The Eburu of Iba, Oba (Prof.) Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye, has blamed Nigerians for contributing to the corruption and other practices they regularly condemn, saying the country cannot make meaningful progress unless citizens examine their own conduct.
The monarch said tackling corruption was essential to making Nigeria a better country, but argued that the problem should not be blamed exclusively on political leaders and public officials.
Okunoye made the remarks in an interview with PrimeStar News Online while responding to a question on what Nigeria needed to become a better country.
“We have to tackle corruption,” he said.
When asked whether he believed Nigeria could become a world-class nation, the monarch maintained that the country had the potential to attain that status but challenged Nigerians to confront their own contradictions.
He argued that people sometimes condemn practices in public while engaging in similar conduct when opportunities arise.
Using contract inflation and the conduct of some citizens as examples, Okunoye said Nigerians needed to stop deceiving themselves and take responsibility for the problems affecting the country.
He also referred to the police and the wider society in making his argument, suggesting that the problems associated with public institutions could not be completely separated from the conduct of ordinary citizens.
The monarch said people should do what is right rather than continually condemn others for actions they themselves might be willing to take.
His position places emphasis on individual responsibility in the fight against corruption, suggesting that national development requires a change in citizens’ attitudes as well as action by those in positions of authority.
