Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that corrupt politicians are incapable of delivering good governance. He made this assertion while addressing participants virtually at the Denis Joseph Slattery memorial lecture, themed “The Imperative for Moral Rectitude in Governance,” held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event, organized by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College, was in honor of the late Irish-born missionary, Denis Joseph Slattery, who arrived in Ilawe-Ekiti, Nigeria, in 1941 and made significant contributions to education and sports development.
During his address, Obasanjo referred to corrupt political leaders as “thieves,” arguing that such individuals cannot deliver just and fair governance. He stressed the need for accountability at all levels of government and emphasized that those with a history of misconduct should be held accountable for their actions.
“If you examine the people in government today, both in the executive and legislative branches, some of them deserve to be behind bars for their past misdemeanors and criminal acts,” Obasanjo remarked. “You cannot expect thieves to provide good judgment in favor of the rightful owners of property.”
The former Head of State also shared personal reflections on the corruption he encountered during his political career, expressing shock at how normalized criminal behavior had become in certain circles. He recounted an instance where a public official brushed off a lie by saying, “It is all politics, Sir,” illustrating how dishonesty and misconduct are often excused as part of the political process.
Obasanjo called for a shift in leadership culture, stating that Nigeria requires “transformational leaders rather than transactional ones.” He emphasized the need for “truth instead of lies, honesty instead of dishonesty, integrity instead of disintegrity, hope instead of despair, production instead of deduction, and inclusion instead of exclusion and marginalization.”
The late Denis Joseph Slattery, whom the lecture commemorated, was posted to St. Gregory’s College in Obalende, Lagos, in 1943, where he served as a teacher and games master. He later founded St. Finbarr’s College in January 1956, playing a significant role in Nigeria’s educational and sports sectors. Slattery was also the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Football Association and a founding member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Order of the Niger (OON) by Obasanjo in 2001.
Slattery passed away in July 2003, and his legacy continues to inspire. The memorial event attracted notable attendees, including former Cross River governor Donald Duke, ex-footballer Segun Odegbami, music producer ID Cabasa, and actor Patrick Doyle.
