Bola Babarinde, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South Africa, has advocated for the death penalty as a measure to combat corruption among public officeholders in Nigeria. He emphasized the urgent need to consider this drastic step to restore accountability and integrity in the country.
Babarinde criticized the ostentatious display of wealth by some officials, suggesting that a regular life audit should be implemented to assess the legitimacy of their assets. He argued that many public officeholders could not afford such luxuries without engaging in corrupt practices, and that monitoring mechanisms are essential to curb excessive and unexplained wealth.
He also called for greater dynamism and openness in the current administration to address declining public character and the difficulty in finding genuinely service-oriented individuals. Babarinde advocated for transparency in the salaries and allowances of public officials, suggesting a reduction to 60% of current levels and a formal apology to Nigerians for past misallocations of funds.
In addition, Babarinde highlighted issues such as the disregard for traffic regulations by those with police escorts and the rising cost of staple foods, attributing these problems to inadequate local production and disruptions in farming due to climate change and criminal activities. He stressed the need for modern farming techniques and better farm produce sales technologies.
Babarinde also proposed engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora to leverage their experience and perspectives for national development. He urged the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, particularly the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to enhance its effectiveness.