The Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has accused political leaders of mismanaging Nigeria’s resources for their selfish interest since 1999.
He said political leaders see governance as an avenue to enrich their families and associates.
He was reacting to the fraud allegation involving the immediate past Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and her successor, Betta Edu.
While Farouq is facing alleged corruption, a leaked document had claimed that Edu directed the Federation’s Accountant General to pay the sum of N585 million meant for vulnerable people into a private account of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
Following the outrage that followed the leak, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Edu while ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate her and the ministry.
Reacting, the clergyman lamented that some of the elites in government are focused on how to steal money rather than governance.
Speaking with OsunDailyNG, Giwa said: “Since Nigeria returned to democracy in May 1999, the political leaders have continued to mismanage the nation’s resources for their own selfish interests. They see governance as an opportunity to enrich themselves, family members, and associates. Their focus has always been on how to steal money rather than governance.
“The citizens are yet to enjoy the dividends of democracy; the present and past leaders seem to have failed to provide quality leadership capable of addressing numerous challenges confronting the country. These leadership challenges are evidenced in political, social, and economic instability and the prevalence of ethnic, communal, and religious crises, which have bedeviled Nigerian socio-economic development.
“In a country where true democracy is being practised, the citizens ought not to be struggling to make ends meet. Adequate security, employment, and infrastructure, among others, must have been put in place by its leader. No wonder the nation’s economic growth is stagnant.”
