Nation Building Is Not Solely The Business Of Political Leaders – Ag President Osinbajo

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*Says the Buhari administration has been able to stop grand corruption

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerian youths to become agents of positive change and contribute to nation building in every sector they find themselves because they are leaders of today and not of the future.

Prof. Osinbajo said this on Saturday when he addressed students of the Redeemers’ International Leadership Academy (RILA) at its 2018 Post Graduation Ceremony in Ogun State; and also students at the National Biennial Conference of the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria (SCM), on Saturday, in Enugu State.

While urging them to seek the good of society, the Acting President admonished them to contribute to building a new Nigeria by challenging themselves as individuals and shunning endemic corruption.

Speaking on the significance of transformational leadership in nation building, Prof. Osinbajo further noted that the Buhari administration has been able to tackle grand corruption because of its commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.

He said, “People believe a political position is a way to enrich oneself and impoverish the people. But every act of corruption kills the nation. We have been able to tackle grand corruption, and by stopping grand corruption, we are able to save up to 60 per cent of resources.

“Our major problem is that of corruption and the bigger problem is that it is accepted by all. People are not bothered by it; they don’t want to talk about it. How many times on our pulpits do people stand and preach about corruption? You will never hear it and that is why other nations have been transformed.

“Corruption is something that fundamentally destroys the nation, and it is accepted and it is something that people don’t see anything wrong with it. People assume that if you are in political leadership, it is an opportunity for you to enrich yourself and family, and even your church members. So it is acceptable in our society. The wrong that our country has experienced over the years is systemic, and if you challenge it, you are going against the system.”

The Acting President further urged Nigerians youths to imbibe honesty, integrity and set high moral standards for themselves, noting that the transformation of countries during the industrial revolution also rode on the back of the honesty and integrity of its citizens in national life.

Prof. Osinbajo said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, so a nation where we glorify cheating, stealing, corruption will not be exalted unless we are called by the name of Jesus Christ and set a standard. If we are not prepared to set a standard, nothing will work. The reason why our country is where it is today is because people made the wrong choices. In our society, unrighteousness is systemic, it is our way of life and that is why our country is where it is today and l can assure you that it is the biggest problem our country has is righteousness.

Noting that corruption knows no tribe or religion, the Acting President said, “We must challenge ourselves as individuals every day, and say, “l will not do this.”

In the same vein, speaking to students at the National Biennial Conference of the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria (SCM), on Saturday, in Enugu State, Prof. Osinbajo stated that all young people have a role to play in Nation building.

Speaking on the role of youths in nation-building, the Acting President said, “It is erroneous to say that nation building is solely the business of political leaders. It is clear to me that young people are the leaders of today, not the future. And I do not say that to flatter you. In any event, every day, we see that the future is already here. In our country, over 60 per cent of the population are young people. How can anyone say that the leadership role of 60 per cent of the population is postponed to the future? It is clearly illogical.

“The reason why we make that mistake is that we assume that leadership means only political leadership. This is a misconception. Political leaders in all our States put together are not up to 5,000 persons all across the country. And we have close to 200 million people. So, it is very clear that 5,000 cannot lay an exclusive claim to leadership or to being responsible for nation-building.

“All young people, every young person who is here, every person who has come to a cognitive position, who understands things, who is capable of understanding and expressing themselves, is already in a leadership role and must play that leadership role. There is no excuse for any young person to say that I” am waiting to be a leader in the future,” already you are a leader now because you already have all that is required. You may not be a political leader, but you are a leader in your own way. Your choice of even attending a conference such as this already means that you are able to take decisions that cannot only impact you but also your generation. All young people have a role to play in Nation building.”