by Isi Esene

Foremost playwright, Prof. Niyi Osundare, yesterday declared that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration “lacks the will and capacity to fight corruption because it’s immersed in theft and graft.”

Osundare, who spoke in Lagos at a lecture entitled: “Why we no longer blush: Corruption as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” said a corruption-compliant ruler cannot rule a corrupt-free country, stressing that leaders can only rule properly, according to the rule of law.

The well attended event, chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay, and organised by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the centre-point of all catchphrases employed by the professor while describing the prevailing system of corruption in Nigeria is “corruption is the fastest growing industry and the greatest employer of labour in Nigeria”, while he also posited that the dent caused by the corruption enterprise has stunted the country’s development.

He said: “All we have is investigation without an end, recommendation without implementation and reports that are eventually dumped”.

He flayed Jonathan’s position on declaration of assets, stressing that his “I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude” to matters of probity and transparency was condemnable.

While making his submission, Tunde Bakare, the pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly and Convener of the SNG, described President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda as a deceitful distraction, pointing out that, if a successful anti-graft war is to be waged, there should be no sacred cows.

Sagay’s observation was no more encouraging, in his presentation, he said Nigeria is “in a situation where we have to find a policeman to police the police. Corruption is destroying the country’s chance of development. Is there any hope for the future?,” he asked rhetorically. Adding that “something must be done before it is too late.”

As a solution to the myriad of problems facing the country, Osundare advised citizens “to mobilise and embark on massive action to probe why few people are tirelessly rich and many are poor”.