The Ekiti Council of Elders warned on Friday that corruption and wasteful spending are stalling development across Nigeria. Speaking at a news conference in Ado‑Ekiti to launch the second edition of the Joel Babatola Annual Lecture Series, the council’s Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Bayo Orire, called on political leaders to adopt integrity, accountability and responsible governance.
Orire said honesty is no longer valued in the political arena, noting that those who resist corruption are often dismissed as lacking political intelligence. He highlighted the high cost of governance, the extravagant lifestyles of officeholders and the poor execution of public projects as evidence of a system that has turned public office into a vehicle for personal enrichment rather than service delivery.
“The situation is particularly disturbing as many communities continue to lack industries, adequate infrastructure and meaningful agricultural development despite huge public expenditure,” Orire added, underscoring the disconnect between spending and tangible outcomes.
On security matters, Orire praised President Bola Tinubu’s strategy of decentralising the armed forces and other security institutions. He explained that concentrating critical security infrastructure in one location exposes the country to serious risks, while decentralisation promotes local participation, employment and economic opportunities.
He also endorsed the creation of state police forces and the growing involvement of community vigilante groups and local security outfits. According to Orire, these community‑based initiatives are already yielding encouraging results, particularly in the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Chairman of the council’s Board of Trustees, Olufemi Adewumi, stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges and fragile national unity—driven by mutual distrust, religious differences and ethnic divisions—make responsible leadership more urgent than ever. The council, he said, is committed to promoting national unity and contributing to the country’s challenges.
The annual lecture, themed “The Paradox of Nationhood: The Struggle for Reinventing Nigeria’s Security Architecture,” is designed to inspire contemporary leaders by drawing lessons from the life and exemplary leadership qualities of Joel Eyinafe Babatola, whose legacy of honesty, self‑lessness and public service is seen as a model for rebuilding public confidence and strengthening democratic institutions.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>