Ayomide Awe
Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has passionately advocated stringent penalties on political corruption, urging that it be equated with financial crimes to foster good governance in Nigeria.
Speaking during a lecture titled “Has Democracy Led to Good Governance in Nigeria?” at the Midwest Achievers Awards in Benin City, Edo State, Ozekhome stressed the imperative of holding political elites accountable for their actions.
At the event, where he was honoured with the Defender of Democracy award, Ozekhome decried the prevailing culture of impunity among Nigeria’s political class.
He condemned the exploitation of governmental systems for personal gain and underscored the urgent need for transparency and reform within the political sphere.
“Political corruption should be aggressively tackled with the same seriousness and penalties as financial crimes,” Ozekhome asserted, highlighting the widespread disregard for accountability among powerful individuals.
He emphasized that this disparity in treatment often shields offenders from facing justice.
Ozekhome also addressed the pervasive issues affecting Nigeria’s electoral processes, citing deep-seated manipulation and voter exploitation as significant challenges.
These, he argued, have severely undermined the integrity of elections and fueled public apprehension.
Calling for reforms in electoral adjudication, Ozekhome proposed measures to ensure that electoral violations are met with appropriate penalties.
He stressed that fair elections are crucial for maintaining legitimacy, transparency, and accountability in leadership.
“Free and fair elections are the bedrock of legitimacy, transparency, and accountability.
Safeguarding them is essential to ensure that leaders remain answerable to the electorate,” Ozekhome concluded.
His remarks at the Midwest Achievers Awards underscored a resounding call to action for comprehensive reforms aimed at curbing political corruption and enhancing democratic governance in Nigeria.
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