Solomon's Column

Nigerians are to blame for the prevalence of corruption in the country. This assertion was made on Wednesday by a former Chief Judge of Oyo state, retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji at the official commissioning of the Ogunelu Aaare Alasa Dynasty Mediation and Conciliation Center(Igbejo), Oajaba, Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria. ''We are all to blame for corruption. It was not so during Awolow's time,'' Justice Adeniji stated. In his welcome address, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke admonished Nigerians to be peace-loving, saying, ''when we love one another there shall be peace in society.''

The three point agenda of the present administration in Nigeria has painfully not taken the country anywhere in the face of widespread ignorance and illiteracy among the p[opulace in the last seven years. The failure to put the right people in the right positions has been the major challenge. In this clime, followership demands patronage, handouts and favors. These have impeded the search for credible leadership. Although certain political actors and national leaders have made invaluable contributions and given worthwhile counsel, their efforts have overtime been ignored. Suspicions, hurts and doubts now characterize the relationship between Nigerians and their leaders. Sadly, the priorities of those-in-authority are yet to include the critical areas which continue to plague efforts at engendering meaningful economic growth and development, since peace and security are achievable, bit seemingly elusive. Culprits of heinous and grievous crimes are still on the loose, while it is v