Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on political elite, religious leaders, as well as captains of industry in Nigeria to evolve a national consensus that will assist the country tackle the challenges of corruption.
With reference to the public office, Osinbajo demanded that the three tiers of governments must lead a revolution that will reward adherence to ethical behaviours, as well as ensuring speedy punishment for misconduct in public offices.
The vice president, who stated this in a lecture titled: “Values: the difference between success and failure” at the centenary celebration of the Old Boys Association of the Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, declared that the country will, “fail completely” if her leaders failed to implement what he described as “ethical revolution”.
Osinbajo, who was full of eulogy for the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Chief MKO Abiola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as the former minister of justice and former chief judge of the World Court, Chief Bola Ajibola, four of whom were ex-students of BBHS and who were at different times, held public offices, said Nigerians must henceforth place emphasis on values that promote integrity, hard work, perseverance honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, discipline and patience.
The vice president noted that even in the face of great temptation to compromise, these four ex-students of BBHS made personal sacrifices and suffered for their beliefs.
“They possess something that sets them apart from others. They seemed to have imbibed something that made them resolute. Even in the face of fearful and daunting challenges, they remained adamant in the face of temptation to compromise”.
“These are values that determine the success or failure of individuals or society. Values of hard work, discipline, integrity, trustworthiness, respect, patience, delay of gratification. These are the values that determine the success or significance that individuals in the society attain”.
“There is a need for a national consensus or at least an elite consensus. The political elites, the religious elites and the business elites must agree that our country will fail completely if we do not accept and implement an ethical revolution,” he said.
