that you are doing something. And one of the things to be done is equipping the military,” Osinbajo added.

Speaking further, Osinbajo stated that corruption is now widespread in the country, adding that the present administration itself, seems to tolerate corruption.

He said: “We have reached a point where we need to draw a line because this country can’t continue like this. A few days ago, we heard that some billions were missing from the oil fund. You and I know that all this is so because there are no consequences. What is required is an administration where people believe that the number one man will not tolerate corruption. That is the first step.”

“The stabilisation contract is another drain pipe. Billons of dollars are being lost every day. But if these loopholes are plugged, we can get something done. When oil was sold for 110 dollars everybody was saving; why didn’t we save?”