Former Chief of Naval Intelligence, retired Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, has urged the Federal Government to make honesty, integrity and accountability central to governance to tackle corruption, strengthen national security and stimulate economic growth.
Olawunmi, also Head of Department, International Relations and Diplomacy, Chris land University, Abeokuta, gave the advice at the 18th Convocation Lecture of Bells University of Technology, Ota on Friday.
The theme of the lecture is Statecraft: Good governance For Security And Growth”.
Olawunmi said a country that punished honesty and integrity was indirectly promoting dishonesty and could not achieve the good governance required for national development.
He urged political leaders to make honesty and integrity fundamental values in governance, noting that accountability would strengthen citizens’ trust in government.
According to him, accountability goes beyond demanding explanations from public officials after funds have been misappropriated.
He however said that this required clear rules, verifiable records, competent oversight and timely corrective measures.
“We should distinguish an honest error from deliberate abuse. If every admission of difficulty is punished, people will hide difficulties until they become disasters.
“If deliberate wrongdoing carries no consequence, honest officers will eventually wonder why they bother. Good leadership must be fair enough to encourage candour and firm enough to confront misconduct,” he said.
He said good governance should be measured not by promises made, but by improved living conditions, guaranteed security and sustained economic growth.
Olawunmi stressed that Nigeria could achieve lasting security and sustainable economic growth only by tackling corruption and upholding integrity.
He congratulated the graduands and urged them to contribute to creating the kind of society they desired.
He also encouraged them to embrace honesty and integrity to become responsible leaders and agents of positive change.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abel Olorunnisola, said the choice of the lecture’s theme and speaker was informed by the prevailing security challenges in Nigeria and their implications for national growth and development.
Olorunnisola described insecurity as a complex, interconnected crisis, which had evolved from isolated regional challenges into a nationwide threat.
He noted that these were driven by economic hardship, governance gaps and an entrenched criminal economy.
He said Nigeria was currently ranked fourth globally on the Global Terrorism Index.
The vice-chancellor added that insecurity had escalated in South-West Nigeria, shifting from isolated highway attacks to coordinated raids in rural communities, forests and border areas. (NAN)