I was told I would never get any appointment in Nigeria for fighting corruption – Okoi Obono Obla

Okoi Obono Obla, former presidential adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Prosecution, has lamented the harm corruption has done to Nigeria’s quest for growth and development.

He also drew attention to the enormous threat being faced by those who dare to fight the monster, saying that he was told that he would never get any appointment in Nigeria for fighting corruption.

“It is evident that unless corruption is effectively addressed, the future of Nigeria looks grim. Corruption has certainly hindered Nigeria’s progress and development to the point that countries like Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mexico, which were once at par with or behind Nigeria in terms of development, are now far ahead,” he noted.

Obla was a keynote speaker at the 16th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture at Metropolitan Hotel Calabar, Cross River State capital, recently where he noted that corruption remained a significant challenge, affecting various sectors, including governance, business, and public services.

He also said that Nigeria was vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

He noted that Nigeria has significant agricultural potential, with opportunities for growth in areas like crop production, livestock, and agro-processing.

He said that Nigeria can leverage its renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change

On human capital development, he said: “Investing in education, healthcare, and skills development can help Nigeria build a more productive and competitive workforce. Nigeria’s future is complex and influenced by various factors, including its growing population, economic development, political landscape, and social dynamics.”

He noted that Nigeria’s future was uncertain, and that the country’s development trajectory would depend on how it navigates these challenges and opportunities.

In his welcome remarks, Joseph Oteri said the 16th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture, dedicated to honouring the memory of one of Nigeria’s most outstanding and endearing broadcasting icon, the late Ralph Chukwuemeka Opara (MON), in recognition of his lifetime of achievement.

The Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture series was instituted by the National Association of Seadogs in 2004 to immortalise the icon, Ralph Opara, and to keep his faith alive, by providing a medium to give vent to the views for which he stood steadfastly, throughout his life.

Like the previous ROML lecture series, this 16th lecture in the series was designed to facilitate the continuous charting the course of humanity towards the attainment of an egalitarian and just society. Ralph Opara was one of the “Original 7” founders of the National Association of Seadogs at the University of Ibadan.