Cardinal Onaiyekan reveals kind of politicians Nigeria needs to end treasury looting

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said Nigeria needs philosophers as political leaders to enable it put an end to the recurrent looting of the nation’s treasury.

Onaiyekan said this while delivering his homily at a mass celebrated to jointly mark the Divine Mercy solemnity and the 2018 Mothers’ Day in Abuja on Sunday.

According to him, the dearth of political leaders who possessed philosophical mindsets as well as the willingness to live modestly was responsible for the menace of corruption within government circles and its attendant negative effects on the society.

He said: “I wish Nigeria had a pool of politicians who are philosopher kings. That would have made the twin problem of greed and corruption a thing of the past in our nation.
Mahatma Ghandi of India was not even a Christian but he believed in the philosophy of modesty. He once said ‘there is enough in the world for every man’s need but not for every man’s greed.’

“The pattern of consumption in our modern society cannot be sustained in the long run. If only we would all live modestly, the greed that breeds corruption will be eliminated, and no one will ever be in need.

“If our politicians would possess the mentality of frugality and modesty, it will cascade down to the citizens and every one will be willing to share whatever he possesses with his neighbour.”