Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has accused former president President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, of making corruption attractive to Nigerian governors.
Braithwaite’s comments was in reaction to Obasanjo’s recent criticism of governors- whom he says are acting like emperors while expecting the citizenry to make sacrifices.
According to the elder statesman, the policies and decisions of Obasanjo during his tenure as president, created a structure for corruption to be prominent in governance.
While speaking to Punch Newspapers, on Tuesday, Braithwaite said he warned Obasanjo in 199, that the military constitution would encourage ‘looting and criminal misdeeds’.
“Obasanjo is not saying anything original because when he assumed office in 1999, I warned that the military constitution would make the governors emperors. Governors determine security votes which they do not account for.”
“Since 1999, the military constitution clothes them (governors and president) with immunity against being arrested for criminal misdeeds. Many of them brazenly looted the treasury and got away with it. Obasanjo became rich through this structure.”
“Something appears to be driving Obasanjo to be making frivolous statements everywhere. He and Babangida made corruption attractive to governors and they elevated corruption in governance which subsequent presidents and governors are emulating.”
